I remember the day so well. Two main events that day. One on the field and one off it. The on-field event was an epic and one of, if not the best, Merseyside derby. Liverpool and Everton locked horns for the third game in a row when they met each other at Goodison Park in an FA Cup fifth round replay. The first of the three games ended in a 3-1 League victory for Liverpool at Anfield. Eight days later the two sides met again at Anfield in the FA Cup – a game that ended 0-0.
So, onto Goodison for the replay, a game that can only be described as an epic rollercoaster. Liverpool saw the lead slip from their grasp on four occasions. Peter Beardsley, given a rare start by Kenny Dalglish after the acquisition of David Speedie, scored twice in normal time, with Ian Rush also netting his customary goal against The Toffees. But each time, Everton equalised, with two Graeme Sharp goals and a Tony Cottee strike three minutes from time.
Into extra time and John Barnes curled in a beauty to make it 4-3 only to see Tony Cottee snatch a fourth equaliser and his second goal of the night to send the tie to a second replay. For the record there were no penalty shoot-outs in those days and also for the record, Everton won the second replay 1-0 courtesy of a Dave Watson header to bring to an end a marathon sequence of four Merseyside derbies in 18 frantic days.
As scintillating and exciting as the 4-4 draw was, the game itself was somewhat overshadowed by the huge announcement from Liverpool after the game. “King” Kenny Dalglish had resigned. In more ways than one, that event was a huge defining moment in Liverpool’s history. The stresses of top flight management and Hillsborough took its toll on King Kenny as he decided to take a well earned break away from football to recharge his exhausted batteries.
See some of the action from that epic FA Cup tie here below…..