Liverpool Unveil 2012/13 Away Kit: Classic Liver Bird Replaces Shankly Gates

Liverpool have unveiled their away kit for the 2012/13 season. The shirts will be black with a grey patch around the neck and down the sides, while the goalkeepers will wear yellow.

In addition, the Reds will be looking to their proud history to jumpstart their revival; the club crest has been replaced with a Liver bird badge reminiscent of a successful era in their past. Incidentally, that era coincided with the time former manager Kenny Dalglish was a player at Anfield. Dalglish was dismissed from his post at the club a short while ago and the Fenway Sports Group (the club's American owners) have since appointed former Swansea City boss Brendan Rodgers as the manager.

Warrior Sports (the kit manufacturers), who agreed a six year £25mn sponsorship deal (a British record), have reportedly been inspired by the city's maritime heritage. The club has dropped the older design, which featured an image of the Shankly Gates and the "You'll Never Walk Alone" motto and the two Justice flames honouring the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.

"Following Warrior's design direction of modern tradition - the new kit is inspired by Liverpool FC's away Kit from 1900-1906 which featured the yoke detail in recognition of sailors and the huge influence of the docks on the city at the time," read a statement on the club's Web site.

However, there is a possibility some fans may feel disappointed at the removal of the Justice Flames. There are, though, two small flames on either side of the number "96", on the back of the collar, in remembrance of those who lost their lives in the disaster.

The club also released a gallery of images showing a host of players including captain Steven Gerrard, goalkeeper Jose Renia, striker Luiz Suarez and defenders Martin Skrtel and Glen Johnson sporting the new kit.

The manufacturers and the club stated they expected to sell over 900,000 units - making Liverpool the fourth biggest kit seller in the footballing world - behind Manchester United and Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona. The home kit sold in record numbers but it remains to be seen what sales numbers this black and grey shirt will achieve.

Fans can pre-order the new kit from the official Liverpool FC online store.

Take a look at Liverpool's away kit for the 2012/13 season here: