Our second round of matches in the ‘Kop Cup’ sees the player voted Liverpool’s all time greatest ever player, Kenny Dalglish, involved…
Dalglish makes the nominations for his performance in the 1978 European Cup Final against Brugges, at Wembley. The ‘King’ scored the only goal of the game and ensured the European Cup was retained in his first season at the club.
Dalglish lines up against a player he later signed and played in a similar position to the Scotsman – Peter Beardsley. His performance in the memorable 5-0 demolition of Nottingham Forest in 1988 puts him in the running for LFC’s greatest ever performance.
Our second match features the most recent performance from the 32 first round entries – Pepe Reina’s against Chelsea in the semi final second leg against Chelsea. The Spaniard not only made impressive saves in both the home and away legs, but he made the crucial penalty saves which ultimately put the Reds in the Champions League Final.
Reina comes up against a former midfield competitor in the shape of Ronnie Whelan – and his display in the League Cup Final of 1983. Whelan, aged just 21 at the time, was in a Wembley final against Man United, having run his legs off and with the game now in extra time, Whelan managed to stay composed after a failed pass to perfectly open up his body and curl the ball into the far corner around the keeper.
Whelan, 1983 League Cup Final vs Man United
Reina, 2007, CL Semi Final vs Chelsea
Beardsley, 1988, vs Nottm Forest
Dalglish, 1978, vs Brugges, Euro Cup Final
