 Thematch programme cover | |||||||
| |||||||
| Date | 11 August 1979 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venue | Wembley Stadium,London | ||||||
| Referee | George Courtney (County Durham) | ||||||
| Attendance | 92,800 | ||||||
| Weather | 20 °C (68 °F)[1] | ||||||
←1978 1980 → | |||||||
The1979 FA Charity Shield was the 57thCharity Shield, an annual Englishfootball match played between the winners of the previous season'sFootball League andFA Cup. It was held atWembley Stadium on 11 August 1979. The match was contested byLiverpool, champions of the1978–79 Football League andArsenal, who beatManchester United in thefinal of the1978–79 FA Cup. Watched by a crowd of 92,800, Liverpool won the match 3–1.
This was Arsenal's tenth Charity Shield appearance and Liverpool's ninth. Arsenal made no changes to the first team which played in the FA Cup Final the previous season, whereas for Liverpool new signingAvi Cohen started on the bench. In the match Liverpool took the lead in the 38th minute whenTerry McDermott scored past goalkeeperPat Jennings. They extended their lead throughKenny Dalglish in the 63rd minute before McDermott added his second two minutes later.Alan Sunderland scored a consolation for Arsenal late on.
TheFA Charity Shield was founded in 1908 as a successor to theSheriff of London Charity Shield.[2] It was a contest between the respective champions of theFootball League andSouthern League, and then by 1913 teams of amateur and professional players.[3] In 1921, it was played by the Football League champions andFA Cup winners for the first time.[4] This was the sixth year thatWembley Stadium played host to the Shield.[5]
Liverpool qualified for the 1979 FA Charity Shield as winners of theprevious season's First Division.[6] Under managerBob Paisley, the team amassed a then-record points total of 68 and conceded the fewest goals in a 42-game Football League season with 16.[7] The other Charity Shield place went toArsenal who beatManchester United to win thefinal of the1978–79 FA Cup.[6] Arsenal led the game 2–0, but conceded twice late into the match before retaking the lead in the 89th minute; the final score was 3–2.[8] The game is referred to as the "Five-minute final" as three goals were scored in that time frame.[9]
Liverpool had won three previous Shields outright (1966,1974,1976), shared two withManchester United (1965 and1977) and one apiece withWest Ham United (1964). The club lost one Shield contest – againstLeicester City in1971. This was Arsenal's first appearance in the Charity Shield in 26 years; prior to the game they had won seven Shields (1930,1931,1933,1934,1938,1948 and1953), and lost two (1935,1936).[10] Before the match Paisley told reporters, "Basically it is a conditioning game, part of the process of getting the players fit".[6]
Liverpool employed a traditional4–4–2 formation, withDavid Johnson playing alongsideKenny Dalglish up front. DefenderAvi Cohen was named on the substitutes' bench, whereasFrank McGarvey – signed fromSt Mirren in the close season – was omitted from the matchday squad. Arsenal organised themselves similarly to their opponents and named an unchanged team from the one which won the FA Cup.[6]
Liverpool dominated the opening exchanges, but struggled to create clear-cut chances. They almost went a goal behind whenFrank Stapleton's header forced goalkeeperRay Clemence into action.[11] Seven minutes before the interval,Terry McDermott scored for Liverpool. The midfielder collected a pass fromRay Kennedy who surged through the centre, turned left and from outside the penalty area struck the ball low into the bottom left-hand corner.[12] Arsenal began the second half with more vigour, but struggled to suppress Liverpool's attacks.Alan Kennedy found space to shoot after a one-two with Ray, but his effort went over the post.[11] Arsenal were forced to make a substitution around the hour mark afterSammy Nelson collided with McDermott and was concussed;Willie Young replaced him.[11] Liverpool extended their lead minutes later.Alan Hansen intercepted an Arsenal attack, strode forward and passed the ball to Dalglish.[12] The striker approached the penalty area, cut insideSteve Walford and curled the ball into the right-hand corner.[12]John Hollins came on forDavid Price, at which point Liverpool scored their third. Dalglish dispossessedLiam Brady, but tripped himself in the process.[13] Johnson collected the ball and played it back to Dalglish, who charged forward and sprayed a pass towards McDermott, the furthest forward player on the right. The midfielder's shot went under the legs ofPat Jennings and into the goal.[11]Alan Sunderland scored a late goal for Arsenal having combined well with Stapleton. This did not dampen the spirits of the Liverpool spectators, who chanted, "What's it like to be outclassed?" and, "Why are we so great?" during the course of the 90 minutes.[11][12]
| Liverpool | 3–1 | Arsenal |
|---|---|---|
|
        Liverpool |     Arsenal |
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Match rules
|
Liverpool's performance was greeted with applause from both sets of supporters asPhil Thompson led his team up to the Royal Box to receive the Charity Shield.[12] Paisley was delighted with the manner of his team's win and quipped, "I am just sorry we didn't get two points for it!"[12] He praised the Wembley surface and said of McDermott's first goal "[It] captured what we are looking for – the run, the control and the finish were perfect."[12] Arsenal managerTerry Neill described the match as a "great advertisement for football" and felt his side contributed greatly in periods. Of his opponents, he said: "Liverpool are a smashing side and I don't expect to meet anyone better this season."[12] Indeed, Liverpool went on to retain the First Division title, withstanding pressure from Manchester United and ending their league campaign on 60 points.[15][16] Arsenal finished three places behind in fourth, and reached the finals of theFA Cup andUEFA Cup Winners' Cup, only to end the season empty-handed.[16][17]
General
Specific
