Season preview 1910/11: Liverpool F.C. (Athletic News)

August 29, 1910
The Anfielders, despite their early departure from the Cup-ties last January, enjoyed one of the most successful season in the history of the club. They finished their League games second only to the champions, and the quality of their football exhibited throughout the winter was of a particularly high standard.

At times the defence was unreliable, but, taking the season throughout, the Liverpool players showed really fine form, and fully merited their high position in the final table of League results.

Consequently it was not deemed necessary by the executive to strengthen the frontal divisions so much as to pay attention to the rear ranks. Thus it came about that Alfred West was brought back to Anfield from Reading after a year’s experience in Southern League football, and another capture from the same environment in Ephraim Longworth, of Leyton, is expected to relieve the minds of all supporters of the club as regards the defence. With Chorlton, Crawford, Rogers, and the two aforementioned backs available, the resisting power of the Anfielders should be sufficient for all-comers.

In the concluding League matches last April, the English custodian Sam Hardy – broke his wrist, but he has completely recovered, and the Chesterfield player is quite fit again to represent his country if called upon.

Some additions have been made to the attacking lines, and amongst the men secured are Brough (inside right), from Burslem, and Leavey (outside right), from Plymouth Argyle. Gilligan, of Bristol City, has also been engaged, while a week ago a young players, J. Scott, from Ardeen Thistle, Ayrshire, was obtained as wing half-back. He is said to greatly resemble Raisbeck when on the field, and one of the fastest junior players in Scotland. He is due at Anfield within the next fortnight.

It is, therefore, more than probably that the Anfielders will start the new season with practically the same eleven that trounced the Villa on the concluding Saturday of April. Changes may be made in the intermediate line later on, and it is unfortunate that Peake, the Welsh international, can not adapt himself to one of the wing positions. In the practice matches he has displayed splendid form in the centre, but unfortunately for him Harrop is a fixture there. Hence the club possess a really first-class half-back who is being wasted, in a sense, by having to perform in the reserve team.

Some of the old favourites are beginning to show signs of the effect of lengthy service, but with men of the stamp of Bowyer, Speakman, Brough, Leavey, Uren, McConnell, and others ready for promotion, there should be no faltering in the making of alterations in case these should be deemed necessary.

Last winter the Anfield-road stand was demolished, but this has been reconstructed at a cost of £1,500. The ground is now practically complete, for it is surrounded by a substantial brick structure, and the stand accommodation is all that could be desired. It is questionable whether there is a more comfortable and compact enclosure in the country.

The chairman of the club – Mr. McKenna – is now the President of the League, and it would be a fitting addendum to his recent selection were the team in which he has such a supreme interest to secure one of the honours of the football world.

The full list of the players in the service of the club are: –

Joe Hewitt has joined Bolton Wanderers. Bertram Goode has gone to Wrexham, but I can not say what has become of William Morris, James Lawson, and Herbert Macpherson.
(Athletic News: August 29, 1910)