Andy Knack Of Scoring Big Goals

Goals for visiting sides were as rare as proverbial golden eggs when Liverpool were busy making Anfield a fortress at the height of their powers.

But a man with Wolves connections found the key to the door better than anyone.

Andy King not only became one of only four visiting players to score away to Bob Paisley’s all-conquering side in the League or the domestic cups in that 1978-79 season but also hit a winner at home to them a few months earlier.

And the fact that he did so each time in the colours of Everton made his deeds all the more memorable.

“We always looked out for the derbies against Liverpool because they were such special games,” said King. “That must have been one of the best sides they ever had, so we were thrilled to do so well against them.

“When I volleyed the only goal against them at Goodison Park in the autumn, it was the first time we had beaten them in seven years and something like 15 meetings.

“Then we went to their place much later in the season, when they were well on the way to winning the title, and got a decent point in a 1-1 draw.

“If I remember right, I slid in ahead of Emlyn Hughes to score our goal.”

King, who showed he had retained the scoring knack by netting ten times in 30 games in a desperate Wolves side in the mid-1980s, was the last visiting player to come up with a League goal at Anfield 34 seasons ago.

After that March 13 midweek clash, Liverpool played seven home First Division games and kept seven clean sheets. None of their opponents escaped with as much as a point, with Wolves (0-2 on March 20) among those to succumb there.

The other players to breach the stronghold that season were QPR’s Paul McGee on the opening day, Leeds’ John Hawley on November 4 and Albion’s Alistair Brown on February 3.

King, 56, is now assistant manager to Aidy Boothroyd at Northampton and we caught up with him this morning while he was preparing for this afternoon’s League Two game at Southend.