UEFA Super Cup- Part Six (Liverpool vs. Anderlecht, 1978)

The sixth edition of the UEFA Super Cup took place in the Fall of 1978, between the winner of the Champions Cup, Liverpool and the winners of the Cup Winners Cup, Anderlecht.

The English side Liverpool were the defending Super Cup Champions and had won their second straight Champions Cup after defeating Belgian side Club Brugge (1-0) at Wembley on May 10^th, 1978.

They were continuing a dynasty at the top level following UEFA Cup wins in 1973 and 1976 and the Champions Cup in 1977.

The English contingent of Clemence, Neal, Smith, Thompson, Alan and Ray Kennedy, Case, McDermott were complemented with the Scottish trio of Dalglish, Souness and Hansen

The Belgian side Anderlecht were also having their greatest era on the European Stage. They had just won their second Cup Winners Cup in three years on May 3^rd, 1978 at Paris by defeating Austria’s FK Austria Vienna (4-0).

The side contained a mix of Belgian and Dutch Internationals.

The Belgians included the likes of Ludo Coeck, Van der Elst and Vercauteren.

The Dutch stars included Rensenbrink, Haan and Geels, to name a few,

Anderlecht had won this trophy just two years prior by defeating the mighty Bayern Munich.

It was hard to pick favorites between two of the greatest teams of the decade.

The first leg was played on December 4^th, 1978 at Brussels’ Emile Versé Stadium.

For Liverpool, their veteran Captain Emlyn Hughes was not a regular by this time. He nevertheless started as Phil Thompson was injured.

As the home team, Anderlecht were intent on attacking to build up a margin. They took the lead through a header by Vercauteren in the 17^th minute after a fine cross from the right side from Resenebrink.

Just ten minutes later, Jimmy Case leveled the score from a long-range shot.

Anderlecht continued attacking and were rewarded in the 38^th minute, when Van der Elst struck home another cross from the right side.

With just minutes remaining, Rensenbrink struck a decisive third goal to make the Belgians’ cushion stronger for the second leg.

Liverpool Manager Bob Paisley was very critical of his team's performance, he said, “We threw it away, our attitude was wrong and we were careless. Anderlecht are a great team going forward, but we never attacked them as we should. Our approach seems to have gone a bit wrong and we've lost our scoring touch where earlier in the season our finishing was great."

A two-goal margin was not beyond Liverpool and there was a lot to play for in the second leg despite Anderlecht’s dominance.

Photo From: Official Match Programme, Liverpool v Anderlecht, 1978

(December 4, 1978, UEFA Super Cup, Anderlecht 3- Liverpool 1)

Photo From: Official Match Programme, Liverpool v Anderlecht, 1978

(December 4, 1978, UEFA Super Cup, Anderlecht 3- Liverpool 1)

Photo From: Official Match Programme, Liverpool v Anderlecht, 1978

(December 4, 1978, UEFA Super Cup, Anderlecht 3- Liverpool 1)

Photo From: France Football, Issue 1888, June 15, 1982

(Károly Palotai)

The Second Leg took place at Liverpool’s Anfield Stadium on December 19^th, 1978.

Liverpool made a few changes from the first leg. Starting goalkeeper Ray Clemence had been injured in training. Steve Ogrizovic would deputize for him in goal.

Phil Thompson was back in the squad with Alan Kennedy making way. In attack, David Fairclough started ahead of David Johnson.

Anderlecht made two changes to their own squad.

Gilbert van Binst and Matty van Toom started ahead of Broos and Benny Nielsen.

The conditions for this return leg were farcical, as the pitch was frosty and a fog covered the entire ground.

The conditions forced the match to start 15 minutes late. Not that it made a difference as no one in the stands could see the action on the field.

Liverpool attacked from the start, as they had to make up a deficit.

They took the lead in the 13^th minute, when Emlyn Hughes knocked in a rebound after De Bree had parried Jimmy Case’s shot.

It was reported that after Liverpool’s goal, the fans chanted, "Oggy, Oggy (Ogrizovic) tell us who scored", since they could not see the action on the field.

Liverpool continued to dominate with Souness and McDermott controlling the midfield.

At halftime, Anderlecht replaced the injured Geels with Martens.

The Belgians started attacking after halftime and started creating chances.

They tied the match in the 71^st minute through Van der Elst. This more or less sealed the tie as Liverpool had to score twice more in twenty minutes just to force overtime.

Liverpool did manage to score just before the end through Fairclough but to no avail. Despite Liverpool’s (2-1) win. Anderlecht won the tie (4-3) on aggregate to win their second UEFA Super Cup in three seasons.

Photo From: Official Match Programme, Liverpool v Anderlecht, 1978

(December 19, 1978, UEFA Super Cup, Liverpool 2-Anderlecht)

Photo From: Gazet van Antwerpen, December 20, 1978

(December 19, 1978, UEFA Super Cup, Liverpool 2-Anderlecht)

Photo From: France Football, Issue 1888, June 15, 1982

(Nicolae Rainea)

Following the match, Referee Nicolae Rainea justified his decision to play by stating, “When I went out there before kick-off I decided I could see well enough and so I decided to play. I am afraid many spectators would not get a very clear view but there was no time I had any thoughts of abandoning the game.".

In contrast Liverpool Manager Bob Paisley was very critical of Rainea’s decision to allow the match to go on, Paisley said, “You can't play football in conditions like that, it's ridiculous.”

He suggested the competition should be played in April with better weather. 

He added, "I think a match like this, between two leading team should be played in better weather, say in April. I know it's difficult, but it's farcical when good players like these have to slither about in fog and can't see each other….It was farcical playing the game in such conditions. There is no way an important game should have been played tonight….My main concern was that somebody might get hurt. Luckily nobody did. I wanted to play this match in April when it would have been a real decider between the winners of the two big European Cups. Then we would have had 40,000 here and they would have seen a good spectacle.”

Paisley’s desire in April was wishful thinking at best as the Semifinals of the European Cup Competitions regularly took place in that month.

The scheduling of this competition would be a point of contention for the upcoming decades.

December 4, 1978

Royale sporting Club Anderlechtois (Belgium) 3-Liverpool Football Club (England) 1

UEFA Super Cup- First Leg

Venue: Brussels- Emile Versé Stadium

Attendance: 35,000

Referee: Karoly Palotai (Hungary)

Goalscorers:

(Anderlecht): Franky Vercauteren 17, François Van der Elst 38. Rob Rensenbrink 87

 (Liverpool): Jimmy Case 27

Summary of goals:

1:0 (17th minute, Anderlecht): Rensenbrink’s cross from the right side was headed in by Vercauteren.

1:1 (27th minute, Liverpool): Jimmy Case scored from a long shot from outside the box.

2:1 (38th minute, Anderlecht): A loose ball in the air was one timed volleyed across from the right side by Benny Nielsen, it went across the box and Van Der Elst shot home.

3:1 (87th minute, Anderlecht): Haan sent Rensenbrink clear on the left side, he cut in and slid past Clemence.

Lineups:

RSC Anderlecht:

1-Nico de Bree (Holland), 2-François Van der Elst, 3-Hugo Broos, 4-Johnny Dusbaba (Holland), 5-Jean Thissen, 6-Franky Vercauteren, 7-Benny Nielsen (Denmark), 8-Ruud Geels (Holland), 9-Arie Haan (Holland), 10-Ludo Coeck, 11-Rob Rensenbrink (Holland)

Coach: Raymond Goethals

Booked: Jean Thissen 45 (foul on Dalglish)

Other Substitutes:

12-Jacky Munaron, 13-Ronny Martens, 14-Gilbert van Binst, 15-Matty van Toom (Holland)

Team Captain: Rob Rensenbrink

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Adidas

Uniform Colors: White Shirts, White Shorts, White Socks

Liverpool:

1-Ray Clemence, 2-Phil Neal, 3-Alan Kennedy, 4-Emlyn Hughes, 5-Ray Kennedy, 6-Alan Hansen (Scotland), 7-Kenny Dalglish (Scotland), 8-Jimmy Case, 9-David Johnson (12-Steve Heighway (Republic of Ireland) 54),10-Terry McDermott, 11-Graeme Souness (Scotland)

Coach: Bob Paisley

Other Substitutes:

13-Steve Ogrizovic, 14-David Fairclough, 15-Sammy Lee, 16-Brian Kettle

Team Captain: Kenny Dalglish

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Umbro

Uniform Colors: Red Shirts, Red Shorts, Red Socks

December 19, 1978

Liverpool Football Club (England) 2- Royale sporting Club Anderlechtois (Belgium) 1

UEFA Super Cup- Second Leg

Venue: Liverpool-Anfield Stadium

Attendance: 23,598

Referee: Nicolae Rainea (Romania)

Linesmen: Petriceanu, Dinulescu (both Romania)

Goalscorers:

(Liverpool): Emlyn Hughes 13, David Fairclough 87

(Anderlecht): François Van der Elst 71

Summary of goals:

1:0 (13th minute, Liverpool): Jimmy Case’s shot was parried by de Bree, Hughes scored from the rebound.

1:1 (71st minute, Anderlecht): In a counter attack Van der Elst combined with Rensenbrink and slid the ball past Ogrizovic from 15 yards out.

2:1 (87^th minute, Liverpol): Thompson sent a long clearance, for Dalglish who headed down for Fairclough to chip the ball in.

Lineups:

Liverpool:

1- Steve Ogrizovic, 2-Phil Neal, 3- Emlyn Hughes, 4-Phil Thompson, 5-Ray Kennedy, 6-Alan Hansen (Scotland), 7-Kenny Dalglish (Scotland), 8-Jimmy Case, 9- David Fairclough,10-Terry McDermott, 11-Graeme Souness (Scotland)

Coach: Bob Paisley

Booked: Phil Neal (impeding Rensenbrink)

Other Substitutes:

12- David Johnson, 13- Ray Clemence, 14-Steve Heighway (Republic of Ireland), 15-Sammy Lee, 16-Brian Kettle

Team Captain: Kenny Dalglish

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Umbro

Uniform Colors: Red Shirts, Red Shorts, Red Socks

Note: Kenny Dalglish is named as the Captain in many sources, however, in the video highlights of the match Emlyn Hughes is shown with the armband after scoring.

RSC Anderlecht:

1-Nico de Bree (Holland), 2-Gilbert van Binst, 3-Matty van Toom (Holland), 4-Johnny Dusbaba (Holland), 5-Jean Thissen, 6-Franky Vercauteren, 7-François Van der Elst, 8-Ruud Geels (Holland) (12-Ronny Martens 46), 9-Arie Haan (Holland), 10-Ludo Coeck, 11-Rob Rensenbrink (Holland)

Coach: Raymond Goethals

Booked: Johnny Dusbaba (pulling back Souness)

Other Substitutes:

-

Team Captain: Rob Rensenbrink

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Adidas

Uniform Colors: White Shirts, White Shorts, White Socks

Liverpool Team for these matches:

Goalkeepers:

Raymond Neal Clemence (August 5, 1948 (age 30 years at the time), Skengress)

Steve Ogrizovic (September 12, 1957 (age 21 years at the time),  Mansfield, Nottinghamshire)

Defenders:

Philip George Neal (February 20, 1951, (age 27 years at the time), Irchester)

Alan Kennedy (August 31, 1954 (age 24 years at the time),  Sunderland)

Philip Bernard Thompson (January 21, 1954 (age 24 years at the time), Kirkby)

Emlyn Walter Hughes (August 28, 1947 (age 31 years at the time),Barrow-in-Furness-November 9, 2004, Sheffield)

Alan David Hansen (June 13, 1955 (age 23 years at the time), Sauchie)

Midfielders/Forwards:

Raymond Kennedy (July 28, 1951 (age 27 years at the time), Seaton Delaval)

Kenneth Mathieson Dalglish (Scotland) (March 4, 1951 (age 27 years at the time), Dalmarnock)

James Robert ‘Jimmy’ Case (May 18, 1954 (age 24 years at the time), Liverpool)

Stephen Derek ‘Steve’ Heighway (Republic of Ireland) (November 25, 1947 (age 31 years at the time), Dublin, Republic of Ireland)

David Fairclough (January 5, 1957 (age 21 years at the time),  Liverpool)

David Edward Johnson (October 23, 1951 (age 27 years at the time), Liverpool)

Terence ‘Terry’ McDermott (December 8, 1951 (age 26-27 years at the time), Liverpool)

Graeme James Souness (Scotland) (May 6, 1953 (age 25 years at the time), Edinburgh, Scotland)

Samuel ‘Sammy’ Lee (February 7, 1959 (age 19 years at the time), Liverpool)

Brian Kettle (April 22, 1956 (age 22 years at the time), Prescott)

Coach: Robert ‘Bob’ Paisley (January 23, 1919 (age 69 years at the time), Hetton-le-Hole-February 14, 1996, Liverpool)

Team Captain: Kenneth Mathieson Dalglish (Scotland)

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Umbro

Note:

Some information for unused substitutes may not be available, therefore these are the players on and off the field that are verified to have been present).

Photo From: Panini England 78-79

(Liverpool Logo)

Photo Credits:

All Liverpool players and Manager from Panini England 78-79

Except:

Sammy Lee (Panini England 82-83)

Ogrizovic (Panini England 84-85)

Brian Kettle (Anfield Review)

RSC Anderlecht Team for these matches:

Goalkeepers:

Nicolaas Alphonsus Petrus ‘Nico’ de Bree (Holland) (September 16, 1944 (age 34 years at the time), Zuilen, Holland-May 6, 2016, Vienna, Austria)

Jacques ‘Jacky’ Munaron (September 8, 1956 (age 22 years at the time), Namur)

Defenders:

Hugo Broos (April 10, 1952 (age 26 years at the time), Humbeek)

Johnny Dusbaba (Holland) (March 14, 1956 (age 22 years at the time), The Hague, Holland)

Jean Thissen (April 21, 1946 (age 32 years at the time), Ensival, Verviers)

Gilbert van Binst (July 7, 1951 (age 27 years at the time), Machelen)

Midfielders / Forwards:

François Van der Elst (December 1, 1954 (age 24 years at the time), Opwijk, Holland-January 11, 2017, Aalst)

François ‘Franky’ Vercauteren (October 28, 1956 (age 22 years at the time), Sint-Jans-Molenbeek)

Jorgen ‘Benny’ Nielsen (Denmark) (March 7, 1951 (age 27 years at the time), Frederiksvaersk, Denmark)

Geertruida ‘Ruud’ Maria Geels (Holland) (July 28, 1948 (age 30 years at the time), Haarlem, Holland)

Arend ‘Arie’ Haan (Holland) (November 16, 1948 (age 30 years at the time), Finsterwolde, Holland)

Ludo Coeck (September 25, 1955 (age 23 years at the time), Berchem-October 9, 1985, Edegem)

Pieter Robert ‘Rob’ Rensenbrink (Holland) (July 3, 1947 (age 31 years at the time), Amsterdam, Holland)

Ronny Martens (December 22, 1958 (age 19 years at the time),)

Matthijs ‘Matty’ van Toom (Holland) (December 29, 1950 (age 27 years at the time), Rotterdam, Holland-November 21, 2007, Liege, Belgium)

Coach: Raymnd Goethals (October 7 1921 (age 57 years at the time), Vorst-December 6, 2004, Brussels)

Team Captain: Rob Rensenbrink

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Adidas

Shirt Sponsor: Belle-Vue (For these matches no shirt sponsors was used)

Note:

Some information for unused substitutes may not be available, therefore these are the players on and off the field that are verified to have been present).

Photo From: anderlecht logo Panini Belgium 1978-79

(Anderlecht logo)

Photo Credits:

All Anderlecht players and Manager from Panini Belgium 1978-79 

References;

Daily Telegraph, December 20, 1978

Gazet van Antwerpen, December 20, 1978

Official Match Programme, Liverpool v Anderlecht, 1978