Spurs on this day - no 21 in an occasional series

By Dave P
December 1 2004

Dateline December 1st and opponents Liverpool

The only time we have played Liverpool on December 1st was back in 1951 in front of over 51,000 fans but we lost that one 3-2 so we'll gloss over that one by just saying our goals were scored on that day by Les Bennett and Sonny Walters. We were the reigning champions and went on to finish 2nd that season (behind Manchester United and ahead of Woolwich so it wasn't too bad a season.

Lets have a look instead at other occasions we have played Liverpool in the League Cup and in particular the home games.

Our record against Liverpool in this competition is actually very good. We have played them in total 5 times winning 3, drawing once and losing once, the 1982 final which went to extra time after we took the lead though a Steve Archibald goal. At least we went on to win the FA cup that season. Our home record against them in this competition is Played 2 won 2.

In 1984 We played them at home in the 3rd round on the 31st of October running out winners to a solitary Clive Allen Goal. Unfortunately we were knocked out in the next round by Sunderland after a 0-0 draw at Roker Park and a 2-1 defeat in the replay at White Hart Lane, a Graham Roberts Penalty our only goal on that occasion.

The other time we played them at home was in December 1972. We travelled to Anfield on the 4th December for a 5th round tie and 48,677 supporters saw us hold the Reds to a 1-1 draw. The replay (No penalties first time round in those days) was at White Hart Lane on December 6th (just two days later - this was long before policing requirements needed at least a weeks notice) and we were worthy 3-1 winners with our goals coming from John Pratt (one of my all time Spurs heroes) and a brace from Martin Chivers (another of my all time heroes). On the subject of replays, penalties had not been introduced in this competition at this stage and in the third round we needed two replays to dispose of Middlesbrough. This of course was the season of our second League cup triumph. After beating Wolves in the two legged semi-final 4-3 on aggregate we went on to defeat Norwich City at Wembley and who can forget Ralph Coates' introduction as a substitute as he livened up a terrible game to score the winning goal.

The other meeting with Liverpool in this competition was at Anfield in the 4th Round on the 10th November 1998. We were worthy winners that day (against a below strength Liverpool side it must be said) by the score of 3 goals to 1. The goalscorers were Steffen Iverson, John Scales and Allan Nielsen. In the second round we had played a two legged affair against Brentford winning both legs 3-2 (6-4 aggregate score). The third round saw us defeat Northampton Town 3-1 and then after dispatching Liverpool we were drawn against Manchester United (who also fielded a weakened side) and won that 3-1 (A brace from Chris Armstrong and a David Ginola special) and then came that series of games where we seemed to be playing Wimbledon every week. League, FA cup, FA Cup replay and the two legged semi final which we won at Selhurst Park with a late Steffan Iverson goal. Spurs were back at Wembley playing Leicester City and after Robbie Savage got Justin Edinburgh sent off Allan Nielsen scored very late in the day to give us our third League cup victory.

Another home cup win against a Liverpool side would be very welcome.