David Peace - Red or Dead

On Saturday 1 September, 1973, Liverpool Football Club travelled to Filbert Street, Leicester. And in the fiftieth minute, John Toshack scored. But Birchenall scored, too. And Liverpool Football Club drew one-all with Leicester City. Away from home, away from Anfield. That evening, Leeds United had six points. And Leeds United were first in the First Division. Unbeaten. That evening, the Champions of England had three points. And the Champions of England were twelfth in the First Division.

On Tuesday 4 September, 1973, Derby County came to Anfield, Liverpool. That evening, forty-five thousand, two hundred and thirty-seven folk came, too. But not Alec Lindsay. Alec Lindsay was ill. At home, at Anfield. Bill Shankly walked into the dressing room. The home dressing room. Bill Shankly took out a piece of paper from his pocket. And Bill Shankly looked at Tommy Smith –

Our team today will be Clemence, Lawler, Thompson, Smith, Lloyd, Hughes, Keegan, Cormack, Heighway, Toshack and Callaghan. That’s us tonight, boys. So come on …

In the thirty-fifth minute, from thirty yards out, Phil Thompson shot and Thompson scored. His first goal for Liverpool Football Club. In the eighty-fifth minute, Kevin Keegan took a penalty. And Keegan scored the penalty. And Liverpool Football Club beat Derby County two — nil. At home, at Anfield.

Four days afterwards, Chelsea Football Club came to Anfield, Liverpool. That afternoon, forty-seven thousand and sixteen folk came, too. In the thirty-fifth minute, Kevin Keegan scored. In the second half, Keegan took a penalty. And Bonetti saved the penalty. But it didn’t matter, it didn’t count. Liverpool Football Club beat Chelsea Football Club one — nil. At home, at Anfield. That evening, Leeds United had ten points. Leeds United still first in the First Division. Still unbeaten. Burnley Football Club had nine points. And Burnley Football Club were second in the First Division. Liverpool Football Club, Coventry City, Leicester City, Manchester City and Derby County all had seven points. But the Champions of England were third in the First Division. On goal average.

On Wednesday 12 September, 1973, Liverpool Football Club travelled to the Baseball Ground, Derby. But John Toshack did not travel with Liverpool Football Club. John Toshack was injured again. Phil Boersma travelled to the Baseball Ground, Derby. And Phil Boersma played. In the tenth minute, Gemmill crossed for Hector. Hector shot. The shot was blocked, the shot rebounded. And Davies shot and Davies scored. In the twenty-sixth minute, Kevin Keegan passed to Boersma. Boersma shot. And Boersma scored. In the fortieth minute, Hector crossed the ball. McFarland met the cross. And McFarland scored. Five minutes later, Davies passed to Hector. Hector shot. And Hector scored. But the goal was disallowed. For offside. But in the fifty-fifth minute, again Davies passed to Hector. And again Hector shot. The shot hit Ian Callaghan. The shot flew off Callaghan. And the shot flew over Ray Clemence. Into the net and into the goal. And Liverpool Football Club lost three — one to Derby County. Away from home, away from Anfield. Bill Shankly walked down the touchline. The touchline at the Baseball Ground. And Bill Shankly shook the hand of Brian Clough –

Well played, Brian. Very well played indeed, son. I’d heard a whisper that all was not well here. But obviously not, son …

Brian Clough laughed. And Brian Clough said, Thank you, Mr Shankly. Thank you very much, sir. It’s true we’ve had our ups and our downs. But it’s nothing I can’t handle, sir …

On Saturday 15 September, 1973, Liverpool Football Club travelled to St Andrew’s, Birmingham. But Steve Heighway did not travel to St Andrew’s, Birmingham. Steve Heighway was injured. Derek Brownbill travelled to St Andrew’s, Birmingham. And Derek Brownbill played. His first game for Liverpool Football Club, his only game for Liverpool Football Club. In the seventy-first minute, Liverpool Football Club were losing one — nil to Birmingham City. And Bill Shankly took off Derek Brownbill. Bill Shankly sent on Brian Hall. And in the eighty-fifth minute, Hall scored. And Liverpool Football Club drew one-all with Birmingham City. Away from home, away from Anfield. That evening, Leeds United had fourteen points. Leeds United still first in the First Division. Still unbeaten. That evening, the Champions of England had eight points. And the Champions of England were eighth in the First Division. Eighth.

Four days afterwards, the Champions of England came to the Stade de la Frontière, in Esch-sur-Alzette, in Luxembourg, to play AS la Jeunesse d’Esch of Luxembourg in the first leg of the First Round of the European Cup. Some of the players of AS la Jeunesse d’Esch were part-time footballers. Some of the players of AS la Jeunesse d’Esch had other jobs. Some of them were steelworkers, some of them were postmen. In the forty-third minute, Brian Hall scored for Liverpool Football Club. But in the last minute, the very last minute, Gilbert Dussier scored for AS la Jeunesse d’Esch. And the Champions of England drew one-all with AS la Jeunesse d’Esch of Luxembourg in the first leg of the First Round of the European Cup. Away from home, away from Anfield.

On Saturday 22 September, 1973, Tottenham Hotspur came to Anfield, Liverpool. That afternoon, forty-two thousand, nine hundred and one folk came, too. Forty-two thousand, nine hundred and one folk and Alec Lindsay. Alec Lindsay no longer ill, Alec Lindsay fit to play. That afternoon, Phil Thompson did not play. Phil Thompson dropped. That afternoon, Peters scored first for Tottenham Hotspur. And in the twenty-eighth minute, Chris Lawler equalised for Liverpool Football Club. But Chivers scored again for Tottenham Hotspur. And in the seventy-sixth minute, Alec Lindsay equalised with a penalty. And in the last minute, the very last minute, Lawler scored again for Liverpool Football Club. And Liverpool Football Club beat Tottenham Hotspur three — two. At home, at Anfield.

One week later, Liverpool Football Club travelled to Old Trafford, Manchester. There was wind and there was rain. High winds and heavy rains. And there was lightning and there was thunder. But there were no goals. And Liverpool Football Club drew nil — nil with Manchester United. Away from home, away from Anfield. That evening, Leeds United had seventeen points. Leeds United still first in the First Division. Still unbeaten. That evening, the Champions of England had eleven points. The Champions of England seventh in the First Division. Seventh.

On Wednesday 3 October, 1973, AS la Jeunesse d’Esch of Luxembourg came to Anfield, Liverpool. That evening, twenty-eight thousand, seven hundred and fourteen folk came, too. Twenty-eight thousand, seven hundred and fourteen folk to watch the Champions of England play AS la Jeunesse d’Esch of Luxembourg in the second leg of the First Round of the European Cup. In the forty-seventh minute, Emlyn Hughes shot. And the shot hit Mond. The shot deflected off Mond. And into the net and into a goal. In the fifty-sixth minute, Hughes shot again. Hoffman palmed away the shot. The ball fell to John Toshack. And Toshack shot. Into the open goal, into the yawning net. And the Champions of England beat AS la Jeunesse d’Esch of Luxembourg two — nil in the second leg of the First Round of the European Cup. At home, at Anfield.

Three days afterwards, Newcastle United came to Anfield, Liverpool. That afternoon, forty-five thousand, six hundred and twelve folk came, too. In the twentieth minute, Peter Cormack scored. In the eighty-sixth minute, Alec Lindsay scored another penalty. And Liverpool Football Club beat Newcastle United two — one. At home, at Anfield. That evening, Leeds United had eighteen points. Leeds United still first in the First Division. Leeds United still unbeaten. That evening, the Champions of England had thirteen points. The Champions of England fifth in the First Division. Fifth.