In the previous round we had beaten, with a struggle, Rotherham over two legs. Although we were Champions, we had not started the new season particularly well. We had suffered a couple of poor defeats and found ourselves towards mid-table. Our red friends however had taken the season by storm. Buoyed by new signings Barnes, Beardsley and Aldridge, they seemed unstoppable. It was clear they were set to win the league.
The morning after the Rotherham second leg, the draw was made live on ITV’s Breakfast TV. I remember catching it just before getting the train to work. About half way through the draw... out it came: Liverpool v Everton. I couldn’t believe it. I honestly thought we were doomed.
I remember at the time Liverpool were the media darlings. If any red tells you the press love Man United, it was nothing compared to how they were all over the men from Anfield at that time. We were written off wherever you turned. That included in my house were all my family other than me are reds.
I managed to get a ticket in The Kop, as did thousands of other Blues. and we took our position towards the Main Stand side of that dire stand.
The match wasn’t a great spectacle. Sharpie missed an open goal. It was a tight affair but we just about seemed the better side. It seemed to be heading towards a replay when, with seven minutes to play, the moment came. Reidy played a crossfield pass to Gary Stevens who had cut in from right back to blast an effort towards the Kop goal. It took a big deflection off Gary Gillespie before nestling in past Brucie in the red goal.
There was huge joy as you can imagine but the highlight had to be in the remaining minutes the sight of the Anfield Road (which the blue boys had in full due to increased allocation for cup games). It was blue and bouncing! Liverpool gave up and we ran out deserved winners.
The match was beamed back to Goodison on big screens and I am told there was similar scenes there.
I remember bouncing out of Anfield that night. A train home to greet my red family!
We were back at Anfield the following weekend and lost a league game. The media crawled back out and lorded it with Kenny and his boys. But it didn’t matter. I arrived home the night of the cup tie to watch the highlights on Midweek Sports Special. I videoed the highlights and watched them back straight after: Liverpool 0 Everton 1. What a great night.
Reader Comments (10)
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2 Posted 03/09/2012 at 18:15:57
I remember the missed sitter from Sharp - came from a poor back pass from Barnes.
Apparently one of the radio stations sent a commentator, There was a point when a dog ran on to the pitch at Anfield, and Graham Beacroft (I think) commented that "There's a dog come on the pitch. It's 12 ft long".
3 Posted 03/09/2012 at 20:15:09
Strange to think we were underdogs; we were champions.
But truth is the 87 champions were not as good as the 86 Runners-up, which should have won the Double: we threw it away twice, first at Oxford, and then Wembley after running Liverpool ragged for an hour. And Liverpool really clicked in 87-88 season; the year they should have won the Double. Funny how they won it with an inferior team in 86 to either Everton or themselves two years later.
But enjoyed that autumn night; went home to watch it on the telly, and there was my brother (red) on the box, in a horrible, bright green jumper, nestled in the front row near the corner flag (is it the Anni Road end?) exhorting the other lot to move their arse.
We videoed it, too. Lent it to school friends; Laughing my head off for weeks!
4 Posted 03/09/2012 at 20:33:06
Previous one had been the Sheedy free kick one, I was in the Main Stand. This one was completely different, night game, towards the back of the Anni Road, heaving atmos.
Theres nothing like night games.......remember the Oldham one at Goodison around 89, manic atmosphere fed by a ref that lost it? Seemed like there was a night cup game every week around that time, Sheff Wed, WBA.
At Anfield im getting a flasback of, when we were watching the players warm up, asking my dad why Inchy was playing as he had been sent off the previous game and I thought he was banned. Was that his crazy Newcastle sending off, only one I can remember.
Did Reidy get hold of the dog?!
The Anfield league game was a few days later live on itv. I was very young but as I remember it we were well beaten.
5 Posted 03/09/2012 at 21:05:45
6 Posted 03/09/2012 at 21:42:23
Seem to remember stopping watching Derby games around this time after getting done in cup finals - still won't watch live even if it's on the box.
7 Posted 04/09/2012 at 06:06:05
I was at the league game in the kop. That was the game that Sheeds gave the kop the old two fingered salute if I am not mistaken.
It was also the first derby in my recollection of real fighting amongst the fans. It was the first time I also felt real bitterness towards Liverpool fans. If you have been in the kop you will know what I mean. They are the most one-eyed shower of cunts to walk the earth and the arrogance of the twats is unreal.
I hope they get relegated.
8 Posted 04/09/2012 at 07:07:29
9 Posted 04/09/2012 at 07:27:54
I always remember 1st December 1976, League Cup at Old Trafford. 3-0 up in the first half. I was 14 and me and a mate went straight from from school on a 'special'. Very scarey after the game trying to get back to Victoria Station.
10 Posted 09/09/2012 at 21:35:42
We think like and play like the underdogs against them almost every time, champions or not. Our inferiority complex plays into their hands, boosting them as we tremble to defeat.
Amazingly David Moyes seems more scared of them the worse they are. Last season was his low point in unjustified surrender to the Shite. Is it just a coincindence that Gerrard managed his only decent performance of the season against us?
Until the club, the manager and the players can cast off the inherited fear of Liverpool, then I'm afraid more derby heartache awaits us.
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1 Posted 03/09/2012 at 18:04:56