Anfield 89

The greatest football night of my life - Friday 26th May 1989.

The build up was all about how it was mission impossible for Arsenal. Liverpool were in imperious form, winning 13 of the last 14 games - just a derby day 0-0 breaking the winning run. John Aldridge had scored 5 in the last 6.
Arsenal, on the other hand, looked to have thrown away the title with defeat to Derby and a 2-2 draw with Wimbledon. That draw had left the two teams level on points, Liverpool with a game in hand and equal goal difference. Liverpool hosted West Ham, and 3 goals in the last 10 minutes to complete a 5-1 win swung the advantage massively in their favour.

That result meant Arsenal not only needed to win at Anfield, but by 2 clear goals. Liverpool hadn't lost at home by that margin in the league for over 3 years, Arsenal hadn't won at Anfield since the early 70s.

Traffic issues meant the Arsenal team and fans were delayed in their arrival to Anfield, delaying kick off. In the meantime, George Graham dropped the first surprise of the night. Needing a 2 goal winning margin, Graham had gone with a 5 man defence. The pundits speculated that mission impossible had just got harder.

Arsenal were missing winger Brian Marwood, influencing the need to change formation. Instead of going with either Martin Hayes or Perry Groves, Graham instead played Tony Adams, Steve Bould and David O'Leary in a back 3, with Dixon and Winterburn at full back. Kevin Richardson and Michael Thomas were the midfield pair, with David Rocastle and Paul Merson supporting Alan Smith. John Lukic was, as usual, in goal.
Liverpool went with their usual formation, with Bruce Grobbelaar behind a back 4 of Steve Nicol, Gary Abblett, Alan Hansen and Steve Staunton. Their midfield saw Ray Houghton and John Barnes either side of Steve McMahon and Ronnie Whelan. John Aldridge and Ian Rush were up front, and Liverpool had never lost a game when they started together - another indication Arsenal had no chance.

Of course, only a couple of months before, football faced an unthinkable tragedy. As the teams came out onto the Anfield pitch, Arsenal players brought with them bouquets of flowers to give to Liverpool fans as a tribute to those who lost their lives at Hillsborough, and the friends and family still dealing with the grief.

The first half was one of few chances. Steve Bould went closest, but Arsenal were content to contain their hosts. Rush only completed half an hour, before bing replaced by Peter Beardsley. Liverpool were happy to be level, 45 minutes away from being champions. But for George Graham, it was also a scoreline that was very much in-line with his game plan.

Graham stayed with his game plan for the start of the second half, resisting the chance bring on a more attacking sub.
6 minutes into the second half Whelen fouled Rocastle, adjudged to have his boot too high. Left back Winterburn trotted over to the right to take the indirect free-kick, swinging it towards the far post. Smith was there to flick it beyond Grobbelaar. Arsenal had the lead - or had they? Confusion, as Liverpool players surrounded the ref and linesman. No-one was quite sure why, but at Anfield with all the player and crowd pressure the ref had to be strong. After a discussion with the linesman, David Hutchinson signalled the goal was given!!

Suddenly the title was in the balance. Tackles started flying in, with Rocastle and Richardson booked. After 73 minutes Graham decided the time was right to go for that second. Martin Hayes replaced Steve Bould and Arsenal went to 4-4-2. Within a minute a massive chance was presented to Thomas by Richardson. However, the young midfielder could only put a weak shot straight at Grobbelaar. Was that Arsenals chance gone?

Groves replaced Merson just after that, and suddenly Arsenal had a very attacking line up. This gave Liverpool more chances, and Arsenal were struggling to create another.

Richardson went down, cramp. The clock ticked past 90. McMahon signalled to his team mates "1 minute" and "get the ball down the other end". Barnes and Hansen tried to gee up their team mates. Finally Richardson was up and the game restarted. A poor touch by Adams, Barnes dispossed him and went towards the corner flag. Faced up by Richardson, for some reason Barnes decided to take him on. The Arsenal man won the ball and gave it to Lukic. As everyone expected the ball to be launched, Lukic chucked it to Dixon. Smith came short, and Dixon picked him out. Smith flicked it on to Thomas, who was making a burst through the middle. Nicol was the last man, and looked as if he was getting to the ball, but Thomas got a touch and it bounced off the Liverpool right back, off of Thomas's knee and...

"It's up for grabs now!"

Thomas took another touch, Grobelaar was coming out, Abblett was sliding in. Still Thomas didn't take the shot... He has blown it, surely. SHOOT FFS. Then Grobelaar goes down to his right, Thomas flicks it over him.

"Thomas, right at the end. An unbelievable climax to the league season".

A poor attempt at a bit of gymnastics by Thomas, Winterburn haring off to the Arsenal fans on his own.

"The Liverpool players are down, absolutely abject! Aldridge is down, Barnes is down, Dalglish just stands there, Nicols on his knees, McMahon is on his knees"

But it wasn't over yet. Liverpool restart the game, and go on the attack. Whelan plays it into the box, Aldridge knocks it down. But there is Thomas to calmly control it in the crowded box and pass it back to Lukic.

"The final whistle. Arsenal the Champions. A momentous occasion this for Arsenal, coming here requiring a two goal lead and snatched it in the most dramatic fashion in the last minute of the game."

Arsenal and Liverpool now both had 76 points, and a goal difference of 37. But Arsenal had scored 73 goals to Liverpools 65, ultimately the deciding factor.

Unbelievable. The most dramatic conclusion to a league season ever. Arsenal were champions.