LIVERPOOL 2 CITY 0
League Division 1
12th August 1972
Attendance 55,383
Scorers Hall(3), Callaghan(84)
Ref Gordon Kew
City Corrigan, Book, Donachie, Doyle, Booth, Bell, Summerbee, Lee, Davies, Marsh, Towers – sub Jeffries(unused)
Liverpool Clemence, Lawler, Lindsay, Smith, Lloyd, Hughes, Keegan, Hall, Heighway, Toshack, Callaghan – sub Storton(unused)
FROM THE PRESS BOX
PETER GARDNER’S ‘VERDICT ON CITY’ FROM THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS FOOTBALL PINK
City found themselves staggering on the ropes at Anfield, where they were outplayed for long periods by an aggressive Liverpool side.
The Blues, with their defence at times looking desperately exposed, grimly hung on in a match that started so brightly before degenerating into an untidy brawl. It ended with the sending off of Wyn Davies and Larry Lloyd.
Few City reputations remained untarnished in an opening match where Liverpool picked up where they had left off last season, when going so close to the title.
I made Mike Doyle City’s best player, closely followed by Tony Towers. But a lot of defensive loose ends will have to be tightened up if City are again to make their mark this time.
City made a more determined fight of it in the second half, with their front three involved in the attacking action, particularly Mike Summerbee who was as forceful as ever.
This was one of the first city games i attended. I was living in Norway and that summer I travelled through Europe by interrail together with some Friends. The first week of the fotball season we were in England. As a City supporter since 1967/68 I travelled to Liverpool for the opening game. Liverpool and City ended 3rd and 4th only one point behind Derby the previous season. I managed to get a ticket among the Liverpool fans (not the cop) and the atmosphere was fantastic. Sadly City lost, thanks to goals from Brian Hall and Ian Gallaghan. I’m still a City fan (Scandinavian Branch) and enjoying the City succes these days.
Bjarne Jensen