As we continue to chronicle Bill Shankly’s final season as Liverpool manager in 1973–74, Liverpool’s trophy chase was really getting going.
After a successful February, the Reds had a fantastic March. Continue reading for the most recent installment of our series commemorating the 50th anniversary of the legendary Scot’s memorable Anfield career ending.
Liverpool had won every league and cup match this year going into March, and they were in excellent form.
The previous side to beat the Reds, Burnley, did so at Turf Moor on Boxing Day. The Reds hosted Burnley to start the month, and like they have so frequently this season, there was more drama that unfolded in the last moments.
After seeing a winner in the final moments of three of their previous four home games, Shankly’s team needed another late goal.
John Toshack broke Clarets’ hearts on Merseyside this time, smashing the ball home to maintain the pursuit behind leaders and the next visitors to L4, Leeds United.
However, the Reds had to go to Ashton Gate to play Bristol City, the underdogs, in the FA Cup quarterfinals before that matchup.
Liverpool easily defeated their opponents and had more goals than only Toshack’s game-winning goal.
A week later, at Anfield, attention might have been focused on the big prize—beating Don Revie’s Leeds—because victory would have guaranteed a title fight.
Shankly’s team had two games remaining against the Whites, and if they could win, they wanted to close the gap to just six points over the visitors.
The excitement for this top-of-the-table match was so great that gates were locked more than an hour before kickoff. More than 56,000 people attended the match at Anfield, and the Reds did not let anyone down as their quest to win the First Division title picked up steam.
Norman Hunter at the center of defense for steadfast Leeds helped them hold on, but with just seven minutes remaining, Steve Heighway made the game-winning play to hand Revie’s team just their second league loss of the year.
Shankly had been winning 1-0 games to start the campaign, and Liverpool had won all four of their prior games by the same score.
Encouraged by their victory over their championship rivals, Liverpool knew they could seriously put more pressure on Leeds as they traveled to Molineux to play Wolverhampton Wanderers.
And they succeeded in doing so, as Liverpool won another 1-0 away from home against Burnley while the Whites faltered at home.
Leeds’ lead in the league was reduced to four points by Brian Hall’s goal in the 27th minute, as the Reds capitalized on their victory from the previous week.
Liverpool traveled to Old Trafford to face Leicester City in the FA Cup semi-finals to round off the month.
Shankly and company had their sights set squarely on the oldest football championship in England. However, a scoreless stalemate ensued, forcing a rematch of the match during the first week of April.
Good news for Liverpool, though, as Leeds lost for the third straight weekend following their trip to Merseyside, giving their pursuers hope in the league that same weekend.
There were games to be played, and April would be nonstop with fixtures.
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