FeatureBill Shankly's final season: Liverpool turn up the heat with an unbeaten February

Read on to discover how Shankly's Reds fared in February 1974 as we continue our series to mark the 50th anniversary of the legendary Scot's conclusion to his iconic Anfield career…

Having secured progression to the fifth round of the FA Cup at the end of January, Liverpool returned to league action at the beginning of February, recording two Anfield victories in the space of three days to keep the pressure on First Division leaders Leeds United.

The first came in dramatic fashion, substitute Peter Cormack diving full length to head home a 90th-minute winner to see off a spirited Norwich City.

That was on the Saturday, and on the Tuesday the Reds had to dig deep once more, an Alec Lindsay penalty and a Kevin Keegan strike giving Shankly's side a 2-1 win over Coventry City, on a night when only 21,656 – the club's lowest attendance since promotion back to the top flight in 1962 – were there to witness it.

That game was also notable for the presence of 20-year-old Phil Thompson at the heart of Liverpool's defence. The youngster had hitherto been used as a midfielder, but was asked to drop back in the absence of Larry Lloyd, and would go on to enjoy a glittering Anfield career as a centre-back.

The Reds' next engagement was also at Anfield, a fifth-round FA Cup tie against Bobby Robson's up-and-coming Ipswich Town.

They won that, too, prevailing 2-0 thanks to Brian Hall's first-half effort and another from Keegan after the break. 'The Invincible Look' read the headline in The Guardian, where Paul Fitzpatrick wrote that 'Liverpool will number this among their most positive performances of the season' and that Shankly's side 'held control in every department'.

Next up came a trip to St. James' Park, where Liverpool were left to rue their profligacy in front of goal as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Newcastle United.

Teenager Alan Waddle, in particular, was guilty of wastefulness, and though Shankly declared afterwards that 'no-one dare suggest we have given away our title yet', Leeds' imperious form meant there remained an eight-point gap at the top of the table, with Derby County a further six back in third place.

The Reds finished the month as they had started it, with another narrow Anfield success. Southampton were the victims on this occasion, and again the hosts left it late to secure the two points, with Phil Boersma forcing the ball home from Lindsay's cross to settle a scrappy contest.

With Leeds drawing surprisingly at home to Leicester City, the gap at the top of the First Division was cut to seven points, with Liverpool also boasting a game in hand, and with Don Revie's side due to visit Anfield in the middle of March.

Game on? Never say never.