December 8, 1941
Liverpool maintained their place in the League by a 2-1 win against Tranmere Rovers at Birkenhead. It is still possible for them to finish as champions, but whether they do or do not they can pride themselves on having done grandly with a scratch team.
Like their opponents of Saturday they are one of the few clubs whose players volunteered for war service almost en bloc at the outset.
There was not a great deal to choose between the sides, but Liverpool were superior by no more than a goal on the register, and on the field. There were no goals in the first half. Later Dorsett scored a goal, which was quickly equalised by a penalty success by Bridges, and then Ainsley scored from a free-kick.
Liverpool claimed the penalty award was not well founded. They were doubly unlucky, because Hobson stopped Bridges’s first shot, and was beaten only when the shooter followed up and flicked the ball in from close range. Liverpool’s attack broke down frequently when Price or Owen took command.
Nevertheless Liddell has a brilliant way with no luck from his shots. Dorsett was never wholely tamed. Kaye was Liverpool’s best half-back, and Fazackerley showed remarkable power of recovery, and promise of developing into a hard-hitting forward rather than a half or full-back.
Lambert was as noteable as Owen for his breaking-up work. Tranmere’s position was not helped when Rosenthal had to go outside left through injury. Ashcroft, with a style all his own and a penchant for taking the ball at his feet like a 100 yard sprinter, was not successful because he did not finish as punishingly as usual.
Result: – Tranmere Rovers 1, Liverpool 2.
Tranmere Rovers: Percy Lovett, Alan Wishart, Arthur Owen, Ted Anderson, Walter Price, William Cartwright, Llew Ashcroft, Abe Rosenthal, Norman Climo, Harold Bridges, Benny Jones.
Liverpool: Alf Hobson, Roy Guttridge, Ray Lambert, Charlie Fazackerley, Dennis Cooke, Harry Kaye, Billy Liddell, George Ainsley, Dick Dorsett, Stan Palk, Jimmy McIntosh.
(Liverpool Daily Post: December 8, 1941)
XX
"Play Up, Liverpool" 