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Liverpool’s Record Breaking Season: 1978-79 – A Moment In Time
The season is 1978-79. Liverpool had won the title in 1975-76 and 1976-77, but had finished 2nd to newly promoted, Nottingham Forest in 1977-78. Forest also beat them in the League Cup Final in 1978. But Liverpool had won back-to-back European Cups in 1977 and 1978. They were stunned by Forest in 1978 and bounced back with a vengeance.
They were managed by Bob Paisley, who had taken over from the legendary Bill Shankly in 1974. Paisley’s Liverpool had finished 2nd in his first season in charge and then won the next two Championships. For the first couple of years, Paisley was in charge of a Shankly team, with one or two additions, namely Ray Kennedy and Terry McDermott. But by the start of the 1978-79 season, this squad was almost unrecognisable from the one Shankly had taken to Wembley in 1974
Squad
Goalkeepers
Ray Clemence, age 30 (53 apps, 34 clean sheets) Joined from Scunthorpe in 1967, played 665 games for the club before moving to Tottenham in 1981.
Steve Ogrizovic, age 20 (1 app) Joined from Chesterfield in October 1977, but only made 5 appearances until he moved to Coventry in August 1982, for whom he made over 700 appearances
Defenders
Phil Neal, age 27 (54 apps, 5 goals) Began his career at Northampton. Became Paisley’s first signing in November 1974. Played 650 games for the club up to December 1985.
Alan Kennedy, age 24 (43 apps, 3 goals) Began his career at Newcastle. Moved to Liverpool in August 1978. Played over 350 goals for the club, scoring the winning goal in the 1981 and 1984 European Cup Finals.
Phil Thompson, age 24 (49 apps) Joined as an apprentice, and remained at the club till 1985 when he retired from the game. Played 477 games for the club and captained both his club and country.
Alan Hansen, age 23 (42 apps, 2 goals) Signed for Liverpool from Partick Thistle in 1977, and went onto play over 600 games for the club, and later captained
Emlyn Hughes, age 31 (28 apps, 1 goal) Began his career at Blackpool before Shankly signed him in 1967. Captained both club and country, playing 665 games before moving to Wolves in 1979
Midfield
Jimmy Case, age 24 (48 apps, 9 goals) Local lad, spent 7 years at the club before moving to Brighton in 1981.
Terry McDermott, age 27 (49 apps, 8 goals) Began at Bury and then Newcastle, before joining Liverpool in 1974. Played 329 games for the club, scoring 81 goals from midfield.
Ray Kennedy, age 27 (54 apps, 11 goals) Started his career at Arsenal. Joined Liverpool in July 1974, the same day Bill Shankly stepped down as manager. Played nearly 400 games for the club until he moved to Swansea in 1982.
Graeme Souness, age 25 (53 apps, 9 goals) Joined from Middlesbro in January 1978. Went on to become captain of the club and later manager, in 1992. He played over 350 games for the club before moving to Sampdoria in 1984.
Sammy Lee, age 19 (2 apps) Born in Liverpool, made his debut in 1976, and went onto play almost 300 games before he moved to QPR in 1986. Later returned as coach.
Strikers
Kenny Dalglish, age 27 (54 apps, 25 goals) Signed from Celtic for a, then record fee of, £440,000 in the summer of 1977. Went onto play over 500 games and score 172 goals for the club he later managed.
David Johnson, age 26 (37 apps, 18 goals) Joined the club in 1976 from Ipswich, having already started his career at Everton. He left Liverpool in 1982 and re-joined Everton.
Steve Heighway, age 30 (37 apps, 4 goals) Came from non-league Skelmersdale in 1970, and spent 11 years at the club, making 475 appearances. He scored 76 goals, including the ’71 and ’74 FA Cup Finals.
David Fairclough, age 21 (10 apps, 3 goals) Local lad, earned the nickname ‘Supersub’ through his knack of scoring goals after coming on as sub. Spent 9 years at the club, before moving to Norwich in 1983.
In the days when rotation was something you did to crops rather than players, 4 players, Dalglish, Ray Kennedy, Neal & Clemence, played in every league match, with Souness missing just 1 match. In all, 11 players made over 30 league appearances, with Heighway playing 28. Consistency was the word.
At the start of the season, Tommy Smith and Ian Callaghan were off to Swansea, with Joey Jones also on his way to Wrexham. Emlyn Hughes was gradually being used less and less and so this was a definite feeling of a whole new team being developed by Paisley.
A quiet man, Paisley was reputed to be an excellent judge of a player. Evidence of this was in his conversion of Ray Kennedy, a prolific goalscorer at Arsenal, to left midfield.
The season began with the visit of QPR to Anfield. By August 1978, QPR were a shadow of the side that had finished 1pt behind Liverpool in 2nd place in May 1976. Liverpool won 2-1with goals from Kenny Dalglish and Steve Heighway. Paul McGee scored for QPR.
That McGee goal is significant. In fact, by the end of the season he was part of an exclusive group of 4 players, McGee, John Hawley, Ally Brown and Andy King. They were the only players to score at Anfield in 21 matches during the 78-79 season.
The opening day of this season was also significant for English football as two Argentinians made their debuts for Tottenham, who had just been promoted back to the First Division after one season. Ossie Ardiles and Ricky Villa had been part of the Argentina squad which won the 1978 World Cup. Spurs pulled off a coup by signing Ardiles, who played in the final, and his friend, Villa. They would go down in Spurs folk-lore.
The following Tuesday, Liverpool travelled to Ipswich and Souness put Liverpool in front and then Dalglish scored another 2 goals in a 3-0 win. The weekend’s match was away toManchester City. City had finished in the top 3 for the past 2 years and were expected to be contenders again this time round. Liverpool took them apart as Souness (2), Dalglish and Ray Kennedy scored in a 4-1 win.
After the start they had, it was a real shock to find them lose 0-1 to Division Two, Sheffield United in the League Cup. This result was even more surprising when you consider what happened next.
September
Saturday 2nd September 1978
Liverpool v Tottenham
Spurs had bounced straight back after their relegation in 1977. They drew their opening match away to champions, Nottingham Forest and then were beaten at home 1-4 by Aston Villa. After a 2-2 draw at home to Chelsea, they turned up at Anfield and received a footballing legend. Liverpool were in sublime form. Dalglish (2), Johnson (2), Ray Kennedy, Neal and McDermott all scored in a 7-0 win. The last goal from McDermott is well worth watching.
The 7th goal starts with a corner for Tottenham. The ball is cleared from under his own crossbar by Terry McDermott. After just a few passes the ball finds Steve Heighway wide on the left, his cross is met by McDermott who heads home. It’s the only time he touches the ball after clearing the corner, and the sort of performance Liverpool fans were used to from a true box-to-box player.
September continued with a 3-0 win at Birmingham which included Alan Kennedy’s first goal for the club. They then turned their attention to the European Cup. Liverpool, winners in 1977 and 1978, were confident of a 3rd successive win. Back in those days, only the Champions of each country qualified for the competition, along with the current holders of the trophy. As Liverpool had not won the league the previous season, Nottingham Forestwere entered into the European Cup alongside them. Unbelievably, the two were drawn against each other in the First Round.
The first leg was at the City Ground and Forest were in dogged form. Having started the season with 4 straight draws in the league, Forest won the 1st leg, 2-0.
Liverpool bounced back in the league with Souness scoring his 6th of the season againstCoventry in a 1-0 win, then they travelled to The Hawthorns and drew 1-1 with West Brom, which ended their 6 game 100% record.
The 2nd leg of the European Cup at Anfield was a dour affair and Forest continually thwarted Liverpool in a 0-0 draw. In the previous season Liverpool had reached the finals of both the League and European Cups. By September the following season, they were out of both at the first attempt.
Jimmy Case then scored a hat-trick in a 3-0 home win over Bolton. He scored another when they went to Norwich and won 4-1. John Ryan became just the 4th player to score against Liverpool in the league.
October
Derby then visited Anfield and with David Johnson’s goal separating the two sides at half-time, the visitors must have fancied their chances. But 2 goals each for Ray Kennedy and Kenny Dalglish gave the home side a 5-0 win.
November
December
January
February
March
April
May
Argentina will be aiming for a record-breaking 16th Copa America title when they take on Colombia
The Copa America 2024 is set for an electrifying conclusion as defending champions Argentina face off against Colombia at the Hard Rock Stadium in Florida on Sunday. This highly anticipated final marks the first-ever Copa America final meeting between these two footballing powerhouses. Argentina aim to secure a record-breaking 16th title, making them the most successful side in the competition’s history.
Argentina’s road to the final has been marked by grit and determination. They navigated a nerve-wracking penalty shootout against Ecuador in the quarter-finals before securing a comfortable 2-0 victory over Canada in the semi-finals. Julian Alvarez opened the scoring, followed by a historic goal from Lionel Messi, who now stands as the second-highest male goalscorer in international football with 109 goals.
Argentina’s unbeaten streak now extends to 10 matches, and they remain unbeaten in major tournament knockout games on American soil since the 1994 World Cup. It is no understatement that they go into the clash as favourites.
Colombia are no pushovers, however. They have been in exceptional form. Since their 1-0 loss to Argentina in World Cup qualifying in February 2022, they have embarked on a record-breaking unbeaten run of 28 matches.
Jefferson Lerma’s header gave Colombia the lead before Daniel Munoz’s red card put them at a numerical disadvantage against Uruguay. Despite this setback, Colombia’s resilience shone through as they held on to secure their place in the final. The victory over Uruguay was marred by a brawl involving Uruguayan players and Colombian supporters, but Colombia’s focus remained unwavering. This final represents a chance for Colombia to end a long wait since their first Copa America triumph in 2001.
Team News and Predicted XI
Argentina
For the final, Argentina face no injury or suspension issues. Head coach Lionel Scaloni is expected to maintain an unchanged lineup. The defence will feature a solid back four with Gonzalo Montiel, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez, and Nicolas Tagliafico, with Emiliano Martinez as the goalkeeper.
In the midfield, Enzo Fernandez and Rodrigo De Paul are anticipated to keep their places, even though Giovani Lo Celso and Exequiel Palacios are pushing for a start. Angel Di Maria is poised for his international farewell on the right wing. Alexis Mac Allister, who has been impressive on the international stage, will play a crucial role, linking up with Messi from the midfield.
Lionel Messi, who overcame a leg injury to play the full match against Canada, will lead the attack alongside Julian Alvarez. Lautaro Martinez, the tournament’s top scorer, is expected to begin on the bench and should be brought on in the second half.
Predicted Playing XI (4-4-2): Emi. Martinez; Molina, Romero, Lis. Martinez, Tagliafico; Mac Allister, E. Fernandez, De Paul, Di Maria; Messi, Alvarez
Colombia
With Daniel Munoz suspended, Santiago Arias is set to start at right-back, joining Davinson Sanchez, Carlos Cuesta, and Johan Mojica in a solid four-man backline. Camilo Vargas will likely be the goalkeeper.
In midfield, Jefferson Lerma and Richard Ríos are expected to form the double pivot, providing protection for the defence and allowing the attacking players to push forward.
Captain James Rodriguez, who has recorded a tournament-high six assists, will continue in the number 10 role. He will be supported by Liverpool’s Luis Diaz and Fluminense’s Jhon Arias on the flanks.
Jhon Cordoba, who has contributed with two goals and two assists, is expected to lead the attack, with Jhon Duran and Rafael Santos Borre available as options.
Predicted Playing XI (4-2-3-1): Vargas; Santiago Arias, Sanchez, Cuesta, Mojica; Rios, Lerma; Jhon Arias, Rodriguez, Diaz; Cordoba
Key Stats
- Victory will see Argentina win their 16th Copa America title, making them the most successful side in the competition’s illustrious history.
- Colombia are unbeaten in their last 28 international games.
- Argentina have won 26 of their 43 meetings against Colombia in all competitions.
- A win for Colombia will see them win just their second Copa America title, their first since 2001.
Match Deciding Duel
Enzo Fernandez (Argentina) vs James Rodriguez (Colombia)
Argentina have been solid in defence and penetrating their backline has proven to be a challenge for most sides in the competition. Colombia have a rather dynamic attack but will depend on the veteran James Rodriguez to act as the playmaker.
With the likes of Luis Diaz able to make the most of opportunities, the onus will be on Enzo Fernandez to ensure Rodriguez does not have space to manoeuvre in. The duel between the two players could certainly set the tone for which way the cookie crumbles on the night.
Prediction
Argentina 2-1 Colombia
The clash is likely to be an entertaining one with the midfield battle expected to set the tone for the result. Argentina. however, have more strength in depth and the ability to bring a player of Lautaro Martinez’s calibre off the bench in the second half is akin to a cheat code. The Inter Milan star is expected to lead the defending champions to a close 2-1 win on the night.
Spain and England will face off for continental supremacy in the Euro 2024 final
As Euro 2024 reaches its climax, the football world braces for a thrilling final between Spain and England at the Olympiastadion in Berlin. This highly anticipated match will determine the champions of Europe, with Spain looking to add to their illustrious history and England aiming to lift the Henri Delaunay Trophy for the first time.
Spain, guided by Luis de la Fuente, entered the tournament somewhat under the radar but quickly established themselves as a formidable contender. They navigated the so-called ‘Group of Death’ with ease, securing nine points from three matches against Croatia, Italy, and Albania. Impressively, they emerged from the group stage without conceding a goal to an opposition player.
In the knockout stages, Spain demonstrated their resilience and quality. A stunning 4-1 comeback against Georgia in the last-16 and a tense extra-time victory over hosts Germany in the quarter-finals showcased their grit and talent. The semi-final against France was another test of their mettle, with young star Lamine Yamal lighting up the Allianz Arena and Dani Olmo sealing the win.
Spain’s journey to the final has not been without challenges, but their blend of experience and youthful exuberance has seen them through. They now stand on the brink of history, aiming to become the first European men’s team to win four major tournaments consecutively.
England’s Euro 2024 campaign has been a rollercoaster. Gareth Southgate’s men had a mixed group stage, winning only once against Serbia and drawing against Denmark and Slovenia. Their knockout phase has been a tale of resilience and drama, coming from behind in both the last-16 and quarter-finals.
A lacklustre win over Slovakia and a penalty shootout victory against Switzerland set the stage for a semi-final clash with the Netherlands. Despite early setbacks, including a goal from Dutch prodigy Xavi Simons, England produced their best performance of the tournament. A late winner from Ollie Watkins, following a perfect penalty from Harry Kane, propelled them to their second consecutive Euro final.
Southgate’s squad has shown incredible determination and character, setting new records along the way. Kane’s scoring feats and the team’s ability to perform under pressure have been pivotal to their success.
We take a look at how both sides could line up on the night and what tactics they might employ.
Team News and Predicted XI
Spain
Spain’s bad-tempered quarter-final against Germany saw Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand fall foul of the referee, leading to their suspensions for the semi-final. Both players are now back at De la Fuente’s disposal, bringing much-needed fresh legs to the Roja XI. Carvajal will replace Jesus Navas, while Le Normand should push Nacho to the bench.
Spain are expected to maintain a 4-3-3 formation with Unai Simon in goal. Daniel Carvajal and Marc Cucurella should hold the flanks in defence, while Robin Le Normand and Aymeric Laporte should form the centre-back pairing. Rodri should form the midfield pivot, with Dani Olmo and Fabian Ruiz pushing forward.
Skipper Alvaro Morata should lead the line with the electric duo of Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams providing support. Morata was initially a concern given his freak injury after the win against France. Thankfully for Spain, he trained normally and should lead them out.
Predicted Playing XI (4-3-3): Simon; Carvajal, Le Normand, Laporte, Cucurella; Ruiz, Rodri, Olmo; Yamal, Morata, Williams
England
England arrive in Berlin with a fully fit squad, including Luke Shaw, who has recovered from injury. Shaw’s performance against Switzerland and his effective stint in the semi-final suggests he may start, replacing Kieran Trippier at left-back.
Southgate is likely to stick with his preferred 3-4-2-1 formation. Jordan Pickford will guard the goal, with a back three of John Stones, Harry Maguire, and Marc Guehi.
Shaw and Kyle Walker will operate as wing-backs, while Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham form the midfield pivot. Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka will support captain Harry Kane in attack. Southgate has enough game-changers on the bench and it remains to be seen if he will have the nerve to make bold calls or play the long game and roll the dice.
Predicted Playing XI (4-3-3): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi; Saka, Mainoo, Rice, Shaw; Bellingham, Foden; Kane
Key Stats
- A victory on the night will see Spain secure their fourth title, making them the most successful side in the competition’s history.
- A win for England will see them triumph in the European Championships for the first time in their history.
- Spain and England have faced off 27 times in all competitions. La Roja have won 10 games while England have won 14. Three games ended in a draw.
- England have never lost to Spain in a UEFA European Championship clash before.
Match Deciding Duel
Lamine Yamal (Spain) vs Luke Shaw (Spain)
Lamal has been a critical difference-maker for Spain in this year’s tournament and will hope to end it on a high. Up against the recently returned Luke Shaw, he will aim to run rings against the English veteran.
Shaw’s ability to get caught out could provide Yamal the space he needs to run into and put the English backline into disarray. This should also subsequently free up Dani Olmo to make his trademarks into the box.
Prediction
Spain 1-1 England (Spain to Win on Penalties)
England will be keen to end their trophy drought and also go one better than last time around. While they have a strong squad with plenty of depth, Southgate’s inability to take calculated risks should play right into Spain’s hands. It remains unlikely that the trophy will go ‘home’ anytime soon.
Argentina and Canada will face off in the first semifinal of Copa America 2024, a repeat of the competition opener from Group A
Canada have a golden opportunity to make history as they face defending champions Argentina in the first semi-final of Copa America 2024 at MetLife Stadium on Tuesday.
In a rematch of their tournament opener, Canada can become the second CONCACAF team to reach the Copa America final. Both sides advanced to the semi-finals via penalty shootouts, with Argentina defeating Ecuador and Canada overcoming Venezuela after 1-1 draws in regular time respectively.
Argentina’s path to the semi-finals has been fortified by their exceptional defence and goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. The victory over Ecuador secures their fifth consecutive appearance in the Copa America semi-finals. Historically, Argentina have been strong at this stage, progressing in seven of their last eight attempts, with the only setback being against Brazil in 2019.
A triumph on Tuesday would mark the first time Argentina reached the Copa America final as defending champions since 1959. Scaloni’s team has been defensively sound, conceding just once throughout the tournament. The Albiceleste are unbeaten in their last nine matches across all competitions, allowing only three goals during this period.
On the other hand, Canada has shown remarkable resilience since their initial loss to Argentina. Jesse Marsch’s squad has conceded just once in their last three games. They are the third CONCACAF team to reach the Copa America semi-finals in their debut appearance, following Honduras and Mexico. They are also the first from the region to advance this far since the USA in 2016.
This semi-final marks Canada’s fifth appearance in the final four of a continental tournament this century. They have progressed beyond this stage twice, in the 2023 Nations League and the 2000 Gold Cup. Canada aims to emulate Mexico’s 2001 Copa America run, where Mexico reached the final before losing to Colombia.
Argentina’s defensive stability and tactical discipline under Scaloni will be pivotal, also giving their world-class frontline a base to build upon. Canada, under Marsch, has transformed into a more disciplined and resilient team. Jonathan David and Alphonso Davies will be crucial in breaking down Argentina’s defence. SoccerSouls takes a closer look at this clash.
Team News and Predicted XI
Argentina
Lionel Messi was not at his best against Ecuador and will be keen to make amends for the penalty miss in the shootout. he missed the final group game with a hamstring injury but now appears to be back to full fitness.
Lionel Scaloni is likely to retain his flexible 4-3-3 formation with Emiliano Martínez in goal. He should be protected by the back four of Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez and Marcos Acuna.
Midfielder Leandro Paredes should perform the role of the pivot in the centre, giving Liverpool star Alexis Mac Allister and the dynamic Rodrigo De Paul the freedom to push forward. Lionel Messi is expected to don the playmaker’s role with Lautaro Martinez and Julian Alvarez leading the line. Angel Di Maria will offer Argentina another option off the bench should they need to shift gears.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Emi. Martinez; Molina, Romero, Li. Martinez, Acuna; Mac Allister, Paredes, De Paul; Messi, La. Martinez, Alvarez
Canada
Inter Milan Tajon Buchanan remains a major doubt for Canada after he suffered a broken tibia during training just days before their match against Venezuela. This injury puts his participation in doubt not just for the semi-final clash against Argentina but also for the remainder of the tournament.
Jesse Marsch has an otherwise fully fit squad to choose from for the clash and is expected to set his side up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Maxime Crépeau in goal. The shot-stopper should be protected by the back four of Alistair Johnston, Moise Bombito, Derek Cornelius, and Alphonso Davies.
Stephen Eustáquio and Jonathan Osorio should form the double pivot, freeing up Jonathan David to act as the playmaker. Cyle Larin should start up front, with Richie Laryea and Jacob Shaffelburg providing support out wide.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Crepeau; Johnston, Bombito, Cornelius, Davies; Osorio, Eustaquio; Laryea, David, Shaffelburg; Larin
Key Stats
- Argentina have never conceded a goal against Canada.
- Argentina have not lost a major tournament match on U.S. soil since a 3-2 defeat to Romania in the 1994 World Cup’s round of 16.
- A win on the night will see Canmada make it to their first-ever Copa America final at the first time of asking.
- Argentina have not made it to the final of the competition as defending champions since 1959.
Match Deciding Duel
Lautaro Martinez (Argentina) vs Derek Cornelius (Canada)
Lautaro Martinez is the top scorer in the tournament this season and has made it a habit of scoring late goals for Argentina. This augurs well for a side that is defensively compact, giving them a second wind to settle the game as the opposition gets tired. Derek Cornelius will have his hands full all night but will know that he cannot slack off for even a second with Martinez on the prowl.
Argentina’s ability to score late coupled with Canada’s vulnerabilities in the second half of the game makes for a thrilling finale in the final 30 minutes of the first semifinal. While Argentina do have several threats and matchwinners in their lineup, Martinez’s clinical touch has given them the edge this summer. He will certainly be aiming to make a difference once again on Tuesday.
Transfer Watch
Jonathan David
The LOSC Lille attacker is Canada’s trump card going forward and is expected to leave the Ligue 1 giants this summer. David is a pacy player whose ability to get into space and clinical ability in the box helps make a difference. While several clubs are keeping tabs on him, a solid showing against the defending FIFA World Cup holders will only help boost his profile among potential suitors.
David will be up against the meanest defence in the competition on the night. The duo of Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martinez aren’t just formidable defenders but their ‘take no prisoners’ approach will certainly add a physical element to the duel. David is unlikely to come up against a meaner backline in the competition and how well he handles this challenge could determine his stock this summer.
Prediction
Argentina 2-0 Canada
Both teams will be familiar with each other having felt each other out on the opening day. The stakes are much higher this time round and Canada will be hoping for a monumental upset. Argentina were handed a late scare against Ecuador and that perhaps will ensure they don’t take Tuesday’s game for granted. The game should be a hard-fought one with Argentina’s match winners making the difference in the second half of the game.
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