FA Cup memoriesRush sinks Everton as Liverpool clinch the double
Having already beaten city rivals Everton to reclaim the league title by just two points in 1985-86, Liverpool also faced the Blues in the second all-Merseyside Wembley final – this time in the FA Cup.
The first, in the 1984 Milk Cup, had been settled by a Graeme Souness thunderbolt in a replay at Maine Road.
Two years on, as Merseyside ruled domestic football and supporters travelled side by side, Kopites dreamed of an historic double under the club’s first player-manager, Kenny Dalglish.
Everton boss Howard Kendall had already pinpointed the return of Dalglish to the Reds starting XI as a major factor in his side being pipped to the title.
He had a very good point, with the King scoring the only goal of the game at Chelsea to win the league championship.
On cup final day, Everton certainly had the better of the first half and were rewarded when Gary Lineker raced through onto Peter Reid’s pass.
Having held off Alan Hansen, the England forward was initially denied by Bruce Grobbelaar but put away the rebound to open the scoring.
Kevin Sheedy fired an effort just wide in the second half as Kendall’s men looked to put the contest beyond reach, with an incredible flare-up between Grobbelaar and his own teammate Jim Beglin showing Liverpool were unusually out of sorts.
However, when Ian Rush is about and the opposition is Everton, there is always a chance.
A mistake by Gary Stevens was intercepted by Ronnie Whelan, who quickly fed a pass into the feet of Jan Molby. The Great Dane then rolled a lovely ball into the path of Rush, who rounded Bobby Mimms to slot home.
Grobbelaar, previously the villain for his on-field bust-up with Beglin, became the hero with a magnificent save to deny Graeme Sharp, whose header was destined for the back of the net.
Molby then produced another moment of magic when he broke away down the left and crossed for Craig Johnston to make it 2-1.
The icing on the cake arrived with a defence-splitting pass from Molby – who had commentator John Motson purring, “Oh I say, his vision there was lovely.” – that sent Whelan scampering away down the left flank.
The Irishman guided a delightful ball into Rush, who controlled and fired past Mimms, knocking down a camera behind the goal in the process.
Jan Molby relives the first all-Merseyside FA Cup final
As Motson said at the final whistle: “Liverpool Football Club, under their player-manager Kenny Dalglish, have become only the third team this century to win the First Division championship and the FA Cup – the marvellous double – in the same season. And the first northern club to do the double since Preston North End in 1888-89.”
It was a truly remarkable end to the season, and pipping Everton twice to silverware made it even more sweeter.
Asked after the game whether we would see much of Dalglish the player again the following season, in typical fashion the Scot responded: “Well, it depends if Rushie is still running!”
Route to the final
Third round: Liverpool 5-0 Norwich City
Fourth round: Chelsea 1-2 Liverpool
Fifth round: York City 1-1 Liverpool, Liverpool 3-1 York City (replay)
Quarter-final: Liverpool 0-0 Watford, Watford 1-2 Liverpool (replay)
Semi-final: Liverpool 2-0 Southampton
FA Cup top scorers
Ian Rush – 6
Jan Molby – 3
John Wark – 2
Kenny Dalglish, Paul Walsh, Kevin MacDonald, Steve McMahon, Ronnie Whelan, Mark Lawrenson, Craig Johnston – 1
