In 1976 Liverpool won the UEFA Cup for the second time with a win over FC Bruges. It started three consecutive years of European trophies for the Reds.
The Final 1st Leg - April 28th 1976
Liverpool 3 FC Bruges 2
Team : Clemence, Neal, Smith, Thompson, Kennedy, Hughes, Keegan, Fairclough, Heighway, Toshack (Case), Callaghan
Goals : Kennedy (59), Case (61), Keegan (pen 64)
Att : 49,981
This first leg against the Belgian side Bruges was one of the best games at Anfield. The Reds were two goals behind inside twelve minutes and any thoughts of the cup were sinking fast. This side was made of strong stuff though and played so well that they came back to win the game three two. Lambert opened the scoring for Bruges as he intercepted a Neal header and lobbed Clemence. Seven minutes later Julien Cools volleyed home a second goal and the Kop was stunned. They held their lead to half time and then came the team talk to inspire the Reds. David Fairclough played better in the second half and gave the Belgian side lots to think about. Ray Kennedy scored on he hour mark and within two minutes it was all square as Jimmy Case rammed home a rebound from a Kennedy shot. Just three minutes later and Kevin Keegan sent the keeper the wrong way with a penalty kick to send the Reds wild.
The Final 2nd Leg - May 19th 1976
FC Bruges 1 Liverpool 1
Team : Clemence, Neal, Smith, Thompson, Kennedy, Hughes, Keegan, Case, Heighway, Toshack (Fairclough), Callaghan
Goals : Keegan (15)
Att : 33,000
The danger in this tie was that Bruges, on their own ground were only one goal behind and had two away goals to their name too. To add to that Bruges hadn't conceded at home all season. After twelve minutes Lambert scored from the penalty spot and things looked bleak. That was until the Reds were awarded a free kick three minutes later on the edge of the Bruges box. Hughes rolled the ball to Keegan who blasted the ball past the Bruges keeper. The Reds a goal ahead now defended their way to the trophy. They rarely attacked but contained the home side well. The Reds had won their second UEFA Cup.
The Route to the Final
Semi Final 1st Leg - March 30th 1976
Barcelona 0 Liverpool 1
Team : Clemence, Neal, Smith, Thompson, Kennedy, Hughes, Keegan, Case (Hall), Heighway, Toshack, Callaghan
Goals : Toshack (13)
Att : 70,000
The mighty Barcelona were up next for the Reds and this was surely a really tough game. The Reds though put on a good display and took advantage of a static home side. John Toshack completely stunned the home crowd on thirteen minutes when he shot past the keeper of a Keegan knock down. Liverpool simply played superbly and matched Barcelona for everything in their complete all white kit. The home fans were so annoyed at the end that they threw their seat cushions down at the pitch. Barcelona bosses threw the manager out of the club.
Semi Final 2nd Leg - April 14th 1976
Liverpool 1 Barcelona 1
Team : Clemence, Neal, Smith, Thompson, Kennedy, Hughes, Keegan, Case, Heighway, Toshack, Callaghan
Goals : Thompson (50)
Att : 55,104
Demand for tickets to this one were huge. Barcelona turned up at Anfield with a new manager installed and playing better football. A record European crowd of 55,104 packed into Anfield with thousands more locked outside. The visitor's though still hadn't worked out a way to handle the Keegan Toshack partnership. It was those two who combined to set up Phil Thompson for the opening goal. Carlos Rexach hit straight back to keep it tight. However the Reds continued to be the better side and deservedly held out to go through to the final of this tournament.
Quarter Final 1st Leg - March 3rd 1976
Dynamo Dresden 0 Liverpool 0
Team : Clemence, Neal, Smith, Thompson, Kennedy, Hughes, Keegan, Case, Heighway, Fairclough (Hall), Callaghan
Goals : -
Att : 33,000
The Reds were drawn to visit Dresden again. Four years previous they knocked Dresden out en route to winning the trophy and would do again this time around. However this first leg tie wasn't plain sailing. Hero for the Reds was Ray Clemence who saved a penalty kick conceded by Ray Kennedy. This wasn't the best Reds performance and to come away with a goalless draw was great in the circumstances.
Quarter Final 2nd Leg - March 17th 1976
Liverpool 2 Dynamo Dresden 1
Team : Clemence, Neal, Smith, Thompson, Kennedy, Hughes, Keegan, Case, Heighway (Fairclough), Toshack, Callaghan
Goals : Case (24), Keegan (47)
Att : 39,300
Dresden arrived in the knowledge that if they could score they stood a real chance of going through. They did score but thankfully the Reds had bagged two by the time they did so. Jimmy Case got the first Reds goal on twenty four minutes as he slammed it home and then two minutes after half time Kevin Keegan bagged another. The Reds were on top in the game but then Heidler scored for Dresden and suddenly the tie looked very different. A very tense last half hour to the game followed but as the whistles from the crowd got louder it was suddenly cheers as the referee blew his whistle for full time and a semi final place was theirs.
Round 3 1st Leg - November 26th 1975
Slask Wroclaw 1 Liverpool 2
Team : Clemence, Neal, Smith, Thompson, Kennedy, Hughes, Case, Hall, Heighway, Toshack, Callaghan
Goals : Kennedy (61), Toshack (75)
Att : 40,000
With both Kevin Keegan and Joey Jones ruled out of the trip through injury it was Jimmy Case who was called in to make his debut for the Reds. The game saw freezing conditions and a rock hard pitch but it didn't bother the Reds at all. The Reds played really well throughout and thanks to Ray Kennedy and John Toshack were two up before Slask puled one back ten minutes from time through Pawlowski.
Round 3 2nd Leg - December 10th 1975
Liverpool 3 Slask Wroclaw 0
Team : Clemence, Neal, Smith, Thompson, Kennedy (Cormack), Hughes, Keegan, Hall, Case, Toshack, Callaghan
Goals : Case 3 (22, 30, 46)
Att : 17,886
The lowest home crowd at the time for a UEFA Cup tie turned up to watch this second leg. Job Done in the first leg many opted for the radio and warmth of home for this one. New boy on the block Jimmy Case was drafted in to the side late on when Steve Heighway pulled out. Case took his opportunity with a hat-trick. His first came midway through the half and then when he was put through by Keegan just before the half hour he doubled his tally. The first goal of the night was the Reds' 100th at Anfield in Europe.
Round 2 1st Leg - October 22nd 1975
Real Sociedad 1 Liverpool 3
Team : Clemence, Neal, Lindsay, Thompson, Cormack, Hughes, Keegan, Hall, Heighway, Toshack, Callaghan
Goals : Heighway (20), Callaghan (61), Thompson (82)
Att : 20,000
After stuttering through the previous round the Reds travelled to Spain knowing they had to improve to go through. They certainly improved and had the tie all but won after this game alone. Steve Heighway opened the scoring with a six yard tap in. The goal made Sociedad retreat back and they defended well till the hour mark. Just after that Ian Callaghan scored and twenty minutes later Phil Thompson headed home the third. Amas did grab a late consolation but it was never going to be enough.
Round 2 2nd Leg - November 4th 1975
Liverpool 6 Real Sociedad 0
Team : Clemence, Neal, Kettle (Max Thompson 87), Thompson, Smith, Callaghan, Keegan (Fairclough), Hall, Heighway, Toshack, Kennedy
Goals : Toshack (14), Kennedy 2 (30, 75), Fairclough (72), Heighway (77), Neal (79)
Att : 23,796
The Spaniards arrived at Anfield knowing they were virtually beaten before kick off and didn't exactly offer anything as the game wore on. Brian Kettle came in to the side from the reserves and played well and Max Thompson played the final minutes of the game as well. John Toshack started the scoring on fourteen minutes. The Reds went in at half time two up and then hit the remaining four goals in the space of seven second half minutes. This was one of the easiest ties the Reds have ever had.
Round 1 1st Leg - September 17th 1975
Hibernian 1 Liverpool 0
Team : Clemence, Neal, Jones, Lawler, Cormack, Hughes, Keegan, Hall, Heighway (Boersma), Kennedy (Toshack), Callaghan
Goals : -
Att : 19,219
No-one had quite scripted this one. The Edinburgh side beat the Reds thanks to a goal from ex-Everton striker Joe Harper. Harper converted an Arthur Duncan ball after he beat Phil Neal with some comfort. Ray Clemence was even called into action with ten minutes to go as he saved a spot kick from John Brownlie. Just like in 1973 this spot kick proved crucial in the final equation. Phil Neal did score in this one but it was ruled out and so the Reds travelled back a goal behind.
Round 1 2nd Leg - September 30th 1975
Liverpool 3 Hibernian 1
Team : Clemence, Neal, Lindsay, Thompson, Cormack, Hughes, Keegan, Hall, Heighway, Toshack, Callaghan
Goals : Toshack 3 (21, 53, 64)
Att : 29,963
Shocked in the first leg the Reds set about proving who the real team were in this return leg. One crucial factor for this leg was the return from injury of John Toshack. He duly bagged a hat-trick and the tie for the Reds. He opened the scoring on twenty one minutes but the Reds were pegged back just after the half hour and everything was thrown in the air. The Reds had to score twice to go through and thanks to Toshack they did. The half time team talk was strong and the Reds took note coming out a stronger side. Once Toshack headed the second and third goals in the Reds were home safely.
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