Nostalgia: Fierce footballing rivals meet in Milk Cup final

Photo: Kenny Dalglish fires a shot past United’s Lou Macari in the Milk Cup final, March 1983 © Mirrorpix

It was a case of first and last for Manchester United and Liverpool when two fierce footballing rivals met in the Milk Cup final of March 1983.

For United, it was the very first time the Red Devils had reached the final of the League Cup, temporarily renamed after its new sponsors – the Milk Marketing Board.

For Liverpool, it was the last Wembley final for manager Bob Paisley after winning a dazzling array of domestic and European honours with the Reds.

Anticipation was high before the big day on Saturday, March 26.

Liverpool had won the League Cup for the previous two seasons and were riding high in the First Division as reigning champions.

United, under flamboyant manager Ron Atkinson, were pushing the Reds all the way for the league title and were going strong in the FA Cup too.

The style of the two managers was worlds apart. Paisley had spent his entire football life at Liverpool, learning his craft in the Bill Shankly’s Boot Room.

Sharply dressed Atkinson, commonly known as ‘Big Ron’, had already managed at Kettering, Cambridge and West Bromwich Albion.

The sides had met twice in the league with both matches ending in hard-fought draws.

It was 0-0 at Anfield in October and 1-1 at Old Trafford in February.

United’s route to the Milk Cup final began with a two-leg tie against Bournemouth in October.

The Red Devils took the first leg at Old Trafford 2-0 with a goal from Frank Stapleton plus an own goal.

United won 2-0 in the away leg too. This time Steve Coppell and Arnold Muhren were on the scoresheet.

The Red Devils needed a replay at Old Trafford to overcome Bradford City in the next round after a 0-0 away draw.

United won 4-1 with goals from Coppell, Arthur Albiston, Kevin Moran and Remi Moses.

Southampton were defeated 2-0 before a thumping 4-0 home victory over Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford. United’s scorers were Gordon McQueen (2), Coppell and Bryan Robson.

In the two-leg semi-final, United beat Arsenal 4-2 away and 2-1 at home.

United’s scorers at Highbury were Coppell (2), Norman Whiteside and Stapleton while Coppell and Moran were on target at Old Trafford.

Liverpool defeated Ipswich, Rotherham, Norwich, West Ham and Burnley to reach the Wembley showdown.

On the eve of the final, manager Atkinson had his team running around trees in a London park as our photo shows.

They were in a confident mood, even after the huge blow of losing captain and midfield general Robson through injury.

At just before 3pm on Saturday, March 26, Atkinson and Paisley led their teams out at Wembley. The crowd of 99,304 burst into cheers.

The match started slowly. After a cagey first 12 minutes, precociously talented forward Whiteside fired United into the lead with a shot past Reds’ goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar.

The 17-year-old striker, already a Northern Ireland international, made history as the youngest ever scorer in a Wembley final.

Liverpool went close in the second half with efforts by Ian Rush and Ronnie Whelan but couldn’t find the elusive equaliser.

The breakthrough came in the 75th minute when United ‘keeper Gary Bailey failed to stop a 25-yard shot from Alan Kennedy.

The scores remained at 1-1 until injury time when Grobbelaar found himself lucky to stay on the pitch.

He fouled United centre half McQueen 30 yards from goal, but only received a yellow card from referee George Courtney.

Nine minutes into extra time, Whelan curled the ball past Bailey at full stretch to score a memorable goal for the Reds.

United pushed forward but to no avail. In fact, David Fairclough missed two clear-cut chances for Liverpool to put the match beyond the Red Devils’ grasp.

Liverpool won 2-1 to claim their third League Cup in a row. In a moving gesture, Liverpool captain Graeme Souness sent Paisley up to the Royal Box to receive the trophy.

For United, the cup drama continued on May 26 when the Red Devils returned to Wembley to contest the FA Cup final against Brighton and Hove Albion. The match ended in a 2-2 draw.

The replay five days later, also at Wembley, saw United triumph 4-0 to lift the coveted trophy.

In a busy season, the Red Devils also played in the First Round of the UEFA Cup, going out to Valencia 2-1 on aggregate, and battled hard for the First Division title.

They finished third with 70 points, one point behind runners-up Watford.

The champions were Milk Cup final rivals Liverpool, who notched up 82 points to give Paisley his final title.

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