The Day Fortress Anfield Was Conquered

Between January 1978 and January 1981, Bob Paisley’s Liverpool went 85 matches in all competitions without tasting defeat at Anfield. That was until Leicester City arrived on Saturday, January 31st 1981. To routinely become the latest team to succumb to Liverpool’s incredible record. However, that was not the case. Today was the day fortress Anfield was conquered.

If you were a betting man the fixture at Anfield was probably one you would have steered well clear of. Sitting bottom of Division One, Jock Wallace’s Leicester City team had only won six league matches all season. Their only away victories coming at Birmingham City and Leeds United.

How Do You Stop Liverpool?

Despite beating Liverpool 2-0 earlier in the season at Filbert Street playing the mighty Reds at Anfield was a different proposition. Surely there was no way they could halt the Liverpool juggernaut?

Especially when their defensive record was so poor. Leaking goals for fun including 5 against Manchester United and Nottingham Forest and 4 against Southampton. It seemed a mere formality that Liverpool with McDermott, Souness and Co. scoring goals for fun that they would suffer a similar fate at fortress Anfield.

They didn’t even have the luxury of going into the fixture on the back of a good result. The previous week losing embarrassingly to lowly Exeter City from the Third Division 3-1 in an FA Cup 4th Round Replay. They also hadn’t scored a league goal for five fixtures. All didn’t bode well for The Foxes.

Injury Woes For Liverpool

However, it wasn’t all doom and gloom for Leicester. Liverpool had also exited the FA Cup a week before to rivals Everton. And injuries to key players were having an impact on Paisley’s squad. Without regulars, Alan Kennedy, Alan Hansen, David Fairclough and Kenny Dalglish, Liverpool’s resources were being stretched to breaking point. 

They did still however have Kennedy, Lee, Heighway, McDermott, Souness and David Johnson to call on so despite their injury woes. Enough surely to beat dejected Leicester City.

Liverpool Strike Early

Despite their lack of confidence, Leicester started brightly. However, the fragile confidence of Wallace’s young team was cruelly exposed when they fell behind after 15 minutes. Forward Alan Young, attempting to help out defensively, only succeeded in heading past keeper Mark Wallington. Normal service had resumed at Anfield it appeared.

Liverpool pushed forward keen to finish the game early. Chances came aplenty but were all spurned. Forcing ten corners, it seemed inevitable that a second goal would follow. But Leicester’s back-line stood firm and slowly grew in confidence.

Leicester Fight Back

As a result, when the second half commenced, Leicester gained a foothold. MacDonald, Byrne, Peake and Wilson began dominating the midfield battle. Liverpool seemed to have surprisingly ran out of ideas. Suddenly Leicester started to believe.

Both MacDonald and Byrne tested Ray Clemence before Leicester equalised in front of the by-now-worried Kop. A Ray Clemence error on the hour mark saw him drop a Paul Friar cross. The loose ball landed at the feet of Byrne who rolled it effortlessly into an empty net.

Anfield Silenced

Liverpool was now on the ropes slightly and needed to quickly redress the balance if they were to avoid defeat.

They were unable to do so. Leicester amazingly smelt blood and pushed forward in numbers. For them attack was the best form of defence. Striker Jim Melrose missed a few great opportunities. However with 15 minutes remaining those missed chances were forgotten. Robbing the ball from Irwin on the edge of the box, Melrose fired past Clemence to stun the 35,154 inside Anfield. The Kop fell silent.

The Day Fortress Anfield Was Conquered

Unable to build any momentum, Liverpool could not find a response. Slowly the unthinkable started to become a reality. The home crowd applauded Leicester’s heroes off the pitch as the final whistle sounded. The day belonged to Jock Wallace and his young Leicester Foxes. It was the day fortress Anfield was conquered.

Despite doing the “double” over Liverpool it wasn’t enough to save Leicester from being relegated. Despite losing only four of their remaining 14 matches the poor form that preceded the Anfield win was enough to send them down to the Second Division.

Liverpool’s title challenge was ended by the Leicester result and a loss at West Brom the following week. They did however finish the season with a European Cup triumph and a first League Cup Final victory.