It was 25 years ago today that Villa produced a "championship-class" display to beat Liverpool 5-1.The Daily Mail called it a "savaging" while The Birmingham Post described it as a "humiliation" and there's no question it was an amazing result for the men in claret and blue.Two goals from Andy Gray, two more from John Deehan and another by Brian Little left the champions and league leaders stunned, with all six goals scored before half-time.The remarkable result emphasised that Villa's challenge for the title was very, very real.Ian Willars of the Birmingham Post said the game "would be remembered and talked about by the claret and blue faithful for years to come."No surprise Ian, nicknamed The Duke in journalist circles, was so overflowing in his praise.It was, after all, Liverpool's heaviest league defeat since 1963 when they went down 7-2 to Tottenham.The Daily Mail described the performance in praiseworthy prose, insisting: "Villa's swift, stabbing moves and accurate passing bewildered Liverpool from the start."The Birmingham Post added: "Liverpool were taken apart by the speed, skill and determination of the entire Villa side."Only 10 minutes had gone when Gray headed his 19th goal of the season after a spectacular link-up between Alex Cropley, John Robson and Deehan.Then Deehan hustled on to a short pass from Dennis Mortimer and steered the ball between the legs of England goalkeeper Ray Clemence for a second goal.Deehan, who had pulled out of the U21 international between England and Wales to play for his club, certainly made his presence felt.Liverpool had paid the penalty for assuming that he was offside for that goal.Nine minutes later they protested again that he was offside again when scoring his second and his side's third goal.But he seemed to have been played on by Ian Callaghan after Phil Thompson and Gray had collided.The visitors surrounded the referee but their protests were to no avail.The fourth goal came after half-an-hour when Little drove in a cross-shot from the right.Three minutes before the interval Ray Kennedy hit back for Liverpool but there was still time between that goal and the break for Gray to score Villa's fifth with another spectacular header.Willars was thoroughly shocked by the savagery of the performance.He wrote in the Post: "The 42,851 crowd gave the players a standing ovation - the likes of which I have never heard before - both at half-time and at the start of the second half."Liverpool could have been worse off but for courageous saves by Clemence from Cropley and Mortimer at the death.The result saw Villa move into third in the old First Division table, just four points behind the Reds with a game with hand.Manager Ron Saunders told the Birmingham Post of his delight but also sounded a note of warning.He said: "We must not go over the moon about this victory. We gave a highly professional performance, not just in the first half but throughout."We have been creating a lot of chances throughout this season and like most managers I am extremely pleased that we have been able to show our true class against a side of Liverpool's calibre."The First Division title? There is still a long way to go but obviously I am hoping we shall be able to continue our challenge."As it was, Villa failed to build sufficiently on the remarkable result and Liverpool ended up taking the title, with Saunders's men finishing fourth, six points behind the eventual champions.It was a different story five years later!Villa: Findlay, Gidman, Robson, Phillips, Young, Mortimer, Deehan, Little, Gray, Cropley, Carrodus. Sub: Buttress [for Cropley, 54].Liverpool: Clemence, Neal, Jones, Thompson, Kennedy, Hughes, Keegan, McDermott, Heighway, Johnson, Callaghan. Sub: Case.
On a totally unrelated note, anyone remember Villa vs Santos. Fred Turnbull marking Pele i think
all i can remember is Emlyn Hughes almost in tears.5-0 at half time i believe. On a totally unrelated note, anyone remember Villa vs Santos. Fred Turnbull marking Pele i think
I went up on my own from Stourbridge because it was midweek match.Others have summed up the match but I got home and went straight to my glory-hunting red-supporting non-scouse neighbour, knocked his door and when he opened it danced on his front lawn while pointing and laughing...
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Topic: 35 years ago today (Read 9401 times)
