May 11, 1943
International stars from the four countries will be featured in the big Merseyside “Derby” match between Everton and Liverpool which will be staged at Goodison Park tomorrow night with the Liverpool Senior Cup as the prize.
Both clubs have made a wide – and successful – search for “guest” players to add glamour to an already attractive fixture, and this should prove perhaps the most intriguing of all the “Derby” games this campaign.
Let me deal with Everton first. At outside right will be none other than Stanley Matthews, of Stoke City, Blackpool and England, definitely the greatest right-winger since the heyday of Alex Jackson. Matthews of the twinkling feet is one of football’s greatest drawing cards of the age.
At right-half will be David Russell, the Scottish player, who was a Sheffield Wednesday star in the North Cup final and who helped East Fife to win the Scottish Cup just before the war. Livingstone, of Bury and Wrexham, will partner Matthews, while Jim McIntosh, of Preston North End and Chester, will be at outside left.
Add to these “guests” Everton’s own stars in Tommy Jones, Tommy Lawton, Alec Stevenson, Welsh, English, and Irish internationals respectively. Jackson and Greenhalgh, and Burnett and Humphreys, the products of the junior sides, and then link them with the Lew Ashcroft, of Tranmere Rovers, who will be standing by for forward duties, and you have a team fit to parade Wembley or Hampden Park.
Reds’ newcomers.
Liverpool will not have so many of their regular players because of difficulties in getting away in mid-week, but just as Mr. Theo Kelly has been team-building for Everton, so has Mr. George Kay for the Reds. Yes, and Liverpool have some top-notchers in their ranks.
Bobbie Beattie, Preston’s Scottish international, will be in the attack, while Murphy, of Bradford City, who made such a notable debut for Wales last Saturday, will be at left half for Jack Pilling, whose work keeps him away.
Harry Kaye is nursing an injury and if he cannot play Johnson, the Southport RAF lad, will be at right half. Wildsmith, of Rochdale, will be at left back and Pope, of Blackpool and Hearts, will be at right back. Campbell, one of the Reds’ latest professionals, will be at outside right. Rist, Hobson, Balmer, Done, Fagan and Hulligan are the regular to make up a strong eleven which goes out holding a three-goal lead, having defeated Everton 4-1 in the first “leg” of the final.
Liverpool could have rested on that 4-1 win on Easter Monday, but they have sportingly agreed to fulfil their obligation to Everton and as a result we are in for our sixth “Derby” treat of the season. And Everton have yet to defeat their rivals this term. Four of the games have brought victory for Liverpool, while the fifth ended in a 4-4 draw.
While Everton field a strong side tomorrow, I think they are going to have all their work cout out to smash down that three-goal advantage. As a matter of fact Everton might do just as they did against Blackpool – win the match but lose the tie.
The stage is set for a really excellent encounter, due to start at seven o’clock to give all a chance to get along. Liverpool are the holders of the Cup and will fight desperately hard to retain it against Matthews, Lawton and company. This is a football treat you must not miss.
Everton (from): George Burnett, George Jackson, Norman Greenhalgh, David Russell, Tommy Jones, John Humphreys, Stanley Matthews, Llew Ashcroft, Archie Livingstone, Tommy Lawton, Alex Stevenson, Jimmy McIntosh.
Liverpool (from): Alf Hobson, Alf Pope, Tom Wildsmith, Joe Johnson, Harry Kaye, Frank Rist, George Murphy, Jack Campbell, Jack Balmer, Cyril Done, Willie Fagan, Robert Beattie, Michael Hulligan.
(Evening Express: May 11, 1943)
"Play Up, Liverpool" 