1971–72 Liverpool F.C. season

Liverpool F.C. fought for the league title for the first time in three years, finishing third, albeit just one point behind champions Derby, in a battle that also involved Leeds and Manchester City. Liverpool's only second attempt at the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup ended in disappointment, following an autumn defeat to Bayern Munich. The season saw the breakthrough of youngster Kevin Keegan, the attacking midfielder playing an integral part in the team, assisting several goals and scored nine himself, having been moved to a striking position. It gave them hope that their trophyless run, now in its sixth season, may soon end.

Liverpool F.C.
1971–72 season
Chairman H.E. Roberts
Manager Bill Shankly
First Division3rd
Cup Winners' CupSecond round
FA CupFourth round
League CupFourth round
Top goalscorerLeague: John Toshack (13)
All: John Toshack (13)
Average home league attendance47,689

Another player who had come through the youth system and made his debut as a substitute for John Toshack against Manchester United on Easter Monday was Phil Thompson who would become an integral part of the team for the rest of the decade.

Squad

Goalkeepers

Defenders

Midfielders

Attackers

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Derby County (C) 42 24 10 8 69 33 2.091 58 Qualified for European Cup
2 Leeds United 42 24 9 9 73 31 2.355 57 FA Cup winners, qualified for Cup Winners' Cup
3 Liverpool 42 24 9 9 64 30 2.133 57 Qualified for UEFA Cup
4 Manchester City 42 23 11 8 77 45 1.711 57
5 Arsenal 42 22 8 12 58 40 1.450 52
Source:
(C) League Champions.

Results

First Division
Main article: 1971–72 Football League § First Division
Date Opponents Venue Result Scorers Attendance Report 1 Report 2
14-Aug-71Nottingham ForestH3–1Keegan  12' Smith  15 Pen' Hughes  55'51,427ReportReport
17-Aug-71Wolverhampton WanderersH3–2Toshack  7' Smith  89 Pen'51,869ReportReport
21-Aug-71Newcastle UnitedA2–3Hughes  10' Keegan  75'39,720ReportReport
24-Aug-71Crystal PalaceA1–0Toshack  57'29,489ReportReport
28-Aug-71Leicester CityH3–2Heighway  25' Keegan  35' Toshack  71'50,970ReportReport
01-Sep-71Manchester CityA0–145,144ReportReport
04-Sep-71Tottenham HotspurA0–250,124ReportReport
11-Sep-71SouthamptonH1–0Toshack  32'45,878ReportReport
18-Sep-71Leeds UnitedA0–141,381ReportReport
25-Sep-71Manchester UnitedH2–2Graham  7' Hall  24'55,634ReportReport
02-Oct-71Stoke CityA0–028,698ReportReport
09-Oct-71ChelseaH0–048,464ReportReport
16-Oct-71Nottingham ForestA3–2Hughes  5' Heighway  65' Smith  78 Pen'20,945ReportReport
23-Oct-71Huddersfield TownH2–0Smith  57' Evans  80'41,627ReportReport
30-Oct-71Sheffield UnitedA1–1Keegan  47'39,023ReportReport
06-Nov-71ArsenalH3–2Hughes  41' Callaghan  55' Ross  80'46,929ReportReport
13-Nov-71EvertonA0–156,563ReportReport
20-Nov-71Coventry CityA2–0Whitham  80', 89'25,325ReportReport
27-Nov-71West Ham UnitedH1–0Hughes  69'43,399ReportReport
04-Dec-71Ipswich TownA0–021,359ReportReport
11-Dec-71Derby CountyH3–2Whitham  14', 44', 53'44,601ReportReport
18-Dec-71Tottenham HotspurH0–043,409ReportReport
27-Dec-71West Bromwich AlbionA0–143,904ReportReport
01-Jan-72Leeds UnitedH0–253,847ReportReport
08-Jan-72Leicester CityA0–126,421ReportReport
22-Jan-72Wolverhampton WanderersA0–033,692ReportReport
29-Jan-72Crystal PalaceH4–1Lawler  38', 66' Callaghan  72' Keegan  82'39,538ReportReport
12-Feb-72Huddersfield TownA1–0Whitham  73'18,702ReportReport
19-Feb-72Sheffield UnitedH2–0Toshack  42', 82'42,005ReportReport
26-Feb-72Manchester CityH3–0Lloyd  37' Keegan  53' Graham  65'50,074ReportReport
04-Mar-72EvertonH4–0Own Goal  1' Own Goal  66' Lawler  74' Hughes  87'53,922ReportReport
11-Mar-72ChelseaA0–038,691ReportReport
18-Mar-72Newcastle UnitedH5–0Lawler  9' Keegan  22' Toshack  39' Hughes  63' Heighway  81'43,899ReportReport
25-Mar-72SouthamptonA1–0Toshack  52'21,680ReportReport
28-Mar-72Stoke CityH2–1Own Goal  40' Keegan  53'42,489ReportReport
01-Apr-72West Bromwich AlbionH2–0Smith  31 Pen' Lawler  58'46,564ReportReport
03-Apr-72Manchester UnitedA3–0Lawler  60' Toshack  62' Hughes  84'54,000ReportReport
08-Apr-72Coventry CityH3–1Keegan  21' Smith  67 Pen' Toshack  85'50,628ReportReport
15-Apr-72West Ham UnitedA2–0Toshack  9' Heighway  46'32,660ReportReport
22-Apr-72Ipswich TownH2–0Toshack  39', 66'54,316ReportReport
01-May-72Derby CountyA0–139,420ReportReport
08-May-72ArsenalA0–039,289ReportReport

Football League Cup
Main article: 1971–72 Football League Cup
Date Opponents Venue Result Scorers Attendance Report 1 Report 2
07-Sep-71Hull CityA3–0Lawler  34' Heighway  38' Hall  53 Pen'31,612ReportReport
05-Oct-71SouthamptonH1–0Heighway  50'29,964ReportReport
27-Oct-71West Ham UnitedA1–2Graham  30'40,878ReportReport

FA Cup
Main article: 1971–72 FA Cup
Date Opponents Venue Result Scorers Attendance Report 1 Report 2
15-Jan-72Oxford UnitedH3–0Keegan  47', 81' Lindsay  84'56,124ReportReport
05-Feb-72Leeds UnitedH0–056,296ReportReport
09-Feb-72Leeds UnitedA0–249,572ReportReport

European Cup Winners Cup
Main article: 1971–72 European Cup Winners' Cup
Date Opponents Venue Result Scorers Attendance Report 1 Report 2
15-Sep-71Servette FCH1–2Lawler  81'21,000ReportReport
29-Sep-71Servette FCA2–0Hughes  27' Heighway  60'38,591ReportReport
20-Oct-71Bayern MunichH0–042,949ReportReport
03-Nov-71Bayern MunichA1–3Evans  37'40,000ReportReport

FA Charity Shield
Main article: 1971 FA Charity Shield
Leicester City1–0Liverpool
Whitworth 15' Report
Attendance: 25,104
Referee: Pat Partridge

References
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.