Dave Beasant opposing defences could never relax when he had the ball. Beasant won two caps for England, and went to the 1990 World Cup as a late replacement when third-choice keeper David Seaman suffered a hand injury. Wimbledon also did well in the league after their promotion in 1986, going top of the First Division in early September before finishing sixth at the end of the 1986–87 season. They finished seventh in the cup winning campaign a year later. However, the 1988 FA Cup final was the last game that Beasant played for Wimbledon. A month later he was sold to
2001 UEFA Cup Final their first season in European courtesy of a 9–2 aggregate victory. Liverpool went into the match having already won two trophies during the 2000–01 season. Their first trophy was the Football League Cup which they had won in February defeating Birmingham City 5–4 in a penalty shoot-out after the match had finished 1–1. The second trophy was the FA Cup, which they won 2–1. They entered the match with the opportunity to win an unprecedented Treble. Liverpool were appearing in their third UEFA Cup final, both their previous appearances in the final in 1973 and 1976 had resulted in victory.