Liverpool have a long history of embracing Scotland’s footballers, but did you know they once qualified for the World Cup at Anfield?
Bill Shankly, Kenny Dalglish, Alan Hansen, Billy Liddell, Graeme Souness, Andy Robertson, Ian St John, Ron Yeats, Steve Nicol – all great Scots who influenced Liverpool in huge ways.
In fact, such has been Caledonia’s impact on the club, seven of the starting XI from Liverpool’s first-ever football league match came from north of the border.
Having embraced a new influx of Jocks under Bill Shankly in the 1960s, Kenny Dalglish kept the tartan tradition alive, signing from Celtic in the summer of 1977 for a then-British record transfer fee of £440,000.
Having just arrived on Merseyside, it was a stroke of luck then that the No. 7 got the chance to play for his country at his new home, Anfield, in a crucial World Cup qualifying match.
Liverpool manager Bob Paisley (r) with new signing Kenny Dalglish (l), bought from Celtic for £400,000
Wales were the opposition and the hosts, but they couldn’t play at Ninian Park in Cardiff due to crowd trouble against Yugoslavia the year before, so they had planned to set up at Wrexham’s Racecourse Ground.
However, with an eye on making the most of gate receipts from the travelling Scotland supporters, coupled with a strong Welsh presence in Liverpool – a city sometimes referred to as the ‘capital of North Wales’ – the match was moved to Anfield.
This was Scotland’s last group game and they knew a win would send them to the 1978 World Cup. Meanwhile, victory for Wales would give them the chance to qualify should they have beaten Czechoslovakia a month later.
Though there was great importance on the game, the crowd were in good spirits before the match.
Glasgow-born Merseyside resident Bill Lally recalled a cheeky young local entering a chippy near the ground, asking for change.
In response, a Scottish voice could be heard jokingly calling, ‘We gave you Kenny Dalglish. Isn’t that enough?!’
Wales v Scotland
Oct 12, 1977 — Anfield
Competition: FIFA World Cup Qualifier
Result: Wales 0-2 Scotland (Masson 78′, Dalglish 87′)
Wales XI
Dai Davies
Rod Thomas
Joey Jones
John Mahoney
David Jones
Leighton Phillips
Peter Sayer
Terry Yorath (C)
Brian Flynn
Mickey Thomas
John Toshack
Scotland XI
Alan Rough
Sandy Jardine
Willie Donachie
Don Masson
Gordon McQueen
Tom Forsyth
Kenny Dalglish
Asa Hartford
Joe Jordan
Lou Macari
Willie Johnston
Substitutes:
Wales: Nick Deacy (Sayer 75′)
Scotland: Martin Buchan (Jardine 82′)
With 50,800 supporters standing side by side, Scotland lineup featured a dangerous attack of Dalglish, Joe Jordan, Lou Macari and Willie Johnston.
Wales had a good team of their own, though, with Liverpool’s Joey Jones in defence and legendary striker John Toshack up front.
Dalglish had taken to life in Liverpool like a duck to water, and after just 12 games, he got the chance to introduce old friends to his new stomping ground.
Scotland attacked the Kop in the first half, Dalglish going close with a header as the ‘away’ team created the first chances.
Sporting the navy blue No. 8 shirt, Liverpool’s new talisman should have scored, too, when he pounced on David Jones’ slip and surged into the penalty area.
Taking the ball to goalkeeper Dai Davies’ right, Dalglish was then convinced he was fouled, but the referee waved play on.
Just a couple of minutes later, it was Davies’ turn to make a mistake as he fumbled the ball in his box, but Scotland again failed to make Wales pay.
At the Anfield Road End, Toshack was making himself a nuisance in the box and causing trouble, but his efforts were saved by Partick Thistle’s Alan Rough.
Despite the match being played at a frantic pace, the opener didn’t come until the 79th minute. And when it did arrive, there was definite controversy.
Following Asa Hartford’s long throw into the Wales box, striker Jordan challenged David Jones for the ball and handled it.
However, the French referee mistakenly believed Jones to have committed the handball offence, so pointed to the spot for Don Masson to convert with aplomb.
Kenny Dalglish heading Scotland's second goal past Welsh goalkeeper Dai Davies in the World Cup qualifying tie at Liverpool's Anfield ground.
Eight minutes later, Scotland broke swiftly down the right through substitute Martin Buchan, who delivered a fantastic cross for Dalglish to glance into the net and secure a 2-0 win for coach Ally MacLeod’s side.
Dalglish’s celebration, with his arms aloft in front of jubilant supporters, would become a familiar sight in L4 – just not in a blue shirt!
The goal sent Scotland to Argentina ’78, but they couldn’t match the highs reached in qualifying; a 3-2 win over the Netherlands wasn’t enough to make up for losing 3-1 to Peru and drawing 1-1 with Iran.
While their team didn’t ultimately satisfy expectations at the finals, Scotland supporters still look back on that trip to Anfield with fondness.
For Wales, Jordan’s infamous handball remains a bone of contention.