The Bill Shankly Story, Part 5

The Cup, and the End

After the glorious double and a first European trophy the previous season, Liverpool approached the 1973/4 season with sky-high expectations. Top of the list was the European Cup, the crowning glory that still eluded Liverpool. But in the 2nd round they received a footballing lesson from Miljan Miljanovic’s Red Star Belgrade, who won both legs of the 2nd Round 2-1, playing sumptuous pass and move football. Shankly’s assistant Bob Paisley watched on assiduously, making many mental notes about how to better adapt Liverpool to European football. You could say he did quite well, winning 3 European Cups and a UEFA Cup in his nine seasons in charge.

The 1973/4 season was largely an anti-climax, with Liverpool failing to defend their title and finishing as runners-up to a dominant Leeds United, and making a League Cup 5th round exit at Molineux, as well as that humbling European defeat.

But glittering compensation was to come in the FA Cup.

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