August 7, 1977
Key note: “Liverpool won the third place and fair play awards in the Amsterdam international tournament, last night, and not much more than that is worth recording from a bore of a match against Barcelona. An early goal by David Johnson settled it, but Barcelona were so poor, so casual, that the organisers would be justified in with-holding their money. It was, in effect, a non-event. It takes two teams to make a match and Barcelona, a shadow of their once great side, strolled around as though they had been disturbed from a siesta and could not get back to it quickly enough. The crowd of 45,000 spent a fair part of the time jeering the Spaniards or watching planes circle the stadium towing advertising slogans. And a 60-piece brass band of Canadian girls playing during the interval with a noise level which must have been hard on Merseyside, provided the best entertainment of the night.” (Liverpool Echo: August 8, 1977)
Match: Friendly, Amsterdam Tournament, at Olympic Stadium.
Liverpool – Barcelona 1-0 (1-0).
Attendance: 45,000.
Referee: Mr. Hans Boekman.
Liverpool (4-4-2): Ray Clemence, Phil Neal, Phil Thompson, Emlyn Hughes, Joey Jones, Jimmy Case, Ian Callaghan, Terry McDermott, Ray Kennedy, David Fairclough, David Johnson.
Substitutes: Sammy Lee for Johnson after 70 min.; Alan Hansen (not used); Tommy Smith (not used); Alan Waddle (not used).
Barcelona (4-3-3): Pere Valenti Mora, Antonio Olmo, Enrique Costas, Jesus de la Cruz, Johan Neeskens, Francisco Fortes, Jorge Carreno, Rafael Zuveria, Carles Rexach, Juan Manuel Asensi.
Substitutes: Alfredo Amarillo for Costas after 27 min.; Manuel Clares for Fortes at half-time.
The goal: 1-0 Johnson (13 min., assist: Neal).
XX
"Play Up, Liverpool" 