October 1, 1910
If there is any team more difficult than the Livers to reckon up I should like to know it. It is always a task to say what it will do, and a weak performance is followed by a most brilliant one. Such has been the case this year. Bradford City was the forerunner of Blackburn Rovers, while Manchester City has succeeded Sheffield United and Nottingham Forest.
There were several changes from the Forest match. Hardy stood down for Beeby, Longworth, Peake and Gilligan substituted Crawford, Harrop, and Orr. Manchester were minus Eadie, whose place was filled by Wilkinson – otherwise the team can be reckoned at full strength.
The home team had the advantage of the breeze, and they made the better beginning. The Reds did not seem able to settle down, and when Manchester opened the scoring a substantial defeat was the apparent prospect for the Reds. But apparently the goal against was the stimulant required, for from the moment they unproved, and the equaliser that came from the foot of Gilligan was only a reward of steady work.
Just before this was obtained Goddard had missed an easy chance, much to his chagrin. So at half-time the sides were on even terms, a much better state of affairs for Liverpool than the first twenty minutes promised.
In the second half the Reds were decidedly superior, and after exerting great pressure Parkinson scored a grand goal, the result of a movement intimated by Macdonald and carried on by Brough. This concluded the scoring, and the balance was in favour of Liverpool.
There was no fluke about the victory. Once the Reds settled down they were the better team, better individually, and better collectively. And the latter is more particularly what we desire to see. There is, however, still one department which requires improvement – the shooting. After all, goals are the spice of the game, and it is goals we want to see. Teams generally have been very sparing in that direction so far this season.
In goal Beeby did the right thing. He could not save Dorsett’s shot, and what little else he had to do, he did it well. Longworth and Chorlton made a strong pair of backs. The former is settling down to good work, and I was glad to see that Chorlton did so well. His kicking was powerful and sure, different altogether than he has shown at Anfield, and he tackled without hesitation.
The halves too had an understanding with both backs and forwards. Robinson was the soundest, and Peake the most brilliant, but McConnell was not far behind. Robinson’s work in defence was equal to anything he has done.
Forward, Parkinson and Macdonald were the shining lights, and everyone will be glad to hear that “Mac” did not fiddle show, but went straight for goal. Gilligan’s pace was not equal to that of his comrades, but he has a wise old head which was very useful.
Manchester had nothing to complain of in goal where Lyall is still a master hand, but the backs were vacillating and uncertain. Codling, the old Aston Villa man, was the pick of the halves, for Wilkinson was no match for Parkinson, and Bottomley was just moderate.
The forwards suffered from their lack of weight, and sure Holford, the good little man as he is, played more like a centre half, which is evidently his natural position. The one man that took the eye was Dorsett, a brother of George who is at present heirs de combat.
At outside right he played excellently, and this position is at last satisfactorily filled. Lot Jones and Conlin are clever enough, but they overdo their tricky work which, while pretty to look at, leads to nothing.
Today is the first meeting with Everton, and the battle of the rivals will be watched with keen interest throughout the city.
Goal Scorers for Liverpool.
LEAGUE – Parkinson 3, Stewart 1, Brough 1, Orr 1, Gilligan 1. Total 7.
COMBINATION – Gilligan 2, Bowyer 2, Brough 1, Speakman 1, Peake 1, Leavey 1, Stewart 1. Total 9.
FRIENDLIES – Speakman 4, Thompson 3, Bowyer 2, Leavey 2, Connell 2, Uren 1. Total 14.
(Joint Everton and Liverpool Match Programme: October 1, 1910)
"Play Up, Liverpool" 