CITY 1 LIVERPOOL 4

League Division 1

26th August 1978

Attendance 46,710

Scorers
City Kidd(23)
Liverpool Souness(15 & 48), Kennedy(35), Dalglish(55)

Ref P Reeves

City Corrigan, Clements, Donachie, Power, Booth, Futcher, Keegan, Channon, Kidd, Hartford, Owen – sub Palmer(unused)

Liverpool Clements, Neal, A Kennedy, Thompson, R Kennedy, Hughes Dalglish, Case, Heighway, McDermott, Souness – sub Fairclough(unused)

FROM THE PRESS BOX

SOUNESS STAMPS HIS STYLE

JOHN ROBERTS WRITING IN THE GUARDIAN 28TH AUGUST 1978
Liverpool were Liverpool, only more so, Alan Kennedy having filled the left back position so adequately … and Graeme Souness quickly developing into the most profound midfield influence in British football since Johnny Giles.

… Although City were handicapped by the absence of Barnes and Paul Futcher’s problem of integrating into the defence where he was playing alongside Booth in place of the injured Watson, Liverpool gave a most impressive performance of offensive football without overtaxing themselves.
City contributed wholeheartedly to the afternoon’s abundant entertainment and created many scoring opportunities by means of counter-attacking, yet the over-riding impression was one of Liverpool’s inner strength, the confidence gained from the years of continuity and success, setting them apart from their opponents, collectively and individually.

Epitomising this difference was the pathos of Mike Channon. Had Channon played a year ago the way he did on Saturday, distributing the ball quite splendidly and moving into excellent positions with sharpness only to fail at the point of execution, he would have been considered a most unfortunate competitor. By now, however, too many shots have flown wide at the target for City’s supporters to be inclined to voice other than vociferous condemnation of the former England striker.
After quarter of an hour’s play, Channon, who formed City’s two-man attack with Brian Kidd, made an interception in midfield, evaded a tackle and shot wide. From Clemence’s goal kick Souness gained possession, by-passed Clements, City’s right back, and opened the scoring with a perfectly struck shot.

Channon prompted an equalising goal by City, scored by Kidd, and Liverpool responded by taking the lead again before half-time, with a headed goal by Ray Kennedy. Souness and Dalglish added to Liverpool’s score. Hartford’s header hit a post, Channon hooked the ball yards over, and Kidd’s shot bounced off the bar.
A sadist suggested that Liverpool might complete the torture by bringing on their substitute, David Fairclough. But this time Len Fairclough may have proved equally devastating.