Continuing the series where I look back at my five favourite wins for over their Liverpool’s next opponents. This weekend Liverpool play against Manchester City at Anfield in a potential title-decider. Here are my five favourite wins from past encounters.
Liverpool’s attempt to win the league for a third successive season had come to an end when Nottingham Forest were confirmed Champions on 22nd April. Since then, though, they had won three straight matches without conceding a goal and were looking forward to a second successive European Cup Final appearance. Manchester City were also doing well in the League, sitting in 5th with just one defeat in their last 10 matches. This was the penultimate match for both sides in this season and this was Liverpool’s 3rd game in 6 days.
This was Kenny Dalglish’s first season at Liverpool after his £440,000 move from Celtic to replace Kevin Keegan at Anfield. When Dalglish opened the scoring it was his 18th in the league that season, more than Keegan ever managed. His goal still separated the two sides at the break but within 10 minutes of the re-start, Liverpool had stretched their lead beyond the visitors.
Liverpool were awarded a penalty soon after half-time, which Phil Neal tucked away with his usual confidence. Two minutes later, Dalglish added his second and Liverpool’s third. Then with 10 minutes to go, Dalglish completed his hat-trick. 4-0 to Liverpool and Dalglish had hit the 20 league goals mark. Nine days later he scored his 31st of the season when he got the only goal to beat Bruges in the European Cup Final as Liverpool successfully defended their title.
Although Liverpool finished second in the league, Forest’s shock League title was enough to galvanise the club and Liverpool broke a host of records the season after. Manchester City finished 5th in the table having been 2nd the season before.