Liverpool v Manchester City 1982/83

LIVERPOOL 5 CITY 2

League Division 1  

27th December 1982

Attendance 44,664

Scorers
City Cross(40), Caton(89)
Liverpool Dalglish(16, 21 & 87), Rush(64), Neal(19)

ref Peter Willis

City Corrigan, Ranson, McDonald, Power, Bond, Caton, Tueart, Reeves, Cross, Hartford, Bodak – sub May(unused)

Liverpool Grobbelaar, Neal, Lawrenson, Kennedy, Whelan, Sounness, Dalglish, Lee, Rush, Hodgson Hansen – sub McDermott(unused)

On this day, the rampant Reds were a class apart, Kenny Dalglish especially. He served warning in the opening exchanges of what was to come, driving in a powerful shot that was parried away by Joe Corrigan.
…After 16 minutes Dalglish found his target. David Hodgson and Ronnie Whelan set him up; from just outside the area he swerved the ball with the outside of his right boot high into the corner of the net. A wonderful goal. 
As City sought to re-group, they were breached again. Phil Neal made a diagonal run from the right and let fly with a 30-yard rocket that crashed into the net off a post.

Dalglish was rampant and Dennis Tueart was forced to bring him down just outside the area, merely delaying the inevitable, The Scot got up and beat Corrigan with a powerful low shot from the resulting free kick.
This being the season of goodwill and present giving, Liverpool handed one to City when skipper Graeme Souness played a square ball into the path of Dayid Cross, who chipped Grobbelaar from the edge of the area.
Dalglish was responsible for the Reds restoring their three-goal lead in the second half, winning the ball in midfield and setting Rush free on goal. He was never going to miss and 4-1 it was.
Dalglish completed his hat-trick three minutes from time with a low right-foot shot from close range. In the closing seconds a Peter Bodak volley pulled one back for the visitors.
A deflated Joe Corrigen could not hide his admiration for the Reds afterwards, saying: “They are a very difficult side to play against. I don’t think anyone can catch them In the championship race.
EXCERPT FROM A MATCH REVIEW IN THE LIVERPOOL PROGRAMME 3RD MAY 2003