Part 21 - Bill and Bob's Debut

[TLW]

BILL AND BOB'S DEBUT (1946/47)

Written by Steve Horton

Season - 1946/47 Opposition - Chelsea Scorers - Billy Liddell (2), Willie Fagan (2), Jackie Balmer, Bill Jones Result - 7-4 Venue - Anfield

 

 

 

 

 

Seven years after they signed, Bob Paisley and Billy Liddell finally made their Reds debuts in front of a packed house at Anfield. Fans that had been deprived of meaningful football for so long weren't disappointed either as the Reds came out on top in an eleven goal thriller.

Liddell and Paisley joined Liverpool as youngsters in 1938 and 1939 respectively, but the outbreak of World War 2 meant their football careers had to take a back seat. National competition was suspended for the duration of the war, so there was huge interest when the Football League resumed for 1946-7.

This wasn't our first home game of the season, but it was the first to be played on a Saturday afternoon. The gates were locked 40 minutes before kick off and those who were lucky to be inside saw us race to a 6-0 lead inside the first hour.

Liddell was sensational, scoring two of those goals and setting up another, while Paisley put in a solid display too. Complacency led to Chelsea clawing the lead back to 6-4 but Willie Fagan eased nerves with our seventh three minutes from time. We went on to be crowned league champions at the end of the season, while the two debutants went on to play a major role in LFC's history.


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