Filed under: Everton, Liverpool, Premier League, Football, Remember When...
Who could forget the Merseyside derby that proved to be the final straw in Kenny Dalglish's first reign at Liverpool? That 4-4 FA Cup draw at Goodison Park in February 1991 is held up as one of the greatest Merseyside tussles of all time, leaving Dalglish with his left arm on the dug-out, wearing the same baffled and sad expression he had when he announced his resignation two days later.
But the previous league game between the Reds and Everton -- the first of four meetings between the sides in two and half weeks -- did little to cover the growing cracks in Dalglish's reign, despite Liverpool's 3-1 victory.
What a coincidence that his first game back at Liverpool will be against the opposition that he faced in his final home game in charge, just under 20 years ago.
That final season had all started so well, with the reigning champions winning their first nine league matches but concerns over the long-term future of an ageing bunch were highlighted when Dalglish sent out a defensive side against main challengers Arsenal in November and they were thumped 3-0.
With the two teams jostling at the top for the next couple of months, Dalglish raised more than a few eyebrows with his transfer dealings at the turn of the year.
Firstly, winger Jimmy Carter -- now a regular in worst-ever Liverpool XIs - was brought in from Millwall for £800,000, before Dalglish amazed everyone when he signed David Speedie, who was approaching 30, from Coventry.
They had required replays to get past Blackburn and Brighton in the FA Cup but Speedie's Liverpool career got off to a flying start when he lashed in a volley from a John Barnes cross at the Stretford End to earn a 1-1 draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford.
That moved them level on points with Arsenal, who had lost 2-1 at Chelsea, but next up was a resurgent Everton, who were improving by the week under Howard Kendall after a dreadful start brought the end of Colin Harvey's reign.
Dalglish went with a back four and Steve Nicol and Steve Staunton wide in midfield, another cautious selection, but Liverpool knew how important victory would be.
With just over a quarter of an hour gone, the majestic Jan Molby seized on Dave Watson's loose clearance and hit a thumping shot that kicked off Speedie and flew into the goal at the Kop end.
Pat Nevin cranked the pressure up the notch when he surged into the area to fire past Bruce Grobbelaar to put Everton level just before the break.
Dalglish surprised again when he brought on Carter, ahead of Peter Beardsley, for the injured Ronnie Whelan at half time but soon it was the chance for his other new signing to become an unlikely new hero.
Four minutes after the break, Molby bent a free kick into the area and Speedie glanced a header into the back of the net and ran straight for the Everton fans.
Another three minutes passed before Carter's corner was cleared by Neil McDonald and Molby teed up David Burrows, who produced a trademark left-footed drill towards the far post.
With John Ebrell and Kevin Sheedy still on the posts, Speedie stuck out a leg and diverted the ball past the dive of Neville Southall, before celebrating with a chubby pitch invader, with curtained hair and bright blue tracksuit bottoms.
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Source: http://www.fanhouse.co.uk/2011/01/13/remember-when-kenny-dalglish-enjoyed-his-last-win-over-evert/
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