Part 13 - Walsh Sinks Former Club

[TLW]

WALSH SINKS FORMER CLUB (1985/86)

Written by Dave Usher

Season - 1985/86 Opposition - Luton Town Scorers - Paul Walsh (2), Jan Molby Result - 3-2 Venue - Anfield

 

 

 

 

 

 

When Luton Town visited Anfield on October 26th 1985, Paul Walsh was on the transfer list after failing to secure a regular starting place with the reds following a £750,000 move from the Kenilworth Road club a little over a year earlier.

Walsh had slapped in a transfer request, having been dropped three times that season by player boss Kenny Dalglish, and in the week leading up to this game he'd been strongly linked with a move to German side Hamburg.

But Liverpool were in no rush to sell the former young footballer of the year, and an injury to Ian Rush meant that the gifted Londoner was restored to the side for the visit of his former club. Walsh was a man with a point to prove, and quickly fired the reds into a two goal lead, before missing an excellent chance to claim a hat-trick soon after.

Steve Foster and Mick Harford got Luton back on level terms in the second half, before Walsh teed up Molby for the winning goal. After the game Walsh still felt his future lay away from Anfield, saying "One game doesn't change my situation." But it did, as even though Rush returned for the next game, Walsh retained his place in the side as Dalglish relegated himself to the bench.

The livewire striker then went on a phenomenal run of form, hitting the net 18 times before picking up a season ending ankle injury in a game with Manchester United at Anfield.


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