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Liverpool’s 2-1 win over West Ham before the international break extended their unbeaten streak at Anfield to 63 league games. Jürgen Klopp’s men have a long way to go before surpassing Chelsea’s record of 86 unbeaten league matches at home, which began with Claudio Ranieri in February 2004, lasted until José Mourinho’s first stint at the club and the Avram Grant’s mandate before finally ending in October 2008 when Luiz Felipe Scolari was in charge.
Liverpool were the team that ended Chelsea’s streak in 2008, when Xabi Alonso scored a goal at Stamford Bridge. They may continue to challenge Chelsea’s record sometime next year, but, for now, they have a chance to make their own history. If they avoid defeat to Leicester on Sunday, they will break a 40-year-old club record that was set when Bob Paisley was in charge.
Between January 1978 and January 1981, Liverpool was 85 matches in all competitions without proving defeat at Anfield: 63 league matches (50 D13 victories), six in the FA Cup, nine in the League Cup, six in the European Cup and a European Super Cup. match. Teams from England, Scotland, Portugal, West Germany, Belgium and the USSR visited Anfield and none won. Liverpool’s defense was stingy, conceding only four goals in 21 league games in the 1978-79 season and just eight goals the following campaign, but it was also ruthless, beating Derby 5-0, Norwich 6-0 and Tottenham 7. -0 in the 1978-79 season. They even scored 10 goals against Finnish champion Oulun PS in October 1980.
If you were to invest a hard-earned pound bill in a team ending Liverpool’s streak, you would have avoided Leicester’s trip to Anfield on January 31, 1981. Jock Wallace’s team was in last place on the table. league, having won just six league games all season. with their only away victories at Birmingham City and Leeds United.
They could at least point to some success against Liverpool. Leicester’s first win of the season came unexpectedly against the defending champions, a 2-0 win in front of 28,455 fans on Filbert Street that provided a hint of optimism. However, hope would soon evaporate. Two 5-0 thrashes suffered at Manchester United and Nottingham Forest in September gave an indication that it would be a difficult season for Leicester, and a 4-0 setback at Southampton later in the year continued the pattern.
Leicester could hardly have visited Anfield in worse shape. They had not scored a goal in their last five league games and, to make matters worse, had just been beaten 3-1 in the FA Cup by third-division Exeter City. Damage limitation seemed to be the main objective. However, it was not all doom and gloom for Leicester. Liverpool had also been eliminated from the FA Cup, losing 2-1 to local rivals Everton, and injuries were affecting the Paisley side. With Alan Kennedy, Alan Hansen, David Fairclough and Kenny Dalglish missing, Liverpool’s resources were running low.
“People expect us to remove our dentures and still chew our food properly,” Paisley said. Still, he could still call Steve Heighway and David Johnson into the first team, with Avi Cohen and Colin Irwin in the back. Third in the league, just two points behind Ipswich and Aston Villa, the long-awaited home win would keep Liverpool in touch on top.
Although Leicester started off brilliantly, the fragile confidence of Wallace’s young team was put to the test when they fell behind after 15 minutes. Striker Alan Young, who tried to help the defense, only managed to get past goalkeeper Mark Wallington. Liverpool smelled blood.
Heighway missed an easy opportunity from eight yards as Liverpool increased the pressure. Forcing 10 corners, it seemed inevitable that a second goal would follow. But as the second half began, Leicester took hold, with Kevin MacDonald, Pat Byrne, Andy Peake and Ian Wilson dominating the midfield battle. Leicester began to believe.
MacDonald and Byrne put Ray Clemence to the test before Leicester drew at Kop thanks to a rare mistake by the Liverpool goalkeeper. Clemence dropped a cross at the feet of Byrne, who rolled the ball into an empty net. A stuttering Liverpool was apparently paying the price for taking his foot off the pedal.
Young and his attacking partner Jim Melrose continued to spin around, causing trouble for Liverpool’s defense. Melrose missed opportunities, before making amends with 15 minutes remaining. Stealing the ball from Irwin on the edge of the box, Melrose shot past Clemence to give Leicester a 2-1 lead and stun the 35,154 fans inside Anfield.
Liverpool could not find an answer, as the unthinkable began to come true. After the final whistle, the home crowd cheered for the Leicester heroes off the field. Despite the dent in Liverpool’s title bid, their fans were happy to give credit where it deserved.
“Our loss was a good example of complacency,” Paisley said afterward. “I just hope that our players know that in football there are no certainties, only uncertainties.” Paisley was right. Despite the injuries, Liverpool players and supporters could be apologized for dismissing the threat from a team that was at the bottom of the league and had just lost to Exeter.
Somehow, Wallace’s youths had stopped Liverpool’s record. “When I saw the Leicester team in our players ‘lounge after the game, I thought,’ God, they look like little kids. How could guys have beaten us like that? ”Said Liverpool midfielder Ray Kennedy. The average age of the team was just 22. Friar was 17, Peake 19, MacDonald 20, with Larry May, John O’Neill, Melrose and Wilson all 22. When Byrne (24) was replaced by Mark Goodwin, 20, the youth presence grew. “They played more like old pros,” Leslie Duxbury wrote in the Observer. “Relentlessly destroying Liverpool in attack and in midfield and standing like a prison wall in defense.”
“I will tell my players that now they can compete with the best, and they will believe it,” said Wallace after Leicester became the first club to complete a double over Liverpool since Arsenal achieved the feat in the 1974 season. 75. However, those two victories weren’t enough to keep them going. Their form recovered after the trip to Anfield, but their poor start to the season cost them dearly.
A week after their loss to Leicester, Liverpool lost again at West Brom and the title race turned into a direct fight between Aston Villa and Ipswich. They would finish fifth in the league but, despite doubts about the strength of Paisley’s roster, the club managed to finish the season with its first League Cup and its third European Cup. Winning two trophies in a transitional season was very Liverpool’s.
Will Brendan Rodgers ‘team repeat the boys’ 1981 achievement and end Liverpool’s unbeaten league streak at Anfield in 63 games? They are at the top of the table after victories at Manchester City and Arsenal, so confidence will not be lacking. One thing’s for sure: If Leicester win at Anfield on Saturday, they won’t be a coupon buster like they were in 1981.
• This article first appeared on That 1980’s Sports Blog
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