FeatureThe Road to Rome '77: 'Perhaps the most one-sided game in Anfield history'

The first entry in a new season-long series on Liverpoolfc.com – The Road to Rome ’77 – recalls a September evening on which ‘perhaps the most one-sided game in Anfield history’ took place…

It was a mild beginning to what would be a magnificent adventure.

Bob Paisley’s Liverpool entered the 1976-77 season as England’s reigning champions and holders of the UEFA Cup.

A 4-3 aggregate win over Club Brugge in 1976 had brought the Reds their second success on the European stage, having also lifted the UEFA Cup three years earlier.

But three prior cracks at the biggest of beauties – the shimmering European Cup – had been frustrating at best, failures at worst.

Their maiden tilt in 1964-65 saw Liverpool commendably reach the semi-finals under Bill Shankly and suffer a contentious elimination against Internazionale.

But the campaigns of 1966-67 and 1973-74 each hit a brick wall by round two, with the nous of opponents AFC Ajax and Red Star Belgrade respectively leaving the Reds needing a rethink.

A change of style to a more possession-oriented approach was the chief conclusion to emerge from the Boot Room’s brains trust.

And on September 14, 1976 – 50 years ago today – they began a pursuit that would finally put Old Big Ears in their hands.

Their first test arrived at Anfield in the form of Crusaders, a part-time outfit from Belfast, in round one.

Two years earlier, Liverpool had racked up 11 goals in a home thrashing of Stromsgodset in the Cup Winners’ Cup, and there were suggestions in the media of a similar mismatch here too, of the possibility of records being broken.

It must be stressed there was no such overconfidence within the Reds’ ranks, though.

“One thing you won’t find here is complacency,” said Paisley in the build-up.

“We hear talk of the Irishmen being butchers and tailors. But they may be very good butchers and tailors and we must respect them.”

Nevertheless, captain Emlyn Hughes was forthright in his opinion that this could be the season the trophy was returned to Merseyside.

“We have a fantastic chance of winning the European Cup if we keep our heads and play to our abilities,” he said.

“That’s what we are aiming for against the Irish lads – normality.”

In the event, it was an evening of huffing and puffing for Paisley’s men in the face of a heroic defensive rearguard produced by Crusaders.

The home side dominated the ball and attacked constantly – as anticipated – but found little way through or around the visitors.

Indeed, it was only courtesy of a fortuitous awarding of a penalty kick that Phil Neal was able to put Liverpool ahead in the 18th minute.

John Toshack’s headed effort from a Steve Heighway cross doubled the Reds’ advantage midway through the second half and it ended in a very ‘normal’ 2-0 final score.

Far from breaking records, there would be work still to do when Paisley’s men crossed the Irish Sea for the second leg a fortnight later.

A respectful Kop acknowledged the endeavours of the jubilant away team with an ovation to them come full-time.

“Perhaps this was the most one-sided game in Anfield’s history,” observed reporter Horace Yates.

“All the more credit therefore to Crusaders, for weathering the Liverpool storm, which was hardly of the intensity supporters have come to expect.”

He added: “Nobody could accuse Liverpool of lack of determination, or effort.

“But whether in the air or on the ground, there was just no way through, even if Crusaders needed a signpost to direct them to the Liverpool half.”

All that said, the Reds had got the job done and a journey that would carry them to Rome’s Stadio Olimpico and a place in history was under way.