During the 1988–89 English football season, Everton F.C. competed in the Football League First Division. Everton finished eighth in the table with 54 points after a disappointing season in the league, where they failed to mount a title challenge. The Toffees were the runners-up in the FA Cup, losing to Liverpool in a Merseyside final at Wembley Stadium and advanced to the 4th round of the League Cup. Before the start of the season, Everton became the first English club to pay a £2million fee when signing West Ham striker Tony Cottee.