1974 FA Cup Final

Liverpool

Liverpool entered the competition in the third round and were drawn at home against Doncaster Rovers, who were struggling in the bottom half of the Fourth Division, eventually finishing 22nd and therefore 90th of the 92 Football League clubs. At Anfield, Doncaster were close to achieving a major shock but Liverpool managed to secure a 2–2 draw and then won the replay 2–0 at Belle Vue. Liverpool struggled again in the fourth round, unable to score at Anfield against Second Division Carlisle United, who were promoted to the First Division at the end of the season. As in the previous tie, Liverpool won the replay 2–0, played at Brunton Park.

In the fifth round, Liverpool were drawn at home again and were in a "tie of the round" situation against one of their main rivals Ipswich Town, who had won at Old Trafford in the fourth round to knock out Manchester United. This time, despite facing strong opposition, Liverpool achieved victory at the first attempt and qualified for the quarter-final stage with a 2–0 win. In the sixth round, they were drawn away for the first time in the tournament against Second Division Bristol City and won 1–0 at Ashton Gate. In the previous round, Bristol City had beaten the First Division leaders Leeds United at Elland Road.

Liverpool now faced their sometime "bogey team" Leicester City in the semi-final at Old Trafford. After a goalless draw, the replay took place at Villa Park and Liverpool won 3–1.

Newcastle United

Newcastle United entered the competition in the third round and were drawn at home against non-league Hendon, who were the reigning champions of the regional Isthmian League. Hendon came close to a major upset and held Newcastle 1–1 at St James' Park. Newcastle recovered to win the replay at Vicarage Road, Watford by the flattering scoreline of 4–0. A similar situation arose in the fourth round when Newcastle were drawn at home against struggling Fourth Division side Scunthorpe United, who also achieved a 1–1 draw at St James' Park. In the replay at the Old Showground, Newcastle won 3–0. In the fifth round, Newcastle were away to Second Division West Bromwich Albion and won 3–0 at the first attempt.

This set up a sixth round home tie against Nottingham Forest who, like West Brom, were a mid-table Second Division team. Early in the second half, referee Gordon Kew awarded Forest a penalty and sent off Pat Howard, who had fouled Duncan McKenzie to concede the penalty. Forest scored to take a surprise 3–1 lead. Minutes later, Newcastle hooligans in the Leazes End of the ground (now the Sir John Hall stand) rioted and invaded the pitch. Two Forest players were injured in the fracas and the referee took all the players off the field. Instead of abandoning the match, Kew waited until all players were recovered and received the permission of both managers to restart it. Newcastle managed to stage a comeback and won 4–3 despite being a player short. 23 people were taken to hospital as a result of the pitch invasion, of whom two had fractured skulls. 103 people received treatment at the ground and 39 were arrested.

Two days later, Nottingham Forest sent a formal written protest to the Football Association (the FA). In response, the secretary of the FA, Ted Croker, announced that a special four-man sub-committee of the Challenge Cup Committee, who oversee the FA Cup competition, were to investigate the incident with an eye to disqualifying Newcastle United. Croker stated: "Newcastle could be disqualified. We do not have the power to order a replay as the game was completed". The sub-committee ruled, however, that the match must be replayed at a neutral venue and the original tie was therefore a void match. If the replay was drawn then extra time would be played and, if necessary, a second match would be played at a neutral venue. This decision was unprecedented at the time and the reaction was mixed, with Newcastle defender Frank Clark suggesting that Newcastle's comeback from two goals down and with a player sent off should have allowed them to go through outright. The Nottingham Forest captain stated, "we would have won it fair and square but for the trouble". The first replay at Goodison Park was a nervous 0–0 draw and stayed so after extra time. Newcastle finally won the tie through a single Malcolm Macdonald goal in the second replay at Goodison Park.

In the semi-final at Hillsborough, Newcastle faced Burnley who were above them in the First Division table. Newcastle nevertheless won the match 2–0 with two second half goals by Macdonald.

First half

Ian Callaghan passed out wide to Alec Lindsay. Lindsay's high ball caused problems in the Newcastle defence before the ball was knocked out of play by their defender, Alan Kennedy.^[1] The resulting corner from Brian Hall targeting John Toshack led only to a free kick awarded against Toshack.^[2][1]

A high ball to just outside area was flicked on by Malcolm MacDonald. John Tudor and Tommy Cassidy chasing the flick on were unable to capitalise before Ray Clemence dived to gather possession.^[2][1]

A Steve Heighway throw in on the left to Toshack led to Peter Cormack first-time passing possession back to Heighway. Heighway went outside Frank Clark to centre but Toshack and Tommy Smith were both unable to profit from their endeavours.^[2]

Steve Heighway passed to Keegan on the left. His high centre targeted John Toshack but Willie McFaul was eventually able to take possession under pressure.^[2][1]

A Tommy Smith diagonal pass put Keegan in possession inside the Newcastle penalty box. Keegan teed up Toshack for a first time left foot shot that went wide of McFaul's right hand post.^[2][1]

Callagan's high cross field pass fed Heighway on the left wing. Heighway beat his marker to deliver a low centre that was clear by Pat Howard in the Newcastle defence.^[2][1]

Commentating on match highlights for a TV programme about the competition decades later, John Helm summed up Liverpool's first half dominance as "one way traffic". However the Newcastle defence held out until half time.

Second half

Smith fed Emlyn Hughes from a free-kick with a square pass into the centre circle. He played a high ball to Keegan just outside the box. Keegan flicked the ball to Toshack who set up Peter Cormack outside the box. Cormack teed up Keegan who shot from the edge of the area wide of McFaul's right hand post.^[2]

Alec Lindsay won a block tackle in his own half and surged into attack. Just outside the penalty box, he played the ball towards Keegan. Keegan 'dummied' the ball causing Alan Kennedy marking him to inadvertently knock the ball back into Lindsay's path. Lindsay powerfully left foot shot the ball high into the net with his first touch on re-taking possession of the ball. However the referee disallowed the goal based on an incorrect linesman's offside ruling.^[2][1]

Alec Lindsay picked up a loose ball in his own half. Lindsay fed Callaghan on the left who shuttled the ball to Heighway. Heighway passed back to Callaghan who squared a short pass to Smith on the right. Smith played a cross field pass to Hall on the left who crossed with his right foot to Toshack. Newcastle defended but being pressed surrendered possession quickly again to Lindsay. Lindsay's cross was defended by Clark who conceded a throw in. Heighway threw in to Tommy Smith with a throw in on the right. Smith crossed towards Hall on the edge of the penalty area. After Keegan shouted, "Leave it", Hall dived underneath the ball to let it travel to Keegan in time and space on the edge of the box. Keegan took one touch to tee the ball up before opening the scoring with his right foot from just inside the area. 57 minutes had passed.^[3][2][1]

Peter Cormack teed up Emlyn Hughes from a free kick. Hughes powerful shot from outside the area went narrowly over the bar. A passing move including possession by Tommy Smith three times and Brian Hall twice led to Heighyway hitting a left foot volley wide from just outside the area.^[2][1]

In the 75th minute a long kick from Clemence in goal was head flicked on by Toshack into the path of Heighway. Heighway took two touches to control the ball before shooting in low to McFaul's right hand side for 2-0.^[2][1]

Ian Callaghan passed from his own half to Keegan in a wide right position. Keegan's centre was flicked by Toshack's left foot over the bar.^[2][1]

Cormack challenged for a high ball just inside his own half. Callaghan won the loose ball to feed Hall. Hall passed out to Toshack on he right. Toshack passed back to Smith who switched play to Lindsay on the left. Lindsay fed Keegan who played a high cross-field pass over to Smith. Smith first time touched the ball with the outside of his right foot to Hall. Hall took two touches to knock the ball back to Smith who had moved further forward. Smith then played a one-two pass with Heighyway before delivering a low centre. With Toshack, Cormack and Keegan lined up along the egde of the six yard area, Keegan scored with his right foot from four yards for 3-0.^[2][1]

John Helm commentating said, "Newcastle United have simply been destroyed. Liverpool 3, Newcastle 0 In the most one sided cup final for years." He added, "Newcastle were simply second best."^[2]

Details

4 May 1974
15:00 BST

Liverpool	3–0	Newcastle United
Keegan  57, 88' Heighway  74'	Report

Wembley, London

Attendance: 100,000

Referee: Gordon Kew

Liverpool

Newcastle

GK 1 Ray Clemence RB 2 Tommy Smith LB 3 Alec Lindsay CB 4 Phil Thompson CM 5 Peter Cormack CB 6 Emlyn Hughes (c) CF 7 Kevin Keegan CM 8 [4][5] Brian Hall LM 9 Steve Heighway CF 10 John Toshack RM 11 Ian Callaghan Substitute: DF 12 Chris Lawler Manager: Bill Shankly

GK 1 Willie McFaul RB 2 Frank Clark LB 3 Alan Kennedy CM 4 Terry McDermott CB 5 Pat Howard CB 6 Bobby Moncur (c) RW 7 Jimmy Smith  75' CM 8 Tommy Cassidy ST 9 Malcolm Macdonald ST 10 John Tudor LW 11 Terry Hibbitt Substitute: MF 12 Tommy Gibb  75' Manager: Joe Harvey