Tag Archives: Everton

Reds Come Back To Win Thrilling Derby

Derbies, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

One of he most pulsating Mersey derbies took place on 21st November 1970 when after a goalless first half at Anfield Everton went 2-0 up, only for Liverpool to come back to win 3-2 to show they were on their way back to becoming the best team in Merseyside.

Liverpool were very much a side in transition going into this game.  A little less than a year earlier they had beaten Everton 3-0 at Goodison Park but that had been the last great result for his all conquering sixties side. The following week they lost 4-1 at home to Manchester United and eventually finished fifth, fifteen points behind eventual champions Everton who avenged the Goodison defeat by winning 2-0 at Anfield.

It meant that Bill Shankly was now rebuilding his team and only three players from that Goodison victory lined up at Anfield, whilst eight of the Everton team were taking part. Amongst the derby debutants was Steve Heighway, who had been playing amateur football with Skelmersdale United the season before while studying economics at university and was making just his seventh league start. 21 year old striker John Toshack had no experience of Anfield at all, having signed from Cardiff City just ten days before for a club record £110,000.

2013-11-20 22.54.15

The first half was a scrappy affair, with Everton having the better of the chances. Ray Clemence made a great save from Joe Royle, who then missed a sitter in front of the Kop leading to the chant of ‘He shot he missed, he must be F*cking p*ssed – Joey Royle.’ In the second though, two goals in eight minutes put Everton in control. First ex Reds winger Johnny Morrissey crossed for Alan Whittle to score in the 56th minute, then in the 63rd Whittle dispossessed Tommy Smith as he tried to dribble the ball out of defence. He then passed to Royle who lobbed the ball over Clemence to make it 2-0.

In the 69th minute, Smith passed to Heighway on the left and he went on a jinking run before hitting a low shot that beat Andy Rankin at the near post. At half time Shankly had told his players that Everton’s midfield would not last the full ninety minutes given the pace of the game and Liverpool now had renewed hope. Forward Phil Boersma was sent on in place of midfielder John McLaughlin, while Everton sent on an extra defender in Keith Newton as they desperately tried to hold on to their lead.  With the roar of the Kop helping to drive Reds players on, Heighway got the ball on the left and crossed for John Toshack, who headed the ball past Rankin to bring the scores level with fifteen minutes left.

Liverpool’s youngsters had been instrumental in getting the players back into the game, it but was one of the old guard who got the winner with six minutes remaining. A free kick was floated into the area and flicked on by John Toshack into the path of Chris Lawler, a veteran of the 1966 title winning side. The full back had ghosted in unnoticed on the right of the six yard box and his low angled shot went in off the post.

It was and remains one  of the greatest ever Merseyside derbies and was the coming of age of players such as Heighway, Toshack, Clemence, Larry Lloyd and Brian Hall. Toshack later said that ‘I had never experienced anything quite like that before.’ The win lifted Liverpool up to sixth place, four points clear of Everton. Later in the season they proved this win was no fluke as they beat the Blues 2-1 in the FA Cup semi final, and two and a half seasons later this exciting young team, aided by the addition of Kevin Keegan and Peter Cormack, brought the league title back to Anfield.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3asuHnsr-Q

 

 

Liverpool Win the Cup But Have to Wait for Trophy

Trophies, , , ,

When Liverpool won Liverpool Senior Cup in 1892-93 they had to wait a few days for the trophy. This was due to an appeal by beaten finalists Everton who felt crucial refereeing decisions had gone against them.

Liverpool beat Chester and Bootle to reach the final, which was played on 22nd April 1893. It was the first time that Liverpool and Everton had ever met and a large crowd of 10,000 gathered at Bootle’s Hawthorne Road ground. Liverpool were at full strength, but Everton fielded a mixture of first teamers and reserves as they had a friendly against Scottish side Renton at Goodison Park on the same day.

It was cynically suggested by some that Everton had done this to ensure any defeat against Liverpool could be excused as they did not play their strongest side. However the fact that the crowd at Bootle was five times higher than at Goodison indicated that for the fans, this remained the most important game.

After winning the toss Liverpool chose to play with the wind in the first half and Hugh McQueen had a shot well turned away for a corner by keeper Richard Williams. The first half was mainly one-way traffic with Williams making some fine saves, including one from a firm header by Tom Wyllie. Everton’s keeper also saved with his feet from McBride and when he was finally beaten by Matt McQueen, the shot went just over the bar.

The game was rough at times, with Hugh McQueen being reprimanded by the referee for what the Liverpool Mercury described as a ‘jumping charge.’ In the 35th minute John McCartney conceded a free kick for holding, but Everton wasted the opportunity and gave possession away.  From the breakaway John Miller passed to Wyllie (below) who scored with a fine low shot. Before half time Everton scored from an indirect free kick and the goal was disallowed, then there were protests that Joe McQue had committed a foul but instead a ‘throw up’ (that era’s version of a drop ball) was granted.

Tom_Wyllie

In the second half Everton took advantage of the wind and had a number of chances, but their shooting was poor. On one Liverpool breakaway Wyllie had a shot well saved by Williams, but it was generally a backs to the wall job in the second half, with the defenders clearing the ball as far away as possible rather than try to play the ball out.

a contentious moment in the last few minutes when a scramble took place in the goalmouth following an Everton corner. There were appeals for a penalty when it was claimed that a Liverpool player had fisted the ball away. controversial moment. The referee Herbie Arthur was persuaded to consult with his linesmen but they both agreed there had been no handball and a throw up was awarded. As soon as this had taken place, the final whistle sounded.

Everton were so furious at the refusal to give a penalty that they immediately lodged a complaint to the Liverpool County FA officials, citing the ‘general incompetence’ of the referee. It was decided not to award the cup pending a hearing at the Neptune Hotel in Clayton Square (situated where Tesco is now) two days later. The Mercury reported that they: ‘After a lengthy debate decided that the protest be not sustained.’

On Wednesday 26th April, when Liverpool took on a Lancashire League XI at Anfield, they were presented with the cup by Mr A. B. Hull from the Liverpool FA, as well as the Lancashire League trophy. Both cups though were stolen in September from a pawn shop in Paddington where they were on display. The club had to pay £130 to replace them.