July 31, 1974
Liverpool are now getting down to the heart of pre-season training – games against other clubs, even though they are behind closed doors.
Liverpool had a useful work-out at Sealand Road yesterday, beating Chester 4-3. The Reds are going to Wrexham on Friday.
Liverpool played their Cup Final team at Chester with the exception of new boy Ray Kennedy in place of John Toshack, who is still in hospital.
They trailed 3-1 before coming through to win with goals from Ray Kennedy, Kevin Keegan, Peter Cormack and Alec Lindsay (penalty).
Mr. Shankly said today: “It was a useful game for us. It was what we wanted at this stage of the training programme. The boys are coming along nicely although we’ve been hit by an usually heavy crop of injuries at this time.
“Toshack is still having tests in the Northern Hospital. It looks as though it could be a virus problem and that can be cleared up pretty quickly.
“Steve Heighway has a stomach strain and only played for a few minutes at Chester, with Phil Boersma playing the rest of the game in his place.
“Chris Lawler is improving after a spot of trouble with his knee and will train to-day, but Frank Lane, our reserve goalkeeper, is probably the most seriously hurt of all.
“He has his ankle put in plaster with Achilles tendon – and you can never tell how long that will be getting right. It could be months.
“So what a blessing it has proved that we have signed this fine young lad Peter McDonnell from Bury this week. He’ll be going to Germany with us next week as deputy to Ray Clemence now that Lane is out of action.
“He’s perfectly built for the job and I think he’s going to develop along the right lines. He has only played a handful of League games but I was impressed with him in a reserve match at Anfield. It was from that view of him that we went for him.”
(Source: Liverpool Echo: July 31, 1974; via http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) © 2018 Findmypast Newspaper Archive Limited
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