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Liverpool Echo report
TOMORROW’S ANFIELD DERBY MAY SET UP NEW ATTENDANCE RECORDS.
How The Rivals Have Fared In Past Season
Ranger’s Notes.
Given favourable weather conditions tomorrow, the meeting of Liverpool and Everton may set up a new ground record. It is a long time since both clubs were running so well together in Cup and League and the appeal of the match is sufficient to pull even the most lukewarm followers of the game. The present ground record at Anfield stands at 61,036 (receipts £4,007) for the Cup-tie with Tranmere Rovers just over five years ago. This will be the 76th “battle” in the series. So far the honours rest with Everton, who have won 33 games (18 at Goodison and 15 at Anfield) to Liverpool’s 24 (11 at Goodison and 13 at Anfield), with 18 drawn. Everton have scored 120 goals, Liverpool 109. Everton won the first meeting this season t Goodison 2-1, in a game which was notable for some rather heated passages at times and a debatable penalty when Sagar pushed Van Den Berg after making a clearance. There was also an “incident when an Everton player, normally one of the most imperturbable, so far let his feeling get the better of him that he earned a caution –it was lucky to be no more – for an offence on Nieuwenhuys.
Keep it Clean.
On the whole, however, the game was a clean and sporting one. I hope tomorrow will be the same. Time was when these meetings tended to develop into anything but a sporting exhibition. Happily those days are past, and while the result means much to both sides in their present position in the League, the standard of football and the reputation of the clubs is more to be esteemed than the score at the final whistle. After a spell of four League games and a Cup-tie without a goal, Lawton has rediscovered his prowess as a marksman to the extent of bagging seven in the last four matches, including a quartet against Doncaster. Can Bush keep him in check tomorrow? When Lawton is held there is not quite the marksmanship from Everton’s inside forwards that one would like, through Boyes and Gillick are always a danger, particularly the latter, whose penchant for cutting in and taking the middle path when Lawton veers to the wing is bringing him a respectable goal crop. Of Everton’s 52 League goals to date. Lawton has got 21, Stevenson 8, Gillick 7, Boyes 3, and Bentham 2, the remained being distributed amongst Cook (four penalty goals) and reserve forwards, who have come in for injured members. The distribution in Liverpool’s case is more even. Fagan is top scorer with 11, “Nivvy” and Taylor are on the 9 mark, Balmer comes next with 8, while 7 have been divided on the left wing between Kinghorn, Van Den Berg, and Harry Eastham. Other things being equal I like a forward line where the scoring is fairly well spread out. There is less dislocation when one member is bottled up.
Reds Are Confident.
If Everton can force a division of the points they will do well. Only three clubs have managed that at Anfield this season, and only one has taken full measure. Liverpool are playing in confident fashion, and with a greater touch of class than for a long time. In that I think we can trace the hands of Manager George Kay, who is a firm believe that the best type of football pays bigger dividends in the long run. Everton were not at their best against Portsmouth on Wednesday. On top of that they come to what is probably their hardest league match so far not quite as fresh as they might be. I think it will be a case of defence on top most of the time. The gates will be opened at 1.30, and spectators are requested to move towards the front and centre of their respective sections in order to leave the gangways as clear as possible. The Edge Hill L.M.S. hand will be in attendance as usual to brighten up the waiting time.
EVERTON TOP-OF-THE-TABLE VICTORY
February 4, 1939. The Liverpool Football Echo
Liverpool Well Beaten At Anfield
Lawton Double
Bentham Glide
Reds Lack Shooting Fire
By Stork.
Everton won a “Derby” double when they beat Liverpool at Anfield today, and as Derby County gained only a point, Everton, with the better goal average go to the top of the table. It was a solid victory, which no one could argue about, if they were fair. Liverpool were shot shy, and this was contradictory to what I had been led to expect. It is Everton’s first double over their local rivals since 1931-32. Teams: - Liverpool: - Kemp, goal; Cooper (captain) and Harley, backs; Busby, Bush and McInnes, half-backs; Niewenhuys, Taylor, Fagan, Balmer and Eastham, forwards. Everton: - Sagar, goal; Cook and Greenhalgh, backs; Mercer, Jones and Thomson (captain), half-backs; Gillick, Bentham, Lawton, Stevenson and Boyes, forwards. Referee Mr. H.C. Williams (London). There was an immense crowd at Anfield. I have never seen so many people outside the ground half-an-hour before the kick-off and directors told me they had to fight their way through to the doors, so that there was every indication of new figures being put for the Liverpool ground. A casualty list was soon built up, for long before the game started people were being taken from the kop and other parts of the ground in a state of collapse or having suffered through the extensive crushing. One man had a leg broken very early on, and it was a continual procession of spectators hanging on to the arms of policemen being taken down the players entrance. The injured man, John Andrews aged 54, of Albert Villa, Derby Road, Huyton, broken leg, was taken to Stanley Hospital and transferred to Mill Road.
Two By Two
The teams were at full strength, so there would be no execuses on that score. The ground was hard, and as in all Derby games in recent years the players came out two by two, Cooper and Thomson of course being in the lead. It was a grand day, just that nice little nip in the air, the keenness of the wind having blown itself out so that everybody, with the exception of those who had to endure the crushing, was comfortable. Everton won the toss and Liverpool kicked off towards the kop. Major Buckley, the Wolves manager, was an onlooked, what time Mr. George Kay, the Liverpool manager, was At Huddersfield taking a look at the Wolves. The ground was very slippery and almost immediately Everton ran into the Liverpool goalmouth Stevenson being a trifle slow to accept a pass, which a Liverpool player took instead. The player found it difficult to keep their feet. Yet Everton, through Lawton, who ran out to the left, centred right across the goalmouth, but there was no one to give the ball the ball the necessary touch to make a goal. Greenhalgh twice nipped in to take a pass booked for Nieuwenhuys, and it was not until Jones slipped that Liverpool had thrown any weight at all on the Everton defence.
Meredithian!
Gillick made a Meredithian back-heel to Lawton which the Everton leader just failed to gather. Then Bentham shot but without any luck. Everton were playing artistic football, and the Liverpool defence was so perturbed about matters that they called all hands into defence. Lawton and Bush were like long-lost brothers they were never-parted. The Liverpool attack had little or no chance thus far, so well were the Everton half-backs defending. Twice Kemp slipped on the treacherous turf when he was taking back passes, and Harley, having to work rather hurriedly, gave away a corner. At last Liverpool got into something like working order. They had taken the strain remarkably well, and their reply being held up by a timely intervention by Jones.
The Bentham Glide.
At 14 minutes Everton drew first blood. Mercer was the engineer-in-chief in the making of it, for he put a ball out to the right wing to Stevenson and the result was a corner. For once in a way a corner proved fatal, for Bentham neatly glided Gillick’s flag kick into the far side of the goal, Kemp rushing over in desperation without having any chance of making contact. Everton were worthy of their lead for had undoubtedly been the superior side. Liverpool could not get going hardly, and Sagar had not had a shot to deal with. Considering the handicap under which the game was played, the fare was quite good, Liverpool’s defence was not quite as good as it might have been for there given to sliing his clear. Plenty of thrills and one when Boyes, well inside the penalty area made one of his powerful shots which hit Cooper’s hands. The claim for a penalty was ignored and rightly so, for Cooper had no chance whatever of pulling his hand away, prevent his handling. The referee greatly impressed me for his quick decisions, and I liked the way Niewenhuys and Busby changed places in their efforts to break down Everton’s defensive barrier. McInnes was dead on the mark with a long shot, but Sagar caught the ball cleanly and well. At this point Liverpool had come more into the game in an attacking sense, and very often it took the combined efforts of the Everton defence to keep Fagan, Balmer and Taylor in subjection.
Lawton-Bush Duel.
The Lawton-Bush dull went on, and once again their heads came together and each suffered a hurt, not serious thank goodness. Fagan with a nice flick of the head sent Balmer on his way, and the Everton defence in the opposite direction, so that Balmer was able to get in his shot, which was saved at the foot of the post by Sagar, with Taylor standing right on top of him. The referee gave a foul against the Liverpool man, apparently because there was a suggestion of danger in the way he held his boot. Gillick had a chance when he was through, only to shoot weakly, and then Stevenson worked his way into the Liverpool goalmouth, with no Liverpool man able to say him nay, and it looked a certainty for a second goal to Everton. Stevenson shot strongly, but had just a shade too much loft on his drive, so that the ball hit the underneath side of the bar and cannoned back into play. Kemp, otherwise, was well and truly beaten. Lawton fouled Bush almost underneath the Liverpool bar, and Cook to check an Eastham run, brought his hands into use, the free kick being of no consequence. Gillick, by neat footwork, got free of Harley and made a hot which went like an arrow outside the far upright. One could feel sorry for goalkeepers today, for their foothold was anything but secure, and Sagar slipped as he was rushing across to cover a Niewenhuys shot, but was able to recover as the ball passed out. A free kick was given against Everton when Greenhalgh was alleged to have brought down Balmer, and the game was suspended for a minute or two while Balmer received attention.
Half-Time Liverpool 0, Everton 1.
I hear that one of the gates leading into the kop was burst open and hundreds of people got into the ground free. Liverpool opened the second half with a flourish, their combination being of good class even though there was no finish to it. Busby came along with a terrific shot, which was cannoned away, and then Kemp put his back into Gillick in an unlawful way, but was not called to book for the offence. Everton came back to their first half form. Then, following a corner kick, Nieuwenhuys got a nice ball from Taylor and was off like a shot for goal, but he drove the ball high over the bar. Liverpool promised so much and gave so little. In their approach work they could take the ball forward by fast and good passing movements, but near goal there was never any fire because they seemed shy to shoot unless they through a goal was a certainty. Balmer tried one from well outside the area which went spinning over the bar, and then Eastham, taking a ball from the outside right, dragged it back in front of goal and things looked rather desperate from an Everton point of view. When Mercer went out to make a tackle he slipped, which made things look even worse, but Mercer made a grand recovery, gathered the ball, and, beating two men, turned defence into attack. Busby and McInnes tried desperately hard to get their forwards going without success, and when Everton went forward on their left flank, Lawton almost surprised Kemp, who dropped the ball as he was effecting a save. The game was full of minor fouls, none of which were serious, and the encounter still continued to be a determined. Lawton could not get away from Bush, who was holding the middle very solidly. Bush once just managed to get his shoulder to Lawton as the Everton player was dashing into goal. Liverpool had certainly improved, but there was still lack of fire in their front line. There was little shooting in the game at this stage so one had to be content with midfield fare, some of which was good and some not quite so good. It wanted another goal to brighten up the game, and it came at 73rd minute.
Lawton’s Flash
Gillick got hold of the ball and pushed it forward for Lawton who although challenged by two Liverpool players, shouldered them off and flashed the ball into the net like lightening. Less than half a minute before play had been in the other goalmouth, so you can imagine how fluctuating a game it was. A two goal lead at this point put Everton in a rather commanding position. They became even more fanciful than ever, and Gillick in particular showed his mastery of the ball when beating Harley by a mere flick of the boot. Liverpool still fought it out, but they could not get anywhere near Sagar. If it was not Jones who held them at bay, it was Mercer and Thomson. Liverpool’s shooting? Well, there just had not been any, whereas Everton were always the more deadly near goal. They showed this when Stevenson shot, and Kemp was unable to hold the ball, which left Lawton with the simply task of striding up and tapping the ball into goal at 82 minutes. Lawton tried to improve his goal record but entirely missed the ball, and at the conclusion of a sternly-fought game Everton were attacking. There was much shaking of hands between the players as they left the field. Final: - Liverpool 0, Everton 3. Attendance 55,994; receipts £3,489.
FORWARD FAILURE
February 6, 1939. The Liverpool Echo.
By Stork.
What happened to the Liverpool forwards on Saturday? Had they the Cup-tie at the back of their minds, and were not prepared to take any risks, or was it that they had not the subtlety to beat the strong Everton half back line? There was something amiss for they were never in the game. This Liverpool team was said to be the best they have had for some years, and in view of what they had done, and their league position. I was quite prepared to believe all that had been said about them. I readily admit that I expected them to give Everton the fight of their lives, but as matters turned out, Everton sailed through the game in a manner which surprised me. I had expected something better from the Anfielders, but they must have saved up their feeblest forward display for my special benefit. Only six teams in the League have scored more goals than Liverpool, so the forwards must have been doing their stuff at some time or other, but it was not on Saturday, for the whole of the five forwards were shot shy. Busby and McInnes gave them all manner of passes, but all to no purpose, for they were unable to ultise then. Of course, one of the reasons why they failed was because the Everton half-backs were too good for them. Thomson, Mercer and Jones locked them up as securely as though they had been in a prison cell. They had no method about them no artifice to outwit the Everton defenders, and only for one brief spell did they promise to get on equal terms, and that was immediately after Bentham’s goal. Individually and collectively, the Liverpool attack failed lamentably, whereas the Everton front line, by flashing combination, harried the Liverpool defence severely, and the value of Bush at all times was immense. He held Lawton for over an hour, and many rare battles these two boys had between themselves. But Lawton only wants half a chance and he got it in the second half, to score a smashing goal. It was the only real chance he got until Kemp failed to hold a Stevenson shot and Lawton had the simple task of tapping the ball over the line. Everton’s victory was as complete as the score denotes, for their attack looked good for goals’ and would have had others had it not been for Kemp. He had three times as much work to do as Sagar, and did it well until Stevenson’s shot came along. I think Liverpool’s best shot came from McInnes, although Busby was unlucky with his shooting. It does not say much for a forward line when it has got to trust its half backs to get goals, but that is what Fagan and Company did on Saturday.
Stevenson My Man.
Everton were always the cleverer side. They had more moves up their sleeves than their rivals; mores that could, and did, outwit the opposition well though. Bush, Harley and Cooper defended, Bentham’s goal –his third this season –was a gliding Dean header, and shortly afterwards Stevenson should have scored when he almost carried away the crossbar with a fierce shot. One never felt afraid when Liverpool were advancing, for at no time could they produce anything to cause Sagar any serious trouble. Taylor had a shot saved; Balmer put one over the bar as did Nieuwenhuys, but that was about all they did. As against that Kemp was busily employed throughout, making many good saves. On the other hand it was half an hour before Sagar had a single shot to deal with. There were plenty of thrills in the game even though Everton seemed to have a tight hold at all times. They were most convincing everywhere particularly so in attack, where there was not a week link. Gillick gave Harley a severe test but Stevenson was the man of the forwards in my opinion. His canny dribbling, his drawing of the man and his final distribution being top class. He was like an eel wending his way through, and with Lawton always on top of the defence; it was small wonder that the Liverpool defence surrendered in the last fifteen minutes.
Copyright - Liverpool Echo - Transcribed by http://www.bluecorrespondent.co.nr
How The Rivals Have Fared In Past Season
Ranger’s Notes.
Given favourable weather conditions tomorrow, the meeting of Liverpool and Everton may set up a new ground record. It is a long time since both clubs were running so well together in Cup and League and the appeal of the match is sufficient to pull even the most lukewarm followers of the game. The present ground record at Anfield stands at 61,036 (receipts £4,007) for the Cup-tie with Tranmere Rovers just over five years ago. This will be the 76th “battle” in the series. So far the honours rest with Everton, who have won 33 games (18 at Goodison and 15 at Anfield) to Liverpool’s 24 (11 at Goodison and 13 at Anfield), with 18 drawn. Everton have scored 120 goals, Liverpool 109. Everton won the first meeting this season t Goodison 2-1, in a game which was notable for some rather heated passages at times and a debatable penalty when Sagar pushed Van Den Berg after making a clearance. There was also an “incident when an Everton player, normally one of the most imperturbable, so far let his feeling get the better of him that he earned a caution –it was lucky to be no more – for an offence on Nieuwenhuys.
Keep it Clean.
On the whole, however, the game was a clean and sporting one. I hope tomorrow will be the same. Time was when these meetings tended to develop into anything but a sporting exhibition. Happily those days are past, and while the result means much to both sides in their present position in the League, the standard of football and the reputation of the clubs is more to be esteemed than the score at the final whistle. After a spell of four League games and a Cup-tie without a goal, Lawton has rediscovered his prowess as a marksman to the extent of bagging seven in the last four matches, including a quartet against Doncaster. Can Bush keep him in check tomorrow? When Lawton is held there is not quite the marksmanship from Everton’s inside forwards that one would like, through Boyes and Gillick are always a danger, particularly the latter, whose penchant for cutting in and taking the middle path when Lawton veers to the wing is bringing him a respectable goal crop. Of Everton’s 52 League goals to date. Lawton has got 21, Stevenson 8, Gillick 7, Boyes 3, and Bentham 2, the remained being distributed amongst Cook (four penalty goals) and reserve forwards, who have come in for injured members. The distribution in Liverpool’s case is more even. Fagan is top scorer with 11, “Nivvy” and Taylor are on the 9 mark, Balmer comes next with 8, while 7 have been divided on the left wing between Kinghorn, Van Den Berg, and Harry Eastham. Other things being equal I like a forward line where the scoring is fairly well spread out. There is less dislocation when one member is bottled up.
Reds Are Confident.
If Everton can force a division of the points they will do well. Only three clubs have managed that at Anfield this season, and only one has taken full measure. Liverpool are playing in confident fashion, and with a greater touch of class than for a long time. In that I think we can trace the hands of Manager George Kay, who is a firm believe that the best type of football pays bigger dividends in the long run. Everton were not at their best against Portsmouth on Wednesday. On top of that they come to what is probably their hardest league match so far not quite as fresh as they might be. I think it will be a case of defence on top most of the time. The gates will be opened at 1.30, and spectators are requested to move towards the front and centre of their respective sections in order to leave the gangways as clear as possible. The Edge Hill L.M.S. hand will be in attendance as usual to brighten up the waiting time.
EVERTON TOP-OF-THE-TABLE VICTORY
February 4, 1939. The Liverpool Football Echo
Liverpool Well Beaten At Anfield
Lawton Double
Bentham Glide
Reds Lack Shooting Fire
By Stork.
Everton won a “Derby” double when they beat Liverpool at Anfield today, and as Derby County gained only a point, Everton, with the better goal average go to the top of the table. It was a solid victory, which no one could argue about, if they were fair. Liverpool were shot shy, and this was contradictory to what I had been led to expect. It is Everton’s first double over their local rivals since 1931-32. Teams: - Liverpool: - Kemp, goal; Cooper (captain) and Harley, backs; Busby, Bush and McInnes, half-backs; Niewenhuys, Taylor, Fagan, Balmer and Eastham, forwards. Everton: - Sagar, goal; Cook and Greenhalgh, backs; Mercer, Jones and Thomson (captain), half-backs; Gillick, Bentham, Lawton, Stevenson and Boyes, forwards. Referee Mr. H.C. Williams (London). There was an immense crowd at Anfield. I have never seen so many people outside the ground half-an-hour before the kick-off and directors told me they had to fight their way through to the doors, so that there was every indication of new figures being put for the Liverpool ground. A casualty list was soon built up, for long before the game started people were being taken from the kop and other parts of the ground in a state of collapse or having suffered through the extensive crushing. One man had a leg broken very early on, and it was a continual procession of spectators hanging on to the arms of policemen being taken down the players entrance. The injured man, John Andrews aged 54, of Albert Villa, Derby Road, Huyton, broken leg, was taken to Stanley Hospital and transferred to Mill Road.
Two By Two
The teams were at full strength, so there would be no execuses on that score. The ground was hard, and as in all Derby games in recent years the players came out two by two, Cooper and Thomson of course being in the lead. It was a grand day, just that nice little nip in the air, the keenness of the wind having blown itself out so that everybody, with the exception of those who had to endure the crushing, was comfortable. Everton won the toss and Liverpool kicked off towards the kop. Major Buckley, the Wolves manager, was an onlooked, what time Mr. George Kay, the Liverpool manager, was At Huddersfield taking a look at the Wolves. The ground was very slippery and almost immediately Everton ran into the Liverpool goalmouth Stevenson being a trifle slow to accept a pass, which a Liverpool player took instead. The player found it difficult to keep their feet. Yet Everton, through Lawton, who ran out to the left, centred right across the goalmouth, but there was no one to give the ball the ball the necessary touch to make a goal. Greenhalgh twice nipped in to take a pass booked for Nieuwenhuys, and it was not until Jones slipped that Liverpool had thrown any weight at all on the Everton defence.
Meredithian!
Gillick made a Meredithian back-heel to Lawton which the Everton leader just failed to gather. Then Bentham shot but without any luck. Everton were playing artistic football, and the Liverpool defence was so perturbed about matters that they called all hands into defence. Lawton and Bush were like long-lost brothers they were never-parted. The Liverpool attack had little or no chance thus far, so well were the Everton half-backs defending. Twice Kemp slipped on the treacherous turf when he was taking back passes, and Harley, having to work rather hurriedly, gave away a corner. At last Liverpool got into something like working order. They had taken the strain remarkably well, and their reply being held up by a timely intervention by Jones.
The Bentham Glide.
At 14 minutes Everton drew first blood. Mercer was the engineer-in-chief in the making of it, for he put a ball out to the right wing to Stevenson and the result was a corner. For once in a way a corner proved fatal, for Bentham neatly glided Gillick’s flag kick into the far side of the goal, Kemp rushing over in desperation without having any chance of making contact. Everton were worthy of their lead for had undoubtedly been the superior side. Liverpool could not get going hardly, and Sagar had not had a shot to deal with. Considering the handicap under which the game was played, the fare was quite good, Liverpool’s defence was not quite as good as it might have been for there given to sliing his clear. Plenty of thrills and one when Boyes, well inside the penalty area made one of his powerful shots which hit Cooper’s hands. The claim for a penalty was ignored and rightly so, for Cooper had no chance whatever of pulling his hand away, prevent his handling. The referee greatly impressed me for his quick decisions, and I liked the way Niewenhuys and Busby changed places in their efforts to break down Everton’s defensive barrier. McInnes was dead on the mark with a long shot, but Sagar caught the ball cleanly and well. At this point Liverpool had come more into the game in an attacking sense, and very often it took the combined efforts of the Everton defence to keep Fagan, Balmer and Taylor in subjection.
Lawton-Bush Duel.
The Lawton-Bush dull went on, and once again their heads came together and each suffered a hurt, not serious thank goodness. Fagan with a nice flick of the head sent Balmer on his way, and the Everton defence in the opposite direction, so that Balmer was able to get in his shot, which was saved at the foot of the post by Sagar, with Taylor standing right on top of him. The referee gave a foul against the Liverpool man, apparently because there was a suggestion of danger in the way he held his boot. Gillick had a chance when he was through, only to shoot weakly, and then Stevenson worked his way into the Liverpool goalmouth, with no Liverpool man able to say him nay, and it looked a certainty for a second goal to Everton. Stevenson shot strongly, but had just a shade too much loft on his drive, so that the ball hit the underneath side of the bar and cannoned back into play. Kemp, otherwise, was well and truly beaten. Lawton fouled Bush almost underneath the Liverpool bar, and Cook to check an Eastham run, brought his hands into use, the free kick being of no consequence. Gillick, by neat footwork, got free of Harley and made a hot which went like an arrow outside the far upright. One could feel sorry for goalkeepers today, for their foothold was anything but secure, and Sagar slipped as he was rushing across to cover a Niewenhuys shot, but was able to recover as the ball passed out. A free kick was given against Everton when Greenhalgh was alleged to have brought down Balmer, and the game was suspended for a minute or two while Balmer received attention.
Half-Time Liverpool 0, Everton 1.
I hear that one of the gates leading into the kop was burst open and hundreds of people got into the ground free. Liverpool opened the second half with a flourish, their combination being of good class even though there was no finish to it. Busby came along with a terrific shot, which was cannoned away, and then Kemp put his back into Gillick in an unlawful way, but was not called to book for the offence. Everton came back to their first half form. Then, following a corner kick, Nieuwenhuys got a nice ball from Taylor and was off like a shot for goal, but he drove the ball high over the bar. Liverpool promised so much and gave so little. In their approach work they could take the ball forward by fast and good passing movements, but near goal there was never any fire because they seemed shy to shoot unless they through a goal was a certainty. Balmer tried one from well outside the area which went spinning over the bar, and then Eastham, taking a ball from the outside right, dragged it back in front of goal and things looked rather desperate from an Everton point of view. When Mercer went out to make a tackle he slipped, which made things look even worse, but Mercer made a grand recovery, gathered the ball, and, beating two men, turned defence into attack. Busby and McInnes tried desperately hard to get their forwards going without success, and when Everton went forward on their left flank, Lawton almost surprised Kemp, who dropped the ball as he was effecting a save. The game was full of minor fouls, none of which were serious, and the encounter still continued to be a determined. Lawton could not get away from Bush, who was holding the middle very solidly. Bush once just managed to get his shoulder to Lawton as the Everton player was dashing into goal. Liverpool had certainly improved, but there was still lack of fire in their front line. There was little shooting in the game at this stage so one had to be content with midfield fare, some of which was good and some not quite so good. It wanted another goal to brighten up the game, and it came at 73rd minute.
Lawton’s Flash
Gillick got hold of the ball and pushed it forward for Lawton who although challenged by two Liverpool players, shouldered them off and flashed the ball into the net like lightening. Less than half a minute before play had been in the other goalmouth, so you can imagine how fluctuating a game it was. A two goal lead at this point put Everton in a rather commanding position. They became even more fanciful than ever, and Gillick in particular showed his mastery of the ball when beating Harley by a mere flick of the boot. Liverpool still fought it out, but they could not get anywhere near Sagar. If it was not Jones who held them at bay, it was Mercer and Thomson. Liverpool’s shooting? Well, there just had not been any, whereas Everton were always the more deadly near goal. They showed this when Stevenson shot, and Kemp was unable to hold the ball, which left Lawton with the simply task of striding up and tapping the ball into goal at 82 minutes. Lawton tried to improve his goal record but entirely missed the ball, and at the conclusion of a sternly-fought game Everton were attacking. There was much shaking of hands between the players as they left the field. Final: - Liverpool 0, Everton 3. Attendance 55,994; receipts £3,489.
FORWARD FAILURE
February 6, 1939. The Liverpool Echo.
By Stork.
What happened to the Liverpool forwards on Saturday? Had they the Cup-tie at the back of their minds, and were not prepared to take any risks, or was it that they had not the subtlety to beat the strong Everton half back line? There was something amiss for they were never in the game. This Liverpool team was said to be the best they have had for some years, and in view of what they had done, and their league position. I was quite prepared to believe all that had been said about them. I readily admit that I expected them to give Everton the fight of their lives, but as matters turned out, Everton sailed through the game in a manner which surprised me. I had expected something better from the Anfielders, but they must have saved up their feeblest forward display for my special benefit. Only six teams in the League have scored more goals than Liverpool, so the forwards must have been doing their stuff at some time or other, but it was not on Saturday, for the whole of the five forwards were shot shy. Busby and McInnes gave them all manner of passes, but all to no purpose, for they were unable to ultise then. Of course, one of the reasons why they failed was because the Everton half-backs were too good for them. Thomson, Mercer and Jones locked them up as securely as though they had been in a prison cell. They had no method about them no artifice to outwit the Everton defenders, and only for one brief spell did they promise to get on equal terms, and that was immediately after Bentham’s goal. Individually and collectively, the Liverpool attack failed lamentably, whereas the Everton front line, by flashing combination, harried the Liverpool defence severely, and the value of Bush at all times was immense. He held Lawton for over an hour, and many rare battles these two boys had between themselves. But Lawton only wants half a chance and he got it in the second half, to score a smashing goal. It was the only real chance he got until Kemp failed to hold a Stevenson shot and Lawton had the simple task of tapping the ball over the line. Everton’s victory was as complete as the score denotes, for their attack looked good for goals’ and would have had others had it not been for Kemp. He had three times as much work to do as Sagar, and did it well until Stevenson’s shot came along. I think Liverpool’s best shot came from McInnes, although Busby was unlucky with his shooting. It does not say much for a forward line when it has got to trust its half backs to get goals, but that is what Fagan and Company did on Saturday.
Stevenson My Man.
Everton were always the cleverer side. They had more moves up their sleeves than their rivals; mores that could, and did, outwit the opposition well though. Bush, Harley and Cooper defended, Bentham’s goal –his third this season –was a gliding Dean header, and shortly afterwards Stevenson should have scored when he almost carried away the crossbar with a fierce shot. One never felt afraid when Liverpool were advancing, for at no time could they produce anything to cause Sagar any serious trouble. Taylor had a shot saved; Balmer put one over the bar as did Nieuwenhuys, but that was about all they did. As against that Kemp was busily employed throughout, making many good saves. On the other hand it was half an hour before Sagar had a single shot to deal with. There were plenty of thrills in the game even though Everton seemed to have a tight hold at all times. They were most convincing everywhere particularly so in attack, where there was not a week link. Gillick gave Harley a severe test but Stevenson was the man of the forwards in my opinion. His canny dribbling, his drawing of the man and his final distribution being top class. He was like an eel wending his way through, and with Lawton always on top of the defence; it was small wonder that the Liverpool defence surrendered in the last fifteen minutes.
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