| Saturday 22 March 1986 15:00
Canon League Division One |
| |
 |
|
 |
| "Liverpool" |
6 - 0 |
"Oxford
United" |
| |
(3-0) |
|
| |
| GOAL |
| Rush 1, 71, Lawrenson 18, Whelan 39,
Molby 51 p., 88 |
|
|
| |
Team: 1. Bruce
Grobbelaar, 2. Gary Gillespie, 3. Jim Beglin, 4. Mark Lawrenson, 5. Ronnie Whelan, 6. Alan
Hansen (c), 7. Kenny Dalglish, 8. Craig Johnston, 9. Ian Rush, 10. Jan Molby, 11. Steve
McMahon.
Subs: 12. Steve Nicol. |
|
Team: 1. Steve
Hardwick, Langan, Trewick, Phillips, Briggs, Shotton, Houghton, Aldridge, Jeremy Charles,
Hebberd, Rhoades-Brown.
Subs: 12. Thomas. |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
| Lawrenson (Nicol 25) |
|
Briggs (Thomas ?) |
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: George Courtney |
| |
|
|
| VENUE |
|
MANAGERS |
Anfield (capacity )
Attendance: 37,861 |
|
Kenny Dalglish (Liverpool)
Maurice Evans (Oxford U) |
 Price: 50 pence
|
|
King Kenny puts Oxford
to the sword
King Kenny Dalglish is in no mood to abdicate - and his merry men are now set for a
crowning finish. Liverpool's living legend will pick up the rewards for his long and
illustrious career this week with the Freedom of Glasgow and this 100th Scottish cap. But
his breathtaking performance suggests there is plenty more to come in the immediate future
in the way Dalglish tormented Oxford.
Suddenly the League and FA Cup double - and even the World Cup - are within the
great man's sights again. "It amazes me that he's not playing more", said Oxford
boss Maurice Evans. "He's still got enough to compete at the highest level".
Dalglish thrust the daggers into Oxford in the first half and then let magical Jan
Molby and deadly Ian Rush finish them off. Inside a minute Dalglish put Rush free for the
opening goal. And it left keeper Steve Hardwick wondering what had happened to his defence
during the month's loan spell at Crystal Palace.
Then as Liverpool's back four rocked under assaults from Jeremy Charles, who hit
the bar, and Ray Houghton, that man Dalglish showed why he is the envy of every other
manager. The young Anfield boss took matters into his own hands with a dream pass to allow
Mark Lawrenson a waltz-in for number two in the 18th minute. Rush crashed two shots off
the bar in the space of two minutes before taking Dalglish's pass to set up Ronnie Whelan
with a third five minutes from half-time. Even the loss of Lawrenson with an ankle injury
could not stop the flow. Steve Nicol came back after two months to slot nicely into the
pattern.
The second half was merely an exercise in boosting Liverpool's goal difference.
Molby started the ball rolling with a 51st minute penalty harshly given for a tackle on
Rush.
Rush produced a fifth that was brilliant even by the day's sky-high standards when
he played a one-two with Molby and rounded the keeper in the 71st minute. Molby brought
the house down with a last minute stunner, provided by the inevitable Dalglish.
The way the Kop hysterically greeted the news of Everton's defeat tells its own
story. The race is on and Liverpool are already in top gear. "We could have scored a
lot more," said Dalglish. "But I'm happy that we're spreading the goals around.
If others want to contribute to our success by losing I'll accept it."
By Alan Nixon of "The Sunday Mirror"
Copyright - Sunday Mirror |
