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Here is Brian Judson's preview of the game
Full Record of Spurs -v- Liverpool
Premier Pl W D L For-Ag Pts
Home 10 5 3 2 15 -13 18
Away 11 1 2 8 10 -25 5
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Total(Prem) 21 6 5 10 25 -38 23
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Football Lge
Home(Div 1) 49 24 10 15 71 -58 62
Away(Div 1) 49 4 14 31 38 -95 24
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Total(Div 1)98 28 24 46 109 -153 86
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Total(Prem) 21 6 5 10 25 -38 23
Total(Div 1)98 28 24 46 109 -153 86
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Grand Total 119 34 29 56 124 -191 109
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One of the highlights of a football season for me in those now distant
days of football terraces was the sight of the Kop swaying at the Park
Lane end of the ground in the days before that became the home end. It was
always a tremendous sight seeing the Scousers brandishing their scarves
and swaying as one as they sang .....
When you walk through a storm, hold your head up high
And don't be afraid of the dark ..........
At the end of a storm, there's a golden sky
And the sweet, silver song of a lark .....
Walk on through the wind!
Walk on through the rain!
Though your dreams be tossed and blown ...
Walk on! Walk on!
With hope in your heart .....
And you'll never walk alone ......
You'll never walk alone ..........
YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Then they broke off to chant ...
Ee-aye-addio LIVERPOOL! LIVERPOOL! LIVERPOOL!
I have often wished WE could be as fanatical as that because a team is
definitely lifted by the sound of its supporters in full voice. But, all
too often, Spurs latch on to a player and barrack him mercilessly until
the player loses confidence and asks to be dropped.
Over the years, we have seen some tremendous games between Spurs and
Liverpool. Both sides have enjoyed success over the years with Liverpool
dominating the 1980s. Their enforced absence from European competition,
due to Heysel in 1985, when I thought the Italian fans were just as
culpable as some of Liverpool's, scarred them. The real blame for Heysel
must rest with UEFA for selecting Heysel as a venue in the first place.
Liverpool had not achieved success for a very long time when Bill Shankly
became manager in 1959. They had to wait three years before they returned
to the Championship but Liverpool have never finished in the bottom half
of the table since doing so. Shankly's first great side won them the FA
Cup for the first time in 1965. I can still see St John heading the
winning goal in my mind's eye. But that side grew old and Shankly built an
even better side.
The defence virtually picked itself every week In goal was Ray Clemence.
The backs were Chris Lawler and Alec Lindsay, In front of them were Tommy
Smith, Larry Lloyd and Emlyn Hughes. The forwards were Ian Callaghan,
Brian Hall, Stevie Heighway, John Toshack and Peter Thompson. The most
popular player in that team was Heighway, of whom it was sung by the
Scousers "Do it your way, Stevie Heighway!"
But under Bob Paisley, Liverpool reached even greater heights, winning the
European Cup so often that one wonders why anyone else bothered to
compete! Kevin Keegan was the most popular player in that side until he
left for S V Hamburg to be replaced by an even greater player in Kenny
Dalglish.
So it was all the sweeter for Spurs when we finally beat Liverpool at
Anfield for the first time since 16 March 1912 when Garth Crooks scored
the only goal of the game.
But when Paisley retired, only Kenny Dalglish seemed to have the golden
vision that won silverware each season. Liverpool were regarded as
failures if they did not win anything but it has to be borne in mind that
Liverpool were deeply scarred by the memories of Heysel and Hillsborough.
It has taken Gerard Houillier to put them back on to the road of dominance
of the silverware. He was one of those who stood on the Kop when he was a
student in the 1960s and knows all about the mythology of the Kop. The
size of the task can be exemplified best by the fact Houillier took ill
with the stress of it all and was absent for several months from Anfield.
Liverpool may not yet be the dominating side they once were but there can
be no disputing the fact how effectively they dealt with Manchester United
in the Football League Cup Final, sponsored by Worthington's. It has been
a very long time since Liverpool have humbled their opponents from the
other end of the M62 so effectively. It appears that Sir Alex Ferguson was
so downcast after the game he did not have the will to kick any football
boots in the direction of his hapless side!
Tottenham will be given a searching examination of their credentials for
qualifying for Europe in this match. Liverpool may know they have already
qualified for Europe but their immediate target will be to qualify for
next season's Champions' League competition. Apart from Heskey, Liverpool
expect to have all of their squad available, unlike Tottenham. Hopefully,
Robbie Keane will be available to give us more options up front. But Spurs
will have to maintain their concentration for 90 minutes plus added time
if they are to beat the Scousers. I hope for a point but am reconciled to
the probability we will see another home defeat. Our only hope is that
Celtic will have left them so exhausted and drained from their UEFA Cup
tie at Parkhead that they are slow to come out of their dressing room on
Sunday.
COME ON YOU SPURS!
Cheers, Brian
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