The 1971–72 season was Liverpool Football Club's 80th season in existence and their tenth consecutive season in the First Division. Liverpool fought for the league title for the first time in three years, finishing third, just one point behind champions Derby. Liverpool's second attempt at the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup ended in disappointment following an autumn defeat to Bayern Munich. The season saw the breakthrough of youngster Kevin Keegan. The attacking midfielder played an integral part in the team, assisting several goals and scoring nine himself, after moving to the striker position.
Another player who had come through the youth system and made his debut as a substitute for John Toshack against Manchester United on Easter Monday was Phil Thompson who would become an integral part of the team for the rest of the decade.
Squad
Goalkeepers Ray Clemence Tommy Lawrence
Defenders Roy Evans Chris Lawler Alec Lindsay Larry Lloyd John McLaughlin Ian Ross Tommy Smith
Midfielders Steve Arnold Ian Callaghan Brian Hall Steve Heighway Emlyn Hughes Ian St. John Phil Thompson Peter Thompson
Attackers Phil Boersma Alun Evans Bobby Graham Kevin Keegan John Toshack Jack Whitham
Squad statistics
Appearances and goals
League table
Results
First Division
DateOpponentsVenueResultScorersAttendanceReport 1Report 2 14-Aug-71 Nottingham Forest H 3–1 Keegan Smith Hughes 51,427 Report Report 17-Aug-71 Wolverhampton Wanderers H 3–2 Toshack Smith 51,869 Report Report 21-Aug-71 Newcastle United A 2–3 Hughes Keegan 39,720 Report Report 24-Aug-71 Crystal Palace A 1–0 Toshack 29,489 Report Report 28-Aug-71 Leicester City H 3–2 Heighway Keegan Toshack 50,970 Report Report 01-Sep-71 Manchester City A 0–1 45,144 Report Report 04-Sep-71 Tottenham Hotspur A 0–2 50,124 Report Report 11-Sep-71 Southampton H 1–0 Toshack 45,878 Report Report 18-Sep-71 Leeds United A 0–1 41,381 Report Report 25-Sep-71 Manchester United H 2–2 Graham Hall 55,634 Report Report 02-Oct-71 Stoke City A 0–0 28,698 Report Report 09-Oct-71 Chelsea H 0–0 48,464 Report Report 16-Oct-71 Nottingham Forest A 3–2 Hughes Heighway Smith 20,945 Report Report 23-Oct-71 Huddersfield Town H 2–0 Smith A. Evans 41,627 Report Report 30-Oct-71 Sheffield United A 1–1 Keegan 39,023 Report Report 06-Nov-71 Arsenal H 3–2 Hughes Callaghan Ross 46,929 Report Report 13-Nov-71 Everton A 0–1 56,563 Report Report 20-Nov-71 Coventry City A 2–0 Whitham 25,325 Report Report 27-Nov-71 West Ham United H 1–0 Hughes 43,399 Report Report 04-Dec-71 Ipswich Town A 0–0 21,359 Report Report 11-Dec-71 Derby County H 3–2 Whitham 44,601 Report Report 18-Dec-71 Tottenham Hotspur H 0–0 43,409 Report Report 27-Dec-71 West Bromwich Albion A 0–1 43,904 Report Report 01-Jan-72 Leeds United H 0–2 53,847 Report Report 08-Jan-72 Leicester City A 0–1 26,421 Report Report 22-Jan-72 Wolverhampton Wanderers A 0–0 33,692 Report Report 29-Jan-72 Crystal Palace H 4–1 Lawler Callaghan Keegan 39,538 Report Report 12-Feb-72 Huddersfield Town A 1–0 Whitham 18,702 Report Report 19-Feb-72 Sheffield United H 2–0 Toshack 42,005 Report Report 26-Feb-72 Manchester City H 3–0 Lloyd Keegan Graham 50,074 Report Report 04-Mar-72 Everton H 4–0 Own goal Own goal Lawler Hughes 53,922 Report Report 11-Mar-72 Chelsea A 0–0 38,691 Report Report 18-Mar-72 Newcastle United H 5–0 Lawler Keegan Toshack Hughes Heighway 43,899 Report Report 25-Mar-72 Southampton A 1–0 Toshack 21,680 Report Report 28-Mar-72 Stoke City H 2–1 Own goal Keegan 42,489 Report Report 01-Apr-72 West Bromwich Albion H 2–0 Smith Lawler 46,564 Report Report 03-Apr-72 Manchester United A 3–0 Lawler Toshack Hughes 54,000 Report Report 08-Apr-72 Coventry City H 3–1 Keegan Smith Toshack 50,628 Report Report 15-Apr-72 West Ham United A 2–0 Toshack Heighway 32,660 Report Report 22-Apr-72 Ipswich Town H 2–0 Toshack 54,316 Report Report 01-May-72 Derby County A 0–1 39,420 Report Report 08-May-72 Arsenal A 0–0 39,289 Report Report
Football League Cup
DateOpponentsVenueResultScorersAttendanceReport 1Report 2 07-Sep-71 Hull City A 3–0 Lawler Heighway Hall 31,612 Report Report 05-Oct-71 Southampton H 1–0 Heighway 29,964 Report Report 27-Oct-71 West Ham United A 1–2 Graham 40,878 Report Report
FA Cup
DateOpponentsVenueResultScorersAttendanceReport 1Report 2 15-Jan-72 Oxford United H 3–0 Keegan Lindsay 56,124 Report Report 05-Feb-72 Leeds United H 0–0 56,296 Report Report 09-Feb-72 Leeds United A 0–2 49,572 Report Report
European Cup Winners Cup
DateOpponentsVenueResultScorersAttendanceReport 1Report 2 15-Sep-71 Servette FC A 1–2 Lawler 21,000 Report Report 29-Sep-71 Servette FC H 2–0 Hughes Heighway 38,591 Report Report 20-Oct-71 Bayern Munich H 0–0 42,949 Report Report 03-Nov-71 Bayern Munich A 1–3 A. Evans 40,000 Report Report
FA Charity Shield
References
LFC History.net – 1971–72 season Liverweb - 1971-72 Season