FA Cup memoriesThe FA Cup final where football was secondary
Liverpool's fourth FA Cup was won on a day when football was very much of secondary importance.
The 1989 final took place just a few weeks after the Hillsborough disaster that would result in 97 supporters losing their lives – and it was fitting that Everton were present on a summery Wembley afternoon characterised by Scouse solidarity.
Pre-match, Gerry Marsden delivered an emotionally charged rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone and, after kick-off, Liverpool started in the ascendancy.
John Aldridge stroked the Reds into the lead after just four minutes and they subsequently spurned several opportunities before Stuart McCall netted a late equaliser.
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Watch on YouTubeWatch highlights of the '89 final
Substitute Ian Rush swivelled and dispatched a fine finish to make it 2-1 five minutes into extra-time, but McCall volleyed in another leveller.
Parity was only restored for a matter of moments, though, as Rush angled a header home from John Barnes’ perfect cross to repeat his trick of scoring twice in an all-Merseyside FA Cup final after he’d also done so in 1986.
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish stated afterwards: “This has meant more to me than any other game in which I’ve been involved.”
Route to the final
Third round: Carlisle United 0-3 Liverpool
Fourth round: Millwall 0-2 Liverpool
Fifth round: Hull City 2-3 Liverpool
Quarter-final: Liverpool 4-0 Brentford
Semi-final: Liverpool 3-1 Nottingham Forest
FA Cup top scorers
John Aldridge – 6
John Barnes, Steve McMahon and Ian Rush – 3
Peter Beardsley – 2
