| Saturday 15 March 1986 15:00
Cannon League Division One |
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| "Southampton" |
1 - 2 |
"Liverpool" |
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(0-0) |
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| GOAL |
| Lawrence 49 |
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Wark 53, Rush 59 |
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1 Peter Shilton
- Gerry Forrest
- Mark Dennis
- Mick Holmes
- Mark Wright
- Kevin Bond
- George Lawrence
- Glenn Cockerill
- Steve Moran
- David Armstrong
- McManus
Subs:
12 Andy Townsend |
|
1 Bruce
Grobbelaar
2 Sammy Lee
3 Jim Beglin
4 Mark Lawrenson
5 Ronnie Whelan
6 Alan Hansen (c)
7 Gary Gillespie
8 Craig Johnston
9 Ian Rush
10 Jan Molby
11 John Wark
Subs:
12 Kevin MacDonald |
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| SUBSTITUTIONS |
| McManus (Townsend ?) |
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| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: A Ward |
| Booked: |
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Booked: |
| VENUE |
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MANAGERS |
The Dell (capacity )
Attendance: 19,784 |
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Chris Nicholl (Southampton)
Kenny Dalglish (Liverpool) |
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Liverpool close the gap
Liverpool replaced Manchester United as the "Red Shadows" of the League
title race on the day that United's hopes nosedived with another defeat, this time at
Queens Park Rangers.
Kenny Dalglish's men are now only two points behind Everton, who have two games in
hand. But the champions hope to go further ahead in one of those matches when they meet
Chelsea at Goodison Park this afternoon. United are now six points adrift and their
challenge looks all but over.
The instinctive brilliance of Ian Rush maintained the Anfield Reds' pursuit of
Everton. Rush's winning goal also allowed Bruce Grobbelaar the luxury of another display
of fallibility in the Liverpool goal. And it gave Liverpool the psychological advantage of
a victory over Southampton, the team they are in line to meet in the FA Cup semi-finals.
Liverpool must win at Watford tomorrow to make that happen - and they must be
praying that Grobbelaar has got all his clangers out of his system.
Grobbelaar's howler yesterday was not one of the same magnitude of his four recent
TV blunders. But he again let in a goal he should have saved. It came five minutes into
the second half when George Lawrence shot on the turn from the edge of the six-yard area.
Grobbelaar must have been partially unsighted by Gary Gillespie, but he still allowed the
ball the ricochet off his leg and into the net.
But, ironically, Grobbelaar's gaffe inspired Liverpool into action - and they
scored twice in the next ten minutes. And Rush was involved in both. First, the Welsh
striker laid an inch-perfect pass into the path of John Wark, who hammered a first-time
shot past Peter Shilton.
And then Rush scored his 22nd goal of the season.
Craig Johnston's cross was headed down by Wark, Rush latched on the ball in an
instant, swiveled and shot home from 10 yards. Rush claims he's fed up with playing as a
lone striker and will consider leaving Anfield unless he gets more help up front.
With Kenny Dalglish failing a fitness test, Johnston played alongside Rush. And
Rush's goal slashed Everton's lead to two points - for 24 hours at least.
By John Etheridge of "The Sunday Express"
Copyright - Sunday Express |
