Reykjavik 0 v 5 Liverpool
European Cup 1st Round, 1st Leg
August 17th 1964
Liverpool enjoyed a gentle introduction to European football, beating the Icelandic part timers with plenty to spare. The ease of the win was shown by the fact the result still remains the Reds record away win in Europe to this day.
Unlike today, when a charter flight direct from Speke Airport to the destination is arranged, this was quite a marathon trip. The day after drawing the Charity Shield with West Ham, the players had to travel to Prestwick in western Scotland for a flight to Keflavik. On the way, they had time to stop at Butlins in Ayr where the gateman informed Shanks that his team were on the wrong road if they were heading for Iceland. It was one of the few times that the Great Man was totally lost for words.
As the plane descended into Keflavik airport, the pilot banked to give the passengers a view of an erupting volcano, causing some to fear that one of the engines had caught fire. Once safely on the ground, they found that the sun would never set for the whole time that they were there and that their opponents were novices in Europe too. Knattspyrnufelag Reykjavikur, to give them their full title, were the first Icelandic side ever to enter European competition.
Due to a recent appendix operation Ian St John hadn't travelled and Phil Chisnall, who had recently been signed from Manchester United, took his place. However, it was another reserve player, Gordon Wallace, in for the injured Alf Arrowsmith, who was to score Liverpool's first European goal after just three minutes. Chisnall's shot was cleared and Hunt passed the rebound to Gordon Wallace who scored, despite mis-kicking his shot.
Liverpool cruised through the first half without adding to their tally, but one minute after the restart Wallace set up Roger Hunt to put the Reds 2-0 up. Ten minutes later Ian Callaghan's cross was fumbled by the keeper and Chisnall was on hand to score Liverpool's third.
Wallace scored his second with a header on the hour mark to make the score 4-0, but an avalanche never materialised and it wasn't until the 88th minute that Liverpool made the score 5-0, Roger Hunt scoring again. That finished a game that had been played in a very sporting manner, with hardly any fouls being committed.
Liverpool then won the second leg 6-1 at Anfield, with the Reds then going on to beat useful opposition in Anderlecht and Cologne before finally succumbing to Inter Milan in the semi finals.
The 5-0 scoreline has been repeated away from home in Europe just twice, in 1977 against Crusaders and last season against Haka. For Gordon Wallace, scorer of the Reds first European goal, he never made it as a first team regular due to the fact he suffered from brittle bones and in 1967 moved on to Crewe Alexandra. He now owns a garage near Anfield.
Liverpool: Lawrence, Byrne, Moran, Milne, Yeats, Stevenson, Callaghan, Hunt, Chisnall, Wallace, Thompson. Att: 10,000
Scorers: Wallace 3,60, Hunt 46,88, Chisnall 57