Talented Whelan's Curler Wins The Cup

Liverpool v Manchester United in the 1983 League Cup final was one of many epic battles between England’s two biggest clubs in the 1980s. Exhausted and running on empty the match went to extra time. Before the talented Whelan’s curler wins the cup for Liverpool.

The teams had met twice in the League and drawn on both occasions. This final was to be of no exception. Bob Paisley would walk the Reds out onto the pitch for the last time as Liverpool sought its third straight Football League Cup title. 

After a stellar career marked by 535 games, nine years, six First Division Championships, three Football League Cup titles and three European Cup titles, everything culminated on this final day. 

United Strike First

United struck first through 17-year-old Norman Whiteside. The Northern Ireland wonderkid turned Liverpool legend Alan Hansen before striking the ball past Grobbelaar. Liverpool fought back. Creating several chances and but for the good positioning and fortune of United keeper Gary Bailey they would have been level.

The second half and Liverpool began to exert pressure on the United goal. A long range effort from Alan Kennedy that fizzed over the bar was a warning that minutes later United did not heed.

Kennedy To The Rescue

Kennedy striding forward struck an effort that keeper Bailey probably should have done better with to equalise. United countered and two moments of indecision from Liverpool keeper Grobbelaar almost handed United the lead. The first a major miscalculation on a cross that Whiteside couldn’t convert. The second a cynical challenge on Gordon McQueen who had broken the offside trap to race through the Liverpool defence. Grobbelaar received a booking when a red card was also a major option.

Talented Whelan’s Curler Wins The Cup

The match went to extra time and with both teams pushing forward, Dalglish should have probably scored. But struck his effort straight at Bailey. However, in the 99th minute, Liverpool led for the first time.

Whelan took the ball and tried to put through Kennedy. The ball rebounded back to Whelan who struck an unstoppable curler into the back of the United net.

Supersub David Fairclough had three clear-cut chances to make the result safe but squandered them all. It wasn’t to matter though as Liverpool would see out the rest of extra-time to seal another Wembley victory.