Wednesday, August 31 – 1960
Match: Football League, Second Division, at Anfield, kick-off: 19:15.
Liverpool – Southampton 0-1 (0-0).
Attendance: 37,604.
Referee: Mr N.N. Hough (Macclesfield); linesmen: Messrs P.R. Booth and J. Yates.
Liverpool: Bert Slater, John Molyneux, Ronnie Moran, Gordon Milne, Dick White, Thomas Leishman, Kevin Lewis, Roger Hunt, Billy Liddell, Jimmy Melia, Alan A’Court.
Southampton: Ron Reynolds, Ron Davies, Tommy Traynor, Brian Clifton, John Page, Cliff Huxford, Terry Paine, George O’Brien, Derek Reeves, Tommy Mulgrew, John Sydenham.
The goals: 0-1 O’Brien (64 min.).
Billy Liddell, the once-great footballer who is 39 in February, was thrown back into the furnace of League football last night in place of Liverpool centre forward Dave Hickson. But though the heart is still in his great frame, the reflexes are gone.
I winched every time Billy fumbled an attempt to trap, turn and shoot. And I say Liverpool must stop asking trhe impossible of a man who is still Anfield’s idol.
Southampton, apart from defensive crudities, look set for a successful Division II career.
The attack, with Terry Paine and John Sydenham outstanding, moved with grace and precision. But they were lucky to win.
Ron Reynolds made two breath-taking saves. And in the first five minutes Tommy Leishman hit a post and Liverpool forced four corners.
After 64 minutes Tommy Mulgrew slipped through for his inside forward partner, George O’Brien, to score a cleverly contrived goal.
(Daily Express, 01-09-1960)
Match Programme.
Billy Liddell, Liverpool.
John Molyneux, Liverpool.
