OVER the years, Liverpool Football Club has been involved in many FA Cup semi-finals.
Some have been tragic in many senses of the word whilst some have been pure jubilation and have contained some magnificent goals from both sides involved. In my opinion (with the help of others) are the top 5 semi-finals in our illustrious history.
Liverpool vs Chelsea: 1965
Before 1965, Liverpool Football Club was always seen as the under achievers in the FA Cup. The trophy had still yet to be placed in the Anfield Trophy cabinet. Shanks had been only in the job 5 years, but a gathering momentum was starting to build as in those 5 years promotion back to first division had already been achieved as well as ending the clubs 17 year wait to win the first division title. However, the club wanted to end the FA Cup drought.
The last time the reds had been in a cup final had been in 1950, where a 2-1 defeat to Arsenal extended the long wait for cup success. But, in 1965, rejuvenated by the prospect of being the first English club to win the European Cup, Shanks led his team to Villa Park to take on Chelsea in a bid to return to Wembley.
The game was staged on the 27th of March, with Leeds and Manchester United contesting each other at Hillsborough. The match kicked off at3pm and it was a tight affair. The Chelsea side, managed by Tommy Docherty were well known for their tough tackling as their side contained players such as Ron Harris and goalkeeper Peter Bonetti.
The deadlock was finally broken by Liverpool outside left Peter Thompson in the 63rd minute. The reds were on the verge of their first trip to the famous stadium under Shankly and a late penalty from Willie Stephenson ensured that this was the case.
Leeds awaited in the final as a first of seven FA cups was won for the Reds:
Liverpool vs Everton: 1977
12 years since the first FA cup was won and Liverpool were back at it again. Only this time, a dynasty had been built. One more FA Cup had been added to the trophy cabinet since then, along with several league titles. Except, there was one huge difference; Bob Paisley had taken over from Shankly in that time and he continued were he left off. The club was reigning league champions and were on the verge on retaining their crown as well as winning a first European cup. A win against their bitter rivals would make an unprecedented treble a firm reality.
The match was scheduled to take place at Maine Road, the home of Manchester City. Both clubs travelled there on the 23rd of April to lock horns in battle. The game was heading for 2-2 draw when controversy struck. Clive Thomas, the Welsh referee, disallowed a goal from Everton player Bryan Hamilton. Nobody in a red shirt appealed for the referee to blow his whistle but he done just that. It is still talked about to this day by the Blues.
This decision meant that the tie went to a replay to be played at the same ground, 4 days later. Once again, Thomas was commissioned to referee the match but this time, the match passed off without incident. Paisleys men ran out 3-0 winners, with goals from Neal, Case and Kennedy.
The league title was wrapped again, Europe was conquered as Monchengladbach were soundly beaten in Rome but the illustrious treble was denied as arch rivals Manchester United won the cup final 2-1:
Liverpool vs Manchester United: 1985
With the league title on the verge of entering Goodison Park for the first time in more than a decade, the FA Cup and European Cup was all that was left for Joe Fagan at the end of his brief spell in charge of his boyhood club. A disastrous night waited in Brussels a month after this game, but for now, it was Manchester United.
Ron Atkinson’s side had carved out a reputation for being a cup side in the 80’s. The record winners of the competition wanted to close down another avenue of a trophy for their greatest rivals. The game was fiercely contested by both sides and the strong wind was a factor and United had the better of the first half. Despite all of this, both sides went in at the break level.
The second half started in much the same vain as the first. Manchester United had all of the chances and they punished Liverpool in the 70th minute when Brian Robson fired home from close range. Ronnie Whelan then levelled the game with a spectacular effort from 25 yards to send the game into extra time. United looked to have found a winner in extra-time but Ian Rush bundled the ball home from 3 yards in the dying moments to set up a replay at Maine Road. This game is famed for its extreme level of violence on the terraces between the two sets of supporters.
The replay wasn’t as exciting as once again Robson and Hughes combined to send United to Wembley and leave the Reds trophy-less in Joe Fagan’s final hurrah.
(Semi Final 2-2):
(Replay lost 2-1):
Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest: 1988
1988 is seen as a watershed moment for British football. The previous summer Ian Rush traded England for Italy as he signed for Turn based Juventus. Liverpool had lost their star striker and Kenny Dalglish was charged with finding his replacement. In fact, he bought three. Peter Beardsley was bought from Newcastle; John Barnes was signed from Watford and goal machine John Aldridge was signed from Oxford. And the three turned to out to be better than anyone expected.
On the first day of the season, all three were pivotal as Arsenal were beaten and the rest was history. The finest football side in British football history had been created. The First Division was obliterated as a 17th league title was won with ease. A second double in three seasons seemed on the cards as old foes Nottingham Forest and Brian Clough waited at Hillsborough.
Aldo, Barnes and co were in fine form as the Dalglish’s men turned on the style. Two goals Aldridge stole the headlines as a 2-1 victory sent the reds back to Wembley again. What happened in the final is the biggest upset ever to grace the clubs illustrious history as unfancied Wimbledon pulled of an almighty shock and made sure that a second double wasn’t added to King Kenny’s CV.
(vs Forest ’88: won 2-1)
Liverpool vs Chelsea: 2006
After a barren few years, some foreign influence ensured LFC was back amongst the trophies. Gerard Houllier put us back on the map with that fantastic treble in 2001. But now, it was the turn of Rafa Benitez. When the highly rated Spaniard turned up at the club, there was a buzz and excitement that had never been felt before. And that buzz turned into ecstasy as the European Cup was won in 2005 after beating Chelsea along the way.
And when both sides were drawn to meet each other at Old Trafford in 2006 FA Cup semi-final, it was clear that revenge was on Josè Mourinho’s mind. A Saturday evening kick-off was arranged for both sides to do battle.
The script was set for the clear league leaders to sweep away Rafa’s boys as their inevitable league and cup double waited in the Welsh Capital. However, much like 2005, this wasn’t the case as a Jon-Arne Riise free-kick and a rocket from Luis Garcia (which was definitely over the line this time) was enough to make sure a 7th FA Cup was still possible.
In the final, another London side, this time West Ham provided stern opposition. It took a masterclass from Steven Gerrard to take the sides to penalties where the fantastic Pepe Reina made sure Rafa has his second trophy in 2 years.
(Garcia vs Chelsea):
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