1987 Football League Cup final

The 1987 Football League Cup Final was a football match played on 5 April 1987 between Arsenal and Liverpool. The match, played in front of 96,000 spectators at Wembley Stadium, was won by Arsenal 2–1. Ian Rush opened the scoring for Liverpool with a side foot finish to the corner of the net, before Charlie Nicholas equalised, turning in a cross from the right in a crowded penalty area. Nicholas was credited with scoring the winning goal in the second half from a Perry Groves cross. His off-target shot deflected off Ronnie Whelan and was diverted past Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar's outstretched hand and into the left corner of the net.

1987 Football League Cup Final
Match programme cover
Event1986–87 Football League Cup
Date5 April 1987
VenueWembley Stadium, London
RefereeLester Shapter (Devon)
Attendance96,000[1]
1986
1988

Arsenal also finished fourth in the First Division, but were unable to compete in the 1987–88 UEFA Cup as UEFA voted for the ban in English clubs in European competitions to continue for a third season.

Ian Rush's goal was his first to be scored on the losing side in any competition. It ended Liverpool's 144-match unbeaten streak in matches he had scored in.[2]

Match details edit

Arsenal2–1Liverpool
Nicholas   30', 83' Report
Report
Rush   23'
Wembley, London
Attendance: 96,000
Referee: Lester Shapter (Devon)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Arsenal
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liverpool
GK 1   John Lukic
RB 2   Viv Anderson
LB 3   Kenny Sansom (c)
CM 4   Steve Williams
CB 5   David O'Leary
CB 6   Tony Adams
RM 7   David Rocastle
CM 8   Paul Davis
CF 9   Niall Quinn   73'
CF 10   Charlie Nicholas
LM 11   Martin Hayes   83'
Substitutes:
MF 12   Perry Groves   73'
MF 14   Michael Thomas   83'
Manager:
  George Graham
GK 1   Bruce Grobbelaar
CB 2   Gary Gillespie
RB 3   Barry Venison
LM 4   Nigel Spackman
LB 5   Ronnie Whelan
CB 6   Alan Hansen (c)
CF 7   Paul Walsh   73'
RM 8   Craig Johnston
CF 9   Ian Rush
CM 10   Jan Mølby
CM 11   Steve McMahon   87'
Substitutes:
FW 12   Kenny Dalglish   73'
MF 14   John Wark   87'
Player / Manager:
  Kenny Dalglish

References edit

  1. ^ Dunk, Peter (20 August 1987). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88. Queen Anne Press. p. 457. ISBN 978-0-3561435-4-5. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  2. ^ Statistics. "A timeline for Liverpool Football Club". LFChistory.net. Retrieved 7 August 2011.

External links edit