http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/spor...ws/terry-mcdermott-wants-liverpool-fc-8610742
Terry McDermott wants Liverpool FC to pile misery on Spurs once again
Kop legend relives his iconic strike against the Londoners in 1978
Terry McDermott made a habit of tormenting Tottenham during his playing days.
Now the Kop legend is hoping to see
Brendan Rodgers’ side dish out some similar treatment when the clubs meet at Anfield on Tuesday night.
McDermott provided the emphatic finish to what
Liverpool FC boss Bob Paisley hailed as the “best goal Anfield had ever seen”.
It was September 1978 and the Kirkby-born midfielder delivered the final touch to a sweeping attack as Tottenham were humiliated 7-0. It remains Spurs’ heaviest ever league defeat.
For three-time European Cup winner McDermott, back on his old stomping ground this week to take fans behind the scenes on Anfield’s Legends Tours, the memories of that autumn afternoon remain vivid.
Terry McDermott, Liverpool
“It was an unbelievable goal – not because I scored it but because of the quality of the build up,” he told the ECHO.
“For Bob to say it was the best he’d ever seen at Anfield was some compliment.
“It came from their corner and I was defending the post. Fifteen seconds later the ball was in the back of their net.
“For what reason I don’t know, I decided to run the length of the pitch. I tell you what, I’m glad I did.
“It was Kenny Dalglish to David Johnson to Steve Heighway. Without even having a touch, Steve hit it first time with his left peg and the cross was absolutely inch perfect.
“I came running in, got my head on it and it flew into the top corner. I didn’t score many with my head. It was a great team goal.
“Spurs had two World Cup winners in their team in Ricky Villa and Ossie Ardiles but we were fantastic that day. It could have been double figures.
“I’ve read comments from Ossie saying that game was a wake-up call. It opened their eyes to English football because we pummelled them.”
McDermott repeated the trick against Spurs the following season as he scored twice in a 2-1 victory at Anfield. Then in March 1980 his stunning volley proved to be the winner in a FA Cup sixth round tie at White Hart Lane. It was voted BBC Goal of the Year.
On Tuesday night the 63-year-old will be an interested onlooker as Liverpool look to claim Tottenham’s scalp once again. It’s a crucial battle in the race for Champions League qualification with fifth placed Spurs currently four point better off.
McDermott expects Rodgers’ side to banish the frustration of Saturday’s derby stalemate with Everton.
“Tottenham were always a lucky team to play against for me,” McDermott said.
“I just hope me being here for the game will ensure that luck rubs off on the Liverpool players!
“Just one defeat in the last 14 games is a great run and if Liverpool can replicate that kind of form over the next 14 games then they should force their way into the top four. That’s got to be the aim.
“The derby wasn’t great but I can’t remember playing in many entertaining derby matches. Quite often they were just a hard slog. You could see on Saturday that neither team wanted to lose. A point wasn’t a bad result.
“Spurs are in good form and they keep on nicking goals right at the death. They did it again on Saturday against Arsenal. They are a decent side but if Liverpool play like they can they will win.”
McDermott believes the return of Daniel Sturridge, who could make his first start on Tuesday night since the Reds’ 3-0 win over Spurs in the capital in August, will provide a massive boost to the club’s top-four push.
“They have missed that quality in the final third,” he said.
“Sturridge being back makes a big difference. He’s a real goal threat. There’s no reason why Liverpool can’t get into the top four and get to Wembley in the FA Cup.”
McDermott needed time to fully establish himself at Liverpool following his move from Newcastle in 1974. And he has been impressed by how the likes of Emre Can, Lazar Markovic and Alberto Moreno have started to make an impact after a similarly tough start to their Anfield careers.
“It took me two years to hold down a place,” he said.
“My dream looked like fading. Then I got a hat-trick against Hamburg and that sparked my career off.
“It’s even more difficult for foreign players these days. The pressure and expectation takes some getting used to. You walk around Melwood and see all the trophies, all the pictures of top players celebrating. You think ‘how do I follow that?’ But a lot of the new boys are contributing now and it’s good to see.”
During his eight years at the club Liverpool won five league titles, three European Cups, the UEFA Cup, the UEFA Super Cup and two League Cups.
McDermott, who in 1980 became the first player to win the Football Writers’ and Professional Footballers’ Association’s Player of the Year awards in the same season, scored 81 goals in 329 appearances.
On Monday he was enthralling Kopites once again as he reminisced about his playing days during tours behind the scenes at Anfield.
“I had an unbelievable time here,” he said, holding court in the home dressing room.
“Every day I stepped foot in here I felt like I had won the Pools.
“Yes, we had great players but we also had a great dressing room. That camaraderie, that bond was crucial. Every time we walked through that door we were all together.
“To go from watching games from the Boys Pen on the Kop to playing for the club was a dream for me. I’ve loved every minute of it.”
To find out more about the Legends Tours and to book places go to:
www.liverpoolfc.com/history/tour-and-museum/legends
