The Powerful Reds of Liverpool in Seventh Heaven

In the Autumn of 1978, Liverpool stood as European Champions. There was no team in Europe better. However, at the time Brian Clough’s Nottingham Forest was slowly chipping away at Liverpool’s domestic and European dominance. Winning the league title the year before Clough had built a team to compete at all levels. What Liverpool needed was to reassert themselves as the team to beat. Step forward Spurs and a scoreline that delivered the powerful reds of Liverpool in seventh heaven.

Spurs were promoted the previous May following a year’s absence from the top tier. Throughout the media they were seen as a club with ambition and quality to match that ambition. Manager Keith Burkinshaw had produced a major coup by signing newly-crowned world champions Osvaldo Ardiles and Ricky Villa. The time was right for the team from North London to take the division by storm.

How the match unfolded

However, in front of over 40,000 baying Scousers they were ruthlessly outclassed by a dominant Liverpool in what was to become an iconic performance.

Liverpool 1 Tottenham Hotspur 0
Dalglish (8 minutes)

This was the European Champions’ fourth game of the campaign. Talisman Dalglish had already bagged four and fellow Scot Graeme Souness three in the opening three games. It took Dalglish just 8 minutes to breach the Spurs defence. A trademark turn with his back to goal and a tidy finish with his left foot.

Liverpool 2 Tottenham Hotspur 0
Dalglish (20 mins)

Of course, it was Dalglish again. Barely 20 minutes gone and Liverpool is already 2-0 up and looking comfortable. It’s the second time he’s latched on to a diverted Case shot and he puts the Reds further ahead. If Spurs didn’t already know it they were in for a long day…..

Liverpool 3 Tottenham Hotspur 0
R Kennedy (28 mins)

28 minutes gone and the match is won. Three up in under half an hour. This time Ray Kennedy gets in on the act with a downward header that Spurs keeper Barry Daines probably should have done better with. The Kop are in full voice now and can sense that something special is unravelling before their eyes.

Second Half Misery For Spurs

Liverpool 4 Tottenham Hotspur 0
Johnson (48 mins)

Dalglish goes in for a one-on-one with the keeper looking for his hat-trick. The ball eventually reaches David Johnson who drills it home.The ball evading three Spurs defenders before nestling in the back of the net

Liverpool 5 Tottenham Hotspur 0
Johnson (58 mins)

Another quality finish from substitute Johnson. Latching onto a through pass before slotting the ball through the legs of Daines into the back of the net. Liverpool were now in full flow.

Liverpool 6 Tottenham Hotspur 0
Neal (64 mins)

A twice-taken penalty on this occasion. Daines saves the first but is deemed to have moved. He has not, as it goes, but there’s little complaint. Top left corner. at 5-0, I wonder if Dalglish had a word ? – could have been a hat-trick for the Scot.

Liverpool 7 Tottenham Hotspur 0
McDermott (76 mins)

The seventh goal is Liverpool at their best. Four passes from back to front and a classy finish from Terry McDermott. The goal put the powerful reds of Liverpool in seventh heaven

Title Winners

Liverpool would go on to win the League in what would become a record-breaking iconic season. 85 goals were scored and just 16 goals were conceded. Their football at times was breathtaking to watch and the ease at which they defended belied the extreme efforts made to produce clean sheets.