Liverpool’s hopes tumble

Press, 23 May 1977, Page 30

Liverpool’s hopes tumble

By

STEVEN BIERLEY,

NZPA correspondent

London

Liverpool’s dream of adding the English Football Association Cup to its league championship success were shattered when Manchester United won the final at Wembley yesterday morning (New Zealand time).

A dynamic spell of three; goals in four minutes early inj the second half decided a pul-1 sating match which saw | United, which won 2-1, make! up for the disappointment of losing to the second-division | team, Southampton, in lastj year’s final. The match was wide open until five minutes after halftime, when the England striker, Stuart Pearson, latched on to a Jimmy Greenhoff flick to smash a low right-foot shot past the dependable Liverpool goal-keeper. Ray ClemenceBut like a true champion, Liverpool, which plays West German’s Borussia Moenchengladbach in the European Cup final in Rome on Thursday, bounced straight back. A harmless-looking pass by Joey Jones in the fifty-first minute was seized upon by Jimmy Case who, with his back to goal, swivelled to put a shot high and wide of Alex Stepney. Liverpool’s hopes of joining Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal as the only clubs to have won the league and cup double this century were again buoyant, but two minutes later Jimmy Greenhoff dashed its dreams. Lou Macaris’ shot from the right seemed to be covered by Clemence but the ball struck Jimmy Greenhoff and rolled gently into the net, with Clemence stranded.

Desperately Liverpool, which had the edge over United throughout the first half, stormed forward but Manchester United, who last won the cup 14 years ago, was not to be denied.

Liverpool had begun creating chances in the fifth minute with Ray Kennedy, a member of the Arsenal team which won the double in 1971, heading down a cross from Case, only to see his effort foiled by the out-stretched leg of the veteran United ’keeper, Stepney. Stepney, the only surviving member of the United team which won the European Cup in 1968, had a superb match and thoroughly deserved his first F.A, Cup-winner’s medal. In the closing stages, Liverpool sent in its veteran midfield player, lan Callaghan, in place of the striker, David Johnson, but by then it was too late. Earlier United’s manager, Mr Tommy Docherty, had pulled off the mercurial winger, Gordon Hill, for David McCreery.

! It was third time lucky for IMr Docherty, who was on the losing side last year, and was 'also manager of Chelsea [When it lost an all-London fi pal against Tottenham Hot[spur 10 years ago.

I It was a bitter disappointment for Liverpool and its manager, Mr Bob Paisley, now faces the difficult task of lifting the morale of his players in time for the European Cup final. However. Liverpool may not be too down-hearted. For most of the match it looked the more composed side, but two opportunist goals by Pearson and Greenhoff swung the game dramatically Manchester’s wav. Perhaps the key to the match watched by a capacity 100,000 crowd, was the superb defensive play of United’s central defender. Brian Greenhoff, young brother of Jimmy, and also the teen-age full-back Arthur Albiston, who came in as a late replacement for the injured Stewart Houston. The 19-year-old Scot showed no sign of nerves and probably saved the match for United in the first half when a brilliant tackle on the England striker, Kevin Keegan stopped the England player in his tracks when he appeared to have a clear run.

The Manchester manager, Mr T. Docherty, said later that he was delighted for his team, and for himself it was “eighth time lucky.” He had been to Wembley as player and manager with seven losing teams before Saturday. He said: “Today our boys were very patient. When we scored Liverpool came straight back at us, and when we scored again they did the same.

“I thought Liverpool were tremendous and I nope they win the European Cup.’’ The Liverpool manager, Mr B. Paisley, said: “I thought the Manchester goals had an element of luck about them. We had our chances in the first half, and all credit to Manchester for coming back so strongly, “I’ve told the boys they have nothing to be ashamed of and if there had been no goals we would have won on points.

“The fact that we didn’t have the luck today may well motivate them for the match in Rome, I have no doubt they will rise to it.”