On This Day – 18th September
Liverpool returned to European football on this day back in 1991, ended a six-year ban imposed on English clubs from European competitions. Liverpool for an extra year for their part to play in the Heysel Disaster.
Liverpool qualified for the UEFA Cup after finishing as runners-up behind Arsenal the previous season and were drawn against Finnish side Kuuysysi Lahti (I’d never heard of them either!). The first leg was played at Anfield and the Merseysiders won the match comprehensively 6-1, with Dean Saunders scoring four of the goals.
There were only 17,131 fans in Anfield that night which is quite strange considering the amount of European nights the Liverpool faithful had missed out on. The club was renowned for their European success, having won four European Cups and two UEFA Cups in the past twenty years.
Dean Saunders opened the scoring after 11 minutes before Ray Houghton doubled Liverpool’s lead. Defender Nick Tanner put through his own net a minute later to give the visitors a valuable away goal.
Kuuysysi continued to frustrate the hosts but Saunders’ second of the game on 78 minutes began a late flurry of goals. The Welshman then completed his hat-trick on 86 minutes and added his fourth a minute later. Ray Houghton then added his second of the game in the last few seconds to complete the rout.
The Liverpool line up that night was: Mike Hooper Gary Ablett David Burrows Steve Nicol (c) Mike Marsh Nick Tanner Dean Saunders Ray Houghton Ian Rush Steve McManaman Steve McMahon.
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