David Peace - Red or Dead

You could never, ever give up –

Never, ever give up.

On Saturday 6 November, 1971, Arsenal Football Club came to Anfield, Liverpool. That afternoon, forty-six thousand, nine hundred and twenty-nine folk came, too. But that afternoon, Kevin Keegan did not come. Keegan was injured again. And in the fifth minute, the ball fell between Tommy Smith and Chris Lawler. And Smith left it for Lawler and Lawler left it for Smith. And Kennedy came between Smith and Lawler. Kennedy shot. And Kennedy scored. But the supporters of Liverpool Football Club did not give up. And so the players of Liverpool Football Club did not give up. And in the forty-first minute, Smith rolled a free kick square to Emlyn Hughes. And Hughes shot. And Hughes scored. In the fifty-fifth minute, Smith chipped the ball through to Ian Callaghan. And Callaghan saw Wilson off his line. And Callaghan lobbed the ball over Wilson. Into the net and into a goal. Twenty minutes later, Kennedy shot. Ray Clemence knocked the shot down. Down into the path of Smith. Smith running back to cover, Smith colliding with the ball. Falling with the ball. Into the net and into the goal. His own net, his own goal. But again the supporters of Liverpool Football Club did not give up. And so again the players of Liverpool Football Club did not give up. And in the eighty-seventh minute, Hughes passed to John Toshack. Toshack passed to Ian Ross. Ross shot. And Ross scored. And the new Liverpool Football Club beat Arsenal Football Club three — two. At home, at Anfield.

One week afterwards, the new Liverpool Football Club came to Goodison Park, Liverpool. That afternoon, fifty-six thousand, five hundred and sixty-three Merseyside folk came, too. But again Kevin Keegan did not come. Keegan still injured. And without that spark, without that fire. The new Liverpool Football Club lost one — nil to Everton Football Club. Away from home,

away from Anfield. On Saturday 20 November, 1971, the new Liverpool Football Club travelled to Highfield Road, Coventry. But again Kevin Keegan did not travel. Keegan still injured. And Larry Lloyd did not travel. Lloyd now injured. And John Toshack did not travel. Toshack now injured, too. But Jack Whitham travelled with the new Liverpool Football Club to Highfield Road, Coventry. And in the eightieth minute, Whitham scored. And in the eighty-ninth minute, Whitham scored again. And the new Liverpool Football Club beat Coventry City two — nil. Away from home, away from Anfield.

One week later, West Ham United came to Anfield, Liverpool. That afternoon, forty-three thousand, three hundred and ninety-nine folk came, too. But not Keegan. Not Lloyd. And not Toshack. But in the sixty-ninth minute, Emlyn Hughes scored. And the new Liverpool Football Club beat West Ham United one — nil. At home, at Anfield.

On Saturday 4 December, 1971, the new Liverpool Football Club travelled to Portman Road, Ipswich. That day, Kevin Keegan did travel with the new Liverpool Football Club. And Keegan did play for the new Liverpool Football Club. But still there was no spark, still there was no fire. And no goals. And the new Liverpool Football Club drew nil — nil with Ipswich Town. Away from home, away from Anfield. One week afterwards, Derby County came to Anfield, Liverpool. That afternoon, forty-four thousand, six hundred and one folk came, too. But still no Lloyd and still no Toshack. But Keegan came and Whitham came. And in the fourteenth minute, Whitham scored. And in the forty-fourth minute, Whitham scored again. And in the fifty-third minute, Whitham scored a third. A hat-trick. And the new Liverpool Football Club beat Derby County three — two. At home, at Anfield. That evening, Manchester United had thirty-three points. Manchester United still first in the First Division. Manchester City were second. Leeds United third. And Derby County fourth. That evening, the new Liverpool Football Club had twenty-seven points. That evening, the new and battered, bruised and wounded Liverpool Football Club were fifth in the First Division. Despite their injuries, against the odds. The new Liverpool Football club were moving up –

Up the League, up the table.

Two days after Christmas Day, 1971, the new Liverpool Football Club travelled to the Hawthorns, Birmingham. West Bromwich Albion had lost their last seven games. West Bromwich Albion were bottom of the First Division. Last in the League. And fighting for their lives. And on Monday 27 December, 1971, Brown scored for West Bromwich Albion. And the new Liverpool Football Club lost one — nil to West Bromwich Albion. Away from home, away from Anfield. Five days later, on New Year’s Day, 1972, Leeds United came to Anfield, Liverpool. That New Year’s Day, fifty-three thousand, eight hundred and forty-seven folk came, too. Leeds United were third in the First Division. But Liverpool Football Club had not lost at home, at Anfield, for thirty-four League games, not since March 1970. And in the first half, the supporters of Liverpool Football Club roared and roared and roared. And the players of the new Liverpool Football Club attacked and attacked and attacked. And the players of the old Leeds United defended and defended and defended. And Sprake saved from Hughes. And Keegan hit the post. And then Whitham found himself in front of the goal. The Leeds goal, an open goal. With the ball at his feet. And the Leeds goal yawning. And Whitham shot. But the Leeds goal was no longer open, the Leeds goal no longer yawning. There was Madeley. On the goal line. The Leeds goal line. To clear the ball and to save the day. The day for Leeds United. And in the fifty-eighth minute, Giles played a free kick out wide to Madeley on the right. Madeley nodded the ball back across the goal. And with a flick of his head, Clarke headed the ball into the net and into a goal. Twenty minutes later, Lorimer won the ball in a tackle. Lorimer passed the ball to Clarke. Clarke passed the ball to Jones. Jones shot. And Jones scored. And on New Year’s Day, 1972, the new Liverpool Football Club lost two — nil to the old Leeds United. At home, at Anfield. Bill Shankly walked down the touchline. The Anfield touchline. And Bill Shankly shook the hand of Don Revie –

Well played, Don. Very well played, indeed. And thank Christ we won’t have to play you again this season, Don …

That night, Manchester United had thirty-five points. Manchester United still first in the First Division. But Leeds United had thirty-five points, too. And Leeds United were second in the First Division. Manchester City third. Derby County fourth. Sheffield United fifth. Wolverhampton Wanderers sixth. Tottenham Hotspur seventh. Arsenal Football Club eighth. That night, the new Liverpool Football Club had twenty-eight points. That night, the new Liverpool Football Club were ninth in the First Division –

Ninth. Only ninth.

One week afterwards, the new Liverpool Football Club travelled to Filbert Street, Leicester. And for the fourth League game in a row, the fourth League match in succession, the new Liverpool Football Club did not score. But Leicester City did score. And the new Liverpool Football Club lost one — nil to Leicester City. Away from home, away from Anfield.

On Saturday 15 January, 1972, the new Liverpool Football Club travelled to the Manor Ground, Oxford, to play Oxford United of the Second Division in the Third Round of the FA Cup. And they travelled with spark, and they travelled with fire. And they played with spark, and they played with fire. And in the forty-seventh minute, Kevin Keegan scored. And in the eighty-first minute, Keegan scored again. Three minutes later, Alec Lindsay scored. And the new Liverpool Football Club beat Oxford United three — nil in the Third Round of the FA Cup. Away from home, away from Anfield. But two days later, on the Monday lunchtime, the new Liverpool Football Club were drawn to play Leeds United in the Fourth Round of the FA Cup. At home, at Anfield.