LFC.tv - My Favourite Game

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This is a series where old players discuss their favorite matches.

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Rush's Finest Hour - A Tale Of Two Finals (http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N162903090121-1349.htm)
I think most people would safely assume that my favourite game for Liverpool would involve one of our FA Cup final victories over Everton.

They were both fantastic occasions for very different reasons and I think they are high up on my list of great memories, for the simple fact that, in each of them, we went on to beat Everton!

The 1986 clash stands out because it was the first all-Merseyside FA Cup final, and at that time I felt that the two best teams in Europe - never mind England - were Liverpool and Everton.

We'd just pipped them to the title a week earlier when Kenny scored that great goal at Chelsea and I think most people felt it was going to be Everton's day because of that.

At half-time they must have thought they had one hand on the cup after Gary Lineker's goal had given them the lead. But we had other ideas, and I think it was all the more sweet for being such an impressive comeback victory. It just highlighted the character of our side.

In 1989 it went the other way really. We had a great start when Aldo grabbed a superb goal, but we were hanging on then and it turned into a bit of a slog as we tried to see it through.

Then Stuart McCall equalised in the last minute and I think our heads went down.

Lots of their fans ran on to the pitch and it showed that they thought the tide had turned in their favour. They were so desperate to beat us.

One image that stands out in my mind was just prior to the goal. One of their fans ran up to Pat Van Den Hauwe and, how should we put it, expressed his frustration!

But we somehow found another gear in extra-time, and even though they equalised again just after I'd put us 2-1 up, we managed to snatch the third and decisive goal.

It was a very fitting victory when you consider what happened in the semi-final at Hillsborough.

I always think that we won it in 1986 for the players, but in 1989 we won it for the fans and the people who lost their lives on that tragic day in April.

If I have to pick one of the two I will always say 1986 and the only thing that came close to that was three years later when we walked out at Wembley to see red and blue everywhere.

Merseyside was united and I don't think you'll ever see anything like that again - not even at a Liverpool versus Everton game. The city was united before the game and the chants of Merseyside were very emotional.

Of course, when it started that all changed, but it is a moment I will never forget on what was another triumphant day for Liverpool Football Club.

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Hall Reflects On Cup Final Glory (http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/archivedirs/news/2008/oct/9/N161595081009-1426.htm)
"When it comes to choosing what I personally regard as the greatest match of my Liverpool career, I must say that I find it hard to choose between two.

The game I am most reminded of is the FA Cup semi-final against Everton in 1971. We were 1-0 down against a side many fancied to go on and win it.

So it's fair to say we were up against it at this point but we fought back and after Alun Evans had equalised I went on to score a 73rd minute winner.

That's the one game that people of that generation remember and the one they remind me of when I'm stopped in the street. They say "I was there at Old Trafford when you scored that goal, "and "That was one of the best matches I remember you playing in."

For me, that's very special. You have to remember we are talking about a game that was 37 years ago. But people STILL make those comments and it's a terrific feeling that people remember something you did so vividly.

It was a fabulous day. We were the underdogs because we had a relatively new side. The likes of myself, Steve Heighway, Alun Evans, Alec Lindsay and Clem hadn't been around too long and Everton had a cracking side. So for us to win and get to the final in our first season together was a terrific achievement.

However, that's not the game I'm going to pick.

I may have misled you there by suggesting it was the semi-final but it was, in fact, the 1974 FA Cup final against Newcastle United.

That's saying something when you think that the winning goal against Everton was special for not just being the winner but it was also my first goal for the club.

I still feel that the performance in that game - from the first minute to the last - defined the way Liverpool wanted to play and defined what was to follow over the next 20 years. It was really was a magnificent team performance.

We just ran them out off the park in the second-half. It wasn't even as if Newcastle were a duff team. They were a good side and had the likes of Alan Kennedy and Terry McDermott in there.

I was actually in direct competition with Alan in that game. He was only young then, he must have been about 19 or 20. Let's just say he had a tough time that afternoon but I think he'd be prepared to admit that himself!

I've always found that when I was totally focused the 90 minutes would always fly by. If you ask me to remember bits about a game I probably couldn't tell you.

But on this occasion one thing did stand out in my mind. It was about 10 or 15 minutes into the game and I remember Alan Kennedy smashing the ball right into my face from all of three yards!

I had that initial flash of fear. That brief second where you think your cup final could be over before it's even had time to get started. Fortunately for me, it wasn't the case and I stayed on and went on to pick up my winners medal.

It was a very sweet moment, particularly after we had lost the final to Arsenal back in 1971.

The whole experience of going to Wembley, preparing yourself, going down Wembley way and pulling in through those famous gates was a new one in '71 and it was brilliant.

After the game we'd had a big meal in the hotel, gone back to Liverpool and had an open top tour of the City. There were hundreds of thousands of supporters and it was a breathtaking sight.

Shanks walked out on St George's plateau and put his hands up and everyone went quiet. I was only a yard away from him and when you see something like that it's quite simply mind-blowing. It's then that you realise just how powerful that man was.

So it wasn't until I was driving home that the penny dropped that we'd lost. The medal in my bag was, in fact, a losers' medal.

When I got home on the Sunday night the entire family had come around to see me and one of the first things my Dad asked me was: "Can I see your medal?"

I took it out of the bag and said: "Dad, you can have that. I don't want losers' medals."

To this day my Dad still calls that his medal, although I did eventually get it back and it's now in the club Museum!

So, you see, to have the chance to climb those steps to get my winners medal just three years later was very, very special.

I have to say, it's a close-run thing for me between the '71 semi-final and the '74 final but if you push me, it has to be the latter that I look back on as my number one match in a Liverpool shirt.

It was a complete team performance and from my own, personal point of view, it was the day that I finally got my hands on that elusive FA Cup winners' medal."

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Rocket Ronny Reflects On Dream Night (http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/archivedirs/news/2008/dec/3/N162297081203-1229.htm)
Selhurst Park is not exactly high on the list of Liverpool fans when it comes to naming their favourite away ground, but for the man Kopites dubbed 'Rocket Ronny', it proved to be the stage where all his dreams came true.

"I'd have to say the best moment of my Liverpool career came in one of my very first games for the club, when I scored a hat-trick on my full debut against Charlton Athletic.

It was an occasion that helped raise my profile in the English game, particularly as I'd come to Liverpool as something of an unknown. It instantly propelled me into the spotlight and it was fantastic.

I'd travelled to London with the squad but didn't expect to start the game. I had just arrived at this famous club and there was so much competition for places that I knew I had to take my chance with both hands when it eventually came my way.

Fortunately enough it came sooner than I expected, and that evening I made sure I seized the opportunity.

If we are talking about the most memorable moment in my career, then that would definitely be up there. I always get asked what was the most key game for me, and in terms of my time at Liverpool, it was the clash at Charlton back in 1990.

Yes, I had other great memories from my spell with the Reds. I scored the last minute winner against Everton in the derby at Anfield, and there were also other games I enjoyed, but you can't compare it to making your full debut for Liverpool as an unknown.

Liverpool had just lost out to Crystal Palace in the FA Cup semi-final. I was actually in the squad for that match but back then we could only have two substitutes so I missed out.

Ian Rush came off injured in that game as well so who knows, maybe I could have made an impact? That is difficult to say but a few days later I did get my chance in the game I will never forget.

I think losing the FA Cup semi-final was the main reason why Kenny Dalglish decided to hand me a start against the Addicks. Rushy was injured and I don't think he was happy with Peter Beardsley's performance against Palace so he dropped him.

I had played for the first team before because my debut was against Southampton at Anfield. We were losing 2-1 when I came off the bench, but it all ended well as we went on to win 3-2.

I remember Kenny told me just one hour before the game that I was starting! He pulled me to one side and said: "Ronny, you will be leading our attack against Charlton!"

Some players are quite nervous but I was always very calm before a match.

I didn't feel nervous at all and it was a great feeling. I thought it was a great chance for me to prove myself. The opposition also didn't know me so I felt good.

No-one said anything to me before the game. I had adapted quite quickly to how the team operated so I was already integrated and knew what the manager and the staff wanted from me.

It was a dream start for me and it couldn't have gone any better. People have since said to me it was the perfect hat-trick but I was just happy to start a game and score goals for Liverpool.

I scored the first goal after 26 minutes. It was quite a good goal because I took on the defence which I loved to do and then scored with my right foot which I have to admit, isn't the best!

After scoring my first goal for Liverpool I was full of confidence. In the second half I completed my hat-trick. One was a great finish with my left foot and then I capped it off with a header after a superb cross from the great John Barnes.

It was fantastic. I loved playing with John and we had a good combination together.

The feeling I had at the end of the game was unbelievable. I got everybody to sign the match ball and I've still got it to this day.

Needless to say, Dalglish was very happy after the game. We had just lost in the cup and we needed something special to turn things around again because we were still fighting for the title.

He had shown faith in an unknown like me and this was my way of repaying his kindness for bringing me to Liverpool. When a manager signs a player and he doesn't do the business then people are going to turn against the boss.

The dressing rooms at Selhurst Park were very small and it was crowded. Everybody was so happy and I was getting so many compliments and congratulations. It was a happy place to be.

I have a great story about the journey back to Liverpool because in those days we got on the coach and drove straight home. We didn't have a private flight like they do nowadays.

Also in those days we didn't have mobile phones. It was a luxury item and there was only one mobile phone on the bus itself.

We got on the coach and I remember Kenny telling me I could use the mobile and stay on it all the way home to Liverpool. He told me to ring all my family and friends back home in Israel. He insisted I should stay on the phone for as long as I wanted to.

I would imagine it was a very expensive phone bill for the club but it was a wonderful gesture!

At that time you couldn't see the game live. There wasn't an LFC TV back then and no SKY TV. I remember Israeli TV tried to show the game back home for people to watch me make my full debut for Liverpool.

The next day I was getting bombarded by the Israeli press. They couldn't reach me after the game because I was speaking to my family and friends on the team bus!

I haven't got a copy of the full game but I have the highlights with my goals. It is a tape I cherish dearly.

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Fairclough - The Game I Showed The Real Me (http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/archivedirs/news/2008/nov/5/N161943081105-1344.htm)
Having been a part of so many successful times at Liverpool, it's hard to pick a game and not talk about the European Cup final that I played in back in 1978 at Wembley.

That will always be my all-time favourite game - because of the occasion more than anything else.

But when I think back to matches where I performed really well, I always remember one that ultimately played a key role in our title triumph of 1976.

It was an Easter Monday clash against Manchester City at Maine Road. We'd played Stoke City on the Saturday and the way it broke down in the end was that we needed five points from the last three games.

City were very much up there back then and so it was a huge hurdle we needed to overcome if we were to land the title.

As you can imagine the stadium was heaving, but we were buoyed by the fact we had a great travelling support with us.

I've often had people come up to me and tell me about the impact I made as a substitute that day - but I actually started. Even Bob Paisley has said the game changed when I came on as a sub!

As I say, I actually started from the beginning. I came in for Jimmy Case and wore the number eight shirt. That was the change from the 5-3 win over Stoke on the Saturday.

It was a bit of a nerve-wracking because so much was resting on the game and I started out on the wing in the wide right position.

I remember we kicked off and the ball was fed out to me. I can't quite remember who it was who pased it, but it went right underneath my foot.

The ball trickled out for a throw-in and in the very first few seconds of a game like that you think to yourself that you are potentially on a nightmare.

But looking back, I think it was the only thing I did wrong all afternoon in the end.

I remember that as much as I do the glory bits later on!

I really hit top form that day and ran Mike Doyle ragged. I went from strength to strength and received some nice words of praise afterwards.

I enjoyed the first-half where I really got the better of Doyle. He was an England centre half at the time.

It was goalless at the break but things turned around in the second-half and I played a big part in the opening goal on 73 minutes.

worked my way to the by-line and cut it back for Stevie Heighway to come in and slot home for 1-0.

At that point we were settling for that scoreline. But things went from good to better for me then because I ended up scoring two in the last two minutes of the game.

One was with the aid of a slight deflection while the other was a nice little finish.

It was typical of the game that things just got better and better for me with each passing minute. I was on form with the ball, doing a lot of creating and a lot of dribbling.

The plaudits I received in the days after the game gave me a huge lift and pushed me towards international selection.

I was likened to the Dutch star Johnny Rep and there were big calls for me to be added to the England squad for the 1976 European Championships.

I'm a bit embarrassed to talk about the praise I received back then, but it was a day when I felt I showed the real me. It all worked, I scored goals and enjoyed the part I played in the game.

It was just a fantastic moment for me and to top it off we went on to win the League and UEFA Cup double in the next couple of games.

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Redknapp - From The Sublime To The Ridiculous (http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N163279090304-1242.htm)

Everybody remembers the matches we had against Newcastle United in the mid-90s.

They were the perfect advert for Premiership football; high on passion, excitement and quality.

When I look back at my Liverpool career, there were a lot of games that stood out and the first 4-3 against Kevin Keegan's side is up there.

It's been voted the best Premier League game of all-time in a couple of polls I've seen and I can understand why people remember it so vividly because it had everything.

But as great as that match was, I'd have to say that the second 4-3 is what I regard as my favourite game for the Reds.

It's been overshadowed in many ways by the first one, but the football we played for the first hour was as good as I've ever been involved with. We tore them to shreds and if it had ended up 6-0 no-one could have complained.

Kenny Dalglish was in charge of them by that point and they had a lot of problems with injury, so most people expected us to come out on top.
Everyone assumed lightning couldn't strike twice and pundits were saying that Newcastle were not the same side that had been floored by Stan Collymore's injury-time winner 12 months earlier.

But you can't take anything away from us - we played them off the park for long spells that night.

For many it had 1-0 or 2-0 written all of it prior to kick-off, but if people were expecting an anti-climax, then they were to be in for a major shock.

We raced out of the traps and I remember hitting a ball out wide for Jason McAteer that led to the opening goal. He crossed the ball along the edge of the box and after Robbie (Fowler) dummied it, Macca came in and curled a brilliant strike into the top corner.

Before Newcastle could recover we were two-up after Paddy Berger tapped home Robbie's rebound off the post.

We were cruising and playing some exceptional one-touch stuff. Inevitably a third arrived.

I won the ball on the right, just inside our half. I looked up and floated a decent ball through for Robbie, who beat the keeper to it and coolly clipped it home.

As I say, we were rampant at this point and so on top it was almost embarrassing.

We went in 3-0 up at half-time and cruising.

But then David James made a mistake from a tame Keith Gillespie shot to let them back in it.

Even at 3-1, it looked like we would just go on and add to our tally, but then I made a mistake with a mistimed pass to Macca that went straight to David Ginola.

He's certainly not the kind of player to give the ball away to and he punished me with a great pass that saw Tino Asprilla beat Jamo and lob the ball home.

We suddenly became very nervous and their third was even worse from a defensive point of view. We could have cleared it about five times and after a comedy of errors Warren Barton eventually stabbed it into the corner with just two minutes left.

We couldn't believe it. How on earth were we about to draw this game?

A lot of sides would have let their heads go down then and trudged off disappointed with a point. But we kept playing our stuff. Even then we managed to put together a couple of good moves and, thankfully, we made the opening that saw Anfield erupt.

Dom Matteo found Stig on the left and he sent over a fantastic ball that was just begging for someone to knock it home.

There was only man who was going to get it and that was Robbie.

I think what happened next is one one of the reasons why that game is more special for me because Robbie Fowler was the man who grabbed the winner.

No offence to Stan who did it a year earlier, but at the time Robbie was the best centre forward around. He was simply breathtaking and the way he headed home that winner summed him up.

He rose as if he was 6ft 4 to bullet that header into the net at the Kop end and earn us the win I think our play deserved.

I saw it on LFC TV the other week and it was great seeing those celebrations again, with both players and fans going crazy and Paddy Berger having his alice band knocked out of his hair!

It capped a strange evening in which we mixed the sublime and the ridiculous but still came out on top.

It probably should have been one of the great Liverpool performances of that era, and although a crazy final 20 minutes robbed us of the one-sided triumph we deserved, in terms of the football we played, it is still the one I regard as my favourite match for Liverpool.

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