40 years on: Wembley joy for Shanks
On a glorious day at Wembley 40 years ago today, on May 4, 1974 Liverpool beat Newcastle United to win the FA Cup.
Before the game all the talk had come from Newcastle striker Malcom MacDonald who had proclaimed how he would win the cup for the Toon army, but with a young Phil Thompson magnificent at centre-back alongside skipper Emlyn Hughes he never got a kick.
Newcastle fielded future Liverpool European Cup heroes Terry McDermott and Alan Kennedy, but Bill Shankly's Liverpool had too much class on the day.
Alec Lindsay had a goal controvesially disallowed for offside before Kevin Keegan fired the Reds in front to send the travelling Kop wild with delight.
Steve Heighway made it 2-0, and Keegan added a magical third following a wonderful move that had BBC commentator David Coleman eulogising with delight.
Meanwhile, 38 years ago today, on May 4, 1976 Liverpool travelled to Wolves knowing victory or a low scoring draw would clinch the title. It was to be one of the most dramatic nights in the club's history.
Such was the importance of the game 20,000 Liverpudlians invaded Wolverhampton by rail and road. Demand for tickets was phenomenal. Molineux's capacity was just over 48,000 and at least 7,000 fans were reported to have been locked out.
Despite the vocal backing of such fanatical support Liverpool began the game nervously. They were unable to find their normal rhythm and it came as no surprise when Wolves took a deserved lead on 14 minutes through Steve Kindon.
The title pendulum was swinging heavily in QPR's favour but Tommy Smith revealed afterwards that he remained confident of victory.
Smith said: "Even when Wolves scored first I wasn't particularly worried, because we had plenty of time. It was just a matter of getting the first goal. Once we scored that there was never going to be any doubt."
The dramatic equaliser came on 76 minutes with the classic strike duo combination of John Toshack and Kevin Keegan working a trest - the big Welshman setting up the No.7 to score.
Goals from Toshack and Ray Kennedy then put the icing on the cake on a sweet victory to seal the title.
The final whistle sounded and ecstatic Liverpool supporters engulfed the Molineux pitch. They refused to leave until manager Bob Paisley made an appearance in the director's box.
Paisley at the time called it "the greatest night of my footballing life," and for those lucky enough to be present that famous night, the dramatic events at Molineux in 1976 will never be forgotten.