Liverpool Out of Luck
LIVERPOOL OUT OF LUCK
April 13, 1942.
The Liverpool Daily Post
Liverpool 0, Everton 2
Burnett Rescues Everton
Record Crowd For war-Time
By Ranger.
It was not Liverpool’s lucky day when they met Everton at Anfield in the first leg of the second round of the League War Cup. Nothing went right for them, and they can justly consider themselves information in having to start off with a two goals deficit at Goodison next Saturday. Once more Burnett was the hero of his side. He came to the rescue of Everton at the most critical time, when Liverpool staged a great fighting finish, and he made a series of great saves. Long before this, however, Liverpool should have been in a comfortable position. They had enough chances in the first half hour to set up a good lead. Yet only one shot of real note was delivered in all that time. During this period Everton’s attack had not been idle, but for every visitors’ raid Liverpool staged at least three, and the Everton defence, though it struck to its guns manfully, had a gruelling time.

Chances Missed
The visitors took the lead seven minutes from the interval when Owen sent across a long centre which looked to be going out until Anderson nodded it back to Jones for the latter player to place well out of Hobson’s reach. Liverpool still had their chances, but could not take them, though they were unlucky when Liddell hit the foot of the post and when a shot by Nieuwenhuys was breasted out by Keen from the goal-line. In the early part of the second half it looked as though Liverpool had shot their bolt completely and for a long spell Everton were the better and more aggressive side. Anderson got their second goal six minutes after the resumption. Once again it came from an Owen centre,
the ball being helped on its way by Jones. In the last twenty minutes Liverpool put up a grand fighting rally, which provided some of the most thrilling incidents of the day.
They peppered the Everton goal, and this time their finishing left nothing to be desired. Try as they would, however, they could not get the ball past Burnett, who played an inspired game. He dived full length to save three terrific shots from Nieuwenhuys in amazing fashion, and another even more difficult one from Done, all of which appeared certain to score. Add to this the fact that Liverpool twice hit the woodwork, and once scrambled the ball in the net just as the whistle went for an infringement and the measure of Everton’s escape will be seen.

Thrilling Play
It was thrilling football all through full off excitement and incidents and fought out in clean and sporting fashion. The crowd of 33,445 (£2,181) was a war-time record, and the spectators fully enjoyed this throw back to the pre-war time atmosphere. With the defence on both sides superior to the attack, the game did not produce any outstanding best forwards. Nieuwenhuys was Liverpool’s most dangerous attacker, and Haydock was a grand worker, but Done Was disappointing, and failed badly several times with easy chances. Kaye and Taylor were sound wing halves and the rearguard was good, Hobson made a splendid penalty save in the closing stages when Cook although presented with a second chance from the rebound, could not get the ball past him. Next to Burnett’s superlative display, Everton were best served by Keen and Jackson.
Curwen did well at left half until late on when he seemed to tire. Apart from the first portion of the second half. Which produced occasional flashes of good combination, Everton’s attack was not brilliant. Mercer was the best of the line. Owen was rarely seen apart from the two centres which led to goals, and the left wing was the better balanced.
T.G. Jones was not a success at centre-forward.

Liverpool; Hobson, goal; Guttridge, and Lambert, backs; Taylor, Bush, and Kaye, half-backs; Nieuwenhuys, Carney, Done, Haydock, and Liddell, forwards.

Everton; Burnett, goal; Cook (captain) and Jackson, backs; Bentham, Keen (Derby) and Curwen (G), half-backs; Owen, Mercer, Jones (Tom), Stevenson and Anderson (Third Lanark), forwards. Referee; Mr. F.W. Wort, Nottingham.