October 3, 1914
Match: Football League, First Division, at Anfield, kick off: 15:30.
Liverpool – Everton 0-5 (0-2).
Attendance: 32,000.
Referee: Mr. H.H.Taylor; linesmen: Messrs. W. Palfreyman and J. Roberts.
Liverpool (2-3-5): Kenneth Campbell; Ephraim Longworth, Robert Pursell; Thomas Fairfoul, Phil Bratley, Bob Ferguson; Jack Sheldon, Arthur Metcalf, James Nicholl, Donald Mackinlay, William Lacey.
Everton (2-3-5): Tommy Fern, Bob Thompson, Jock Maconnachie, Tom Fleetwood, Jimmy Galt, Harry Makepeace, Sam Chedgzoy, Frank Jefferis, Bobby Parker, Joe Clennell, Bill Palmer.
The goals: 0-1 Clennell ( 5 min.), 0-2 Parker (17 min.), 0-3 Parker (pen.), 0-4 Clennell (85 min.), 0-5 Parker (88 min.).
Perhaps the most surprising record in League Football is that which the Everton Club has set at the expense of their Liverpool rivals at Anfield. They have not been beaten on the ground since January 21, 1898, and from that date have played sixteen League games there, winning eleven and drawing five. In the last seven visits they have been victorious on each occasion, but last Saturday’s overwhelming success was the most decisive that has ever resulted when these clubs have been in conflict together.
Liverpool were utterly outplayed in every department save that of goal, and Campbell could not in any wise be held responsible for the reverse. Fern was never seriously tested, therefore there was no opportunity afforded of comparing the merits of the respective custodians, but the Liverpool keeper played his part well. Evidently Everton have merely to step on the Anfield pasture to entitle them to at least a share of the spoils; the records of the past 15 years show that they prefer not a portion of but all the honours. They were full value for these in the match under notice, and a more one-sided game has never taken place between these friendly rivals.
WHERE EVERTON EXCELLED
Saturday’s game was keen enough to satisfy the most expectant. There could of course, be no question as to the overwhelming superiority of the Everton team, especially the forwards, who were opposite to a half-back, line that they were able to measure up with consummate ease. It was in this respect that they held their most decisive advantage and moreover, rarely failed to utilise it to the full.
The Liverpool half-backs were repeatedly overran, and rarely during the course of the game did they co-operate with their forwards with any approach top effectiveness. Here lay the key of the situation for the Everton forwards, who were splendidly served by those immediately behind them. There were effective triangular movements on the wing, and a steady controlling force in the centre that suggested a well-conceived plan of campaign. In defensive play, too, the advances lay with Everton, but this occasioned no surprise, scoring that the last lines were so ably covered by a trio of players who were invariably equal to the demands made upon them by the Anfield forces.
LIVERPOOL’S FEEBLE FORWARDS
The absence of Tom Miller undoubtedly exercised a decidedly weakening influence upon the Liverpool attack, for Nicholl was not a success in the centre, and in addition the left wing play, which had been one of the features in previous games, suffered considerably thereby. There was an improvement for some time after the change of ends, when Mackinlay took up the centre berth, but the damage had been done, and there was then no retrieving the position. Although the play of the Anfield forwards never soared to great heights, they were not altogether to blame, for they were, as has been indicated, only moderately supported.
At the same time they had not been without opportunities of narrowing down the score, and as has frequently happened before with them, they paid the penalty of hesitancy when a favourable chance came their way. In this matter they stood out in marked contrasts to the Everton forwards, who, when they got within range, were invariably sharpshooters, and gave Campbell a busy time. The wingmen rarely wasted a ball, and should it be their fortune to come across half-backs in the same generous mood as the Liverpool trio were on Saturday, they should open out the way for quite a crop of goals.
DETAILS OF PLAY
The details of play may be briefly summarised. The Everton forwards went off at a great pace, and almost scored from the first advance. They had bounded into a winning stride, and had not to wait long for their initial success. This came ere the game had been five minutes in progress, and the distinction fell to Clennell, who, crossing the centre screwed in a shot that Campbell could only partially arrest. Following this, Lacey headed in against the crossbar, and from the rebound Mackinlay missed the chance of a lifetime, for he drove over with practically no opposition. Much might have happened had this levelling up materialised, but Everton were away again, and Parker scored a second after Campbell had only feebly kicked away from Clennell.
Everton fully deserved their two goals lead at the interval, and proceeded to further assert their superiority in the second half. Longworth, who is rarely in trouble, was penalised for fouling Palmer, and Parker, scored the penalty kick, and with the exception of a long drive from Lacey there was little to suggest that the Anfielders would be able to reduce the lead against them. During the closing stages they were quite overwhelming, and Clennell scored the fourth, and Parker the fifth goal.
CONCERNING THE PLAYERS
There were few reputations made on the Liverpool side. Nicholl did not turn out the successful leader hoped for, and Lacey alone appeared to be the only player likely to score. Bratley, who filled Lowe‘s position at centre half, made a promising debut, but neither Fairfoul nor Ferguson could cope with the opposing wingmen, and were frequently out of touch with their own forwards. Longsworth played a strong game, but for once in a way Pursell was often in difficulties, while the severity of the defeat could not be had upon the shoulders of Campbell, who was kept well extended throughout the game.
(Liverpool Courier, 05-10-1914)
Everton’s hattrick hero, Bobby Parker.
"Play Up, Liverpool" 