1977 FA Cup Final: Man Utd vs Liverpool

Man Utd 2 - 1 Liverpool

• Man Utd
  • Pearson 51'
  • J. Greenhoff 55'
• Liverpool
  • Case 53'

Wembley - Saturday 21st May

Match Referee: R Matthewson

Team Line-ups:

The proverbial 'luck of the draw' has such an influence on the competition that it is only on rare occasions that the two teams which are, by common consent, the best in the country are able to meet in the Final.

United were determined not to repeat their mediocre display against Southampton in the 1976 Final, while Liverpool came to Wembley with every hope of achieving a thrilling hat‑trick of successes ‑ League Championship, FA Cup and European Cup.

Liverpool seemed to be the complete team, with neat flicks and pushes alternating with long sweeping passes out to the wings. For all their midfield pressure, Liverpool rarely looked like scoring in the first half, which finished goalless, though Stepney had been forced to make an unorthodox save with his foot from Kennedy's goalbound header.

The skills of the first half were replaced by the thrills of the second. Within five minutes Greenhoff had flicked Mcilroy's pass over Hughes to give Pearson the opportunity to shoot past Clemence ‑a real body‑blow to Liverpool.

Yet, like true champions, Liverpool bounced back with an equalizer only two minutes later. Jones advanced down the left and centred to the edge of the penalty‑area, where Case swivelled to hit a magnificent half‑volley high into the net to Stepney's left.

An untidy‑looking goal three minutes later won the match for United. Macari's shot, going wide, struck Greenhoff�s side and looped into the net.

MAN UTD v Aston Villa 2‑1; Wolves v Leeds Utd 0‑1 , Everton v Derby Co 2‑0; LIVERPOOL v Middlesbro 2‑0

Southampton v MAN UTD 2‑2,1‑2; Aston Villa v Port Vale3‑0, Wolves v Chester 1‑0, Leeds Utd v Man C 1 ‑0; Cardiff C v Everton 1‑2; Derby Co v Blackburn R 3‑1; Middlesbro v Arsenal 4‑1; LIVERPOOL v Oldham Ath 3‑1

MAN UTD v QPR 1 ‑0; Nott'm Forest v Southampton 3‑3,1‑2; Aston Villa v W. Ham 3‑0; Port Vale v Burnley 2‑ 1; Ipswich T v Wolves 2‑2, 0‑1; Chester v Luton T 1‑0; Birmingham C v Leeds Utd 1‑2; Newcastle Utd v Man C 1‑3, Cardiff C v Wrexham 3‑2; Swindon T v Everton 2‑2, 1‑2; Colchester Utd v Derby Co 1‑ 1, 0‑ 1; Blackburn R v Orient 3‑0; Middlesbro v Hereford Utd 4‑0; Arsenal v Coventry C 3‑1; Northwich Vic v Oldham Ath 1‑3; LIVERPOOL v Carlisle Utd 3‑0

MAN UTD v Walsall 1‑0; QPR v Shrewsbury T 2‑1; Nott'm Forest v Bristol R 1‑1, 1‑1, 6‑0; Southampton v Chelsea 1‑1, 3‑0; Leicester C v Aston Villa 0‑1; W. Ham v Bolton Wand 2‑1; Hull C v Port Vale 1‑1, 1‑3; Burnley v Lincoln C 2‑2, 1 ‑0, Ipswich T v Bristol C 4‑1, Wolves v Rotherham Utd 3‑2; Southend Utd v Chester 0‑4; Halifax T v Luton T 0‑1; Birmingham C v Portsmouth 1 ‑0; Leeds Utd v Norwich C 5‑2; Sheff Utd v Newcastle Utd 0‑0, 1‑3; Man C v WBA 1‑1, 1 ‑0; Cardiff C v Spurs 1 ‑0; Sunderland v Wrexham 2‑2, 0‑1, Fulham v Swindon T 3‑3,0‑5; Everton v Stoke C 2‑0; Kettering T v Colchester Utd 2‑3, Blackpool v Derby Co 0‑0, 2‑3; Charlton Ath v Blackburn R 1‑1. 0‑2, Darlington v Orient 2‑2, 0‑0, 0‑3 Wimbledon v Middlesbro 0‑0, 0‑1; Hereford Utd v Reading 1‑0, Notts Co v Arsenal 0‑1; Coventry C v Millwall 1 ‑0; Northwich Vic v Watford 3‑2; Oldham Ath v PlymouthArg 3‑0; Carlisle Utd v Matlock T 5‑1, LIVERPOOL v Crystal Palace 0‑0, 3‑2