Exactly 50 years ago, Liverpool’s legendary centre-back Phil Thompson etched his name into the annals of the club’s history in a rather unexpected way – with a goal. While Thompson was renowned for his defensive prowess, his goal-scoring record wasn’t the most remarkable aspect of his illustrious career. However, that very first goal he scored for Liverpool, against Derby County at Anfield, remains a cherished memory for the football icon.
Recalling that historic goal, Thompson, who was just 19 years old at the time, reflected on the incredible moment: “I was so wet behind the ears. I was a holding midfield player back then, just sitting in front of the back four. As you can imagine, I didn’t get many goals, just 13 in my career, but that first one was special.”
In his younger days, Thompson wasn’t tasked with venturing into the penalty box to score goals. Instead, he found himself positioned outside the box, just to the left of the ‘D’. The goal came about in a rather unexpected manner, with a bouncing ball making its way towards him. Thompson didn’t hesitate – he instinctively volleyed it towards the top right corner of the goalkeeper’s net at the Anfield Road end. The result? A sublime dipped volley that found the back of the net.
However, what makes this goal even more memorable is Thompson’s reaction – or rather, his lack thereof. As he watched the ball hit the back of the net, he found himself frozen in the moment, unsure of how to celebrate his achievement. He admitted, “The thing about it I remember is I didn’t know what to do. I just stood there! Alan Kennedy always goes on about when he scored the winning penalty in the 1984 European Cup final and he did that little jig, which he says is the worst goal celebration. But I’m sorry AK, mine was worse as I just stood there!”
The joyous chaos that followed saw Thompson engulfed by his teammates, all of them sharing in the excitement of his milestone goal. He vividly remembered the surreal feeling of scoring a goal for Liverpool, a moment that stayed with him throughout his career.
As Thompson’s recollection of this historic goal attests, sometimes it’s the unscripted and spontaneous moments in football that become the most cherished memories. Thompson’s journey from a young 19-year-old with limited goal-scoring responsibilities to a Liverpool legend underscores the remarkable storylines that football continually weaves.
For more related updates visit our official site .
By- Sahiba Suri