Chelsea memories: FA Cup 1965
As part of our build-up to Saturday's FA Cup final clash at Wembley, we take a look back at some of our most famous victories over Chelsea and begin with the 1965 FA Cup semi-final at Villa Park.
For 73 years, the FA Cup remained a notable absentee from Liverpool Football Club's roll of honour.
Between 1892 and 1965, the Anfield trophy cabinet welcomed the arrival of no less than six First Division titles. Yet, in their quest for success in the famous cup, the Reds endured nothing but heartache and frustration. Neighbours Everton had captured the trophy twice by 1965.
Three days before Liverpool's eighth FA Cup semi-final, which would take place against Chelsea at Villa Park, the Reds played-out a nail-biting 120 minutes of football against FC Cologne in a European Cup second leg replay at De Kuip in Holland.
The game was eventually, and famously, settled by the toss of a coin, as Liverpool captain Ron Yeats came out on top to guide the Reds to a semi-final against Italian giants Inter Milan.
Back in England and at Villa Park, Bill Shankly's men faced a Chelsea side which boasted the likes of Terry Venables, Peter Bonetti, Eddie McCreadie, Bobby Tambling and Ron Harris, a team who were top of the league and on the brink of an unprecedented treble.
A John Mortimore header was controversially ruled-out for Tommy Docherty's side before Liverpool struck in the second half thanks to a Peter Thompson solo effort.
Willie Stevenson netted from the spot 11 minutes from time to assure Liverpool of victory before joyous Liverpudlians poured onto the Villa Park pitch to mob their heroes at the final whistle. Only Leeds United now stood between Liverpool Football Club and its holy grail.
An Ian St John header on 111 minutes clinched Liverpool the win at wembley. The long wait was over when Ron Yeats finally held the trophy aloft.
Bill Shankly would later say: "To think a club like Liverpool had never won the FA Cup was unbelievable. So many had prayed for it to happen over all the years but it had never come to pass. So when we beat Leeds at Wembley in 1965, the emotion was unforgettable. Grown men were crying and it was the greatest feeling any human could have to see what we had done."
