Four men who unwittingly played a huge role in Liverpool Football Club's history from 1893 onwards.
Herbie Arthur
Neither Anfield nor Goodison Park hosted the first Merseyside derby. That honour went to Bootle FC’s Hawthorne Road ground which staged the 1893 Liverpool Senior Cup final.
Strong sides would usually be fielded but Everton arranged a friendly with Dumbartonshire outfit Renton on the same day. Many reckoned the Blues, who had just finished third in the Football League, didn’t fancy risking their reputation so opted for a scratch XI while their first team took on the two-times Scottish Cup winners.
As befitted the antagonistic circumstances of the split which provided the city with two clubs events on the field were not without controversy. Liverpool triumphed courtesy of a Tom Wyllie strike though had a goal disallowed while Everton were denied a seemingly clear penalty in the final throws of the game.
Well before they had those calls waived away Everton had vehemently protested against a number of decisions by referee Herbie Arthur.
Winners medals minted by Bovril were the reward for each player. However, in order to ensure there would be no unrest the ceremonies were abandoned and the trophy only handed over at the beginning of the following season. Everton issued letters of complaint about the referee which the county FA rejected instead issuing the Goodison side with a warning about their conduct.
Jose Maria Garcia-Aranda
As those Everton players discovered arguing with an official is often pointless. They rarely change their minds. However, it didn’t take outraged Liverpool players crowding Spanish referee Jose Maria Garcia-Aranda to alter his apparent decision to give Roma a penalty when Markus Babbel clearly handled inside the area ten minutes from time in a UEFA Cup tie during February 2001.
The Reds held a 2-0 advantage from the opening leg in Italy. But with Michael Owen having missed a penalty and Urugyan Gianni Guigou curling the ball in from 25 yards were clinging to the aggregate lead.
Liverpool were under huge pressure with extra-time promising more of the same had the visitors not grabbed a third before the whistle. Even the Kop seemed to play no part in the subsequent signalling a corner. Senor Garcia-Arnanda later said he had never given a penalty. Liverpool defended the flag kick, clung to their advantage and went on to lift the trophy after a thrilling golden goal win over CD Alaves.
Les Massie
Scotsmen have played pivotal roles in Liverpool’s history but perhaps the most crucial, Bill Shankly, had a little help from an Aberdeen born forward under his charge. Though not one who turned out in a red shirt.
In late November 1959 less than a fortnight after Phil Taylor decided managing the club was an anxiety he could no longer sustain Liverpool travelled to Huddersfield Town. The game was decided by a single goal scored after Roger Hunt, covering at right-half while Dick White had a head wound stitched, failed to clear a cross. Les Massie was on hand to beat Bert Slater.
It was Shankly’s last game at the Terrier’s helm. Having already identified him as the prime target for the Anfield post Liverpool’s board saw fit to redouble their efforts. Shanks’ services were secured 72 hours later.
Don Revie
During the mid-1960s and early 1970s Don Revie guided possibly the most gifted but also sometimes niggling and brutal group of players any club had assembled. One match at Goodison Park had to be temporarily suspended when Everton skipper Derek Temple was laid out and a brawl threatened to ensue.
‘Dirty Leeds’ was a hackneyed but often appropriate epithet to carry. Yet at the same time Revie turned under performers into high achievers, talent spotted potential in the lower leagues and nurtured some exceptional youngsters.
He had taken a club close to bankruptcy and teetering on relegation to the third tier to one holding genuine hopes of winning the European Cup. His techniques were revolutionary. Though domestically Leeds won just two league titles, one League Cup and a sole FA Cup.
In Europe they lifted the Fairs Cup twice. But they could have achieved so much more had a belief that skill and flair would have been enough. Five times they finished runners-up in the title race and were beaten cup finalists on three occasions. Liverpool were principal, though far from sole, beneficiaries of that desire to win at all costs including an historic debut cup win in 1965.
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