| Match Pictures | Matches: 1994 – 1995 | 1994-1995 Pictures |
Trivia
- Feeble Celtic crushed by a Liverpool side who featured 43 year-old Kenny Dalglish for the whole second half
- 8,000 Celtic fans made the journey to Anfield
- Liverpool legend Ian Rush had 330 goals in 601 appearances for the reds
- The mustachioed goal-getter pocketed an estimated £250,000
- Phil O'Donnell, Paul McStay, John Collins and Stuart Gray did not travel
- Gordon Marshall was axed and Bonner brought back – remarkably (!) he kept his place for the rest of the season
- Nigerian trialists Boladji Douglas and Uche Okafor moved on before the game. Hans van Arum was ruled out hours before the game due to red tape
- Post match Tommy Burns spent 50 minutes in the dressing room imparting some home truths
- Young sub Gary Carberry crocked Steve McManaman, who left on crutches and withdrew from an England B squad with knee ligament damage
- Roy Evans' wildly inconsistent Liverpool slumped to a 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace in their next game
Review
Celtic unceremoniously thumped as they participate in the testimonial for Liverpool and Wales legendary forward Ian Rush.
Humiliation for Celtic who were already at a low ebb following the Coca-Cola Cup debacle against Raith.
The silver lining was that Burns' hand was strengthened in trying to obtain funding from Fergus McCann: Pierre van Hooijdonk arrived shortly afterwards.
Teams
Liverpool (3-5-2):
James; Babb, Ruddock, Scales; Harkness, Clough, McManaman (Walters 68), Thomas, Bjornebye; Rush, Fowler (Dalglish 45)
Goals: Bjornebye 28, McManaman 31, McNally o.g. 43, Babb 54, Ruddock 67, Rush 81
Celtic (5-3-2):
Bonner; Boyd, McNally, Mowbray, O'Neil, McKinlay (Carberry 45); Grant, Galloway (McLaughlin 66), Falconer (Walker 80); Donnelly, Nicholas
Subs not used: Marshall, Smith, Byrne
Att: 25,856
Ref: J Lloyd (Wrexham)
Articles
Tommy Burns said: "We're in a different world entirely.
"That's something we'll try to put right in the seasons ahead. We were given a footballing lesson tonight. I hope we can take a lot from it.
"Liverpool are a team well-structured for the modern game with a lot of good players. We have a long way to get back into that league."
Pictures
Articles
December8, 1994 Thursday
Goal rush as fans pay homage to Ian
Liverpool'ssharpshooter supreme Ian Rush scored with a bumper pay-out as Anfield paid homage to its greatest soccer striking legend.A crowd of 25,856 grossed club record receipts for a testimonial of around $500,000 for the 33-year-old Welshman who has become as identified with the red ofLiverpoolas any player of the past 25 years.
Stig Bjornebye, Steve McManaman and a Mark McNally own goal putLiverpoolthree ahead at the interval with second-half strikes from Phil Babb and Neil Ruddock adding to the pain for the Bhoys.
Six minutes from time, Rush, himself, set the perfect seal on a night of glorious memories when he stabbed in the final goal at the Kop end, where he has been a hero for a decade and a half.Alan Hansen, Phil Thompson, Alan Kennedy, Joey Jones and Ronnie Whelan were among the past wearers of the famousLiverpoolred who paid their dues to their former teammate by taking part in a celebrity game before the start of the main event.
The 8000-strongCelticcontingent played their part as the two sets of supporters joined together in a standing ovation for Rush when he entered the Anfield arena he has graced so magnificently since joining as a 19-year-old from Chester in 1980.
The party was joined when Kenny Dalglish – as much of an idol at Parkhead as Anfield – came out of retirement to reform his celebrated partnership with Rush for the second half. At the final whistle, Rush walked his personal lap of honor to round off the night.
TheLiverpoolskipper told the crowd: "It's been such an emotional night for me.
"I'd like to thank theCelticsupporters who've come such a long way to be here. And I'd also like to say thank you to theLiverpoolfans, not just for tonight, but for the 14 years you've looked after me – you've been magnificent and I will love you always."
The Herald (Glasgow)
December6, 1994
Celticleave 'monotony' behind to honour Rush
BYLINE:Ian Paul
THEIR stock may be low on the field, butCeltic'sreputation as the testimonial champions of Britain will be confirmed tonight when their itinerant fans head for Anfield to celebrate the career of the type of goal scorer whose worth would be incalculable if he were setting off on a Parkhead career, writes Ian Paul.Ian Rush is the latest in a long line of stars in the English game who has requested the appearance ofCelticin the other half of the field for his big night.
There have been betterCelticteams to grace the occasion, and Parkhead manager Tommy Burns played for one of them. But, as he said yesterday before taking his troops south — they intended watching Everton and Leeds United in action last night — the chance to get a break from the pressures of the league programme will be welcome for his men after the recent disappointments.
"It is an escape from the monotony of what we are going through at the moment," said Burns. "It is an honour to be asked to play this game and a compliment to our fans. Now it is up to us to provide a team they can be proud of."That may be some time off, and for the immediate future Burns is determined to discover the worth of the up-and-coming brigade at Parkhead. The chances are that he will give a fair number of them an outing at Anfield, in particular lads like Simon Donnelly, Brian McLaughlin, and Gary Carberry would be expected to turn out.
Stuart Gray, who would have been another, is injured and misses out and Burns will wait until he hears a report on the reserve match againstMotherwellat Fir Park last night before he decides who will start.
One man who took part in the reserve game, Charlie Nicholas, does not quite come into the promising category, but he is keen to play against Liverpool.
"Ian Rush is a great player and a nice guy and I played against him many times when I was in England. I would love to be involved in the game," he said.
Nicholas and his youthful colleagues will travel to Liverpool today to join the others, among whom John Collins remains a doubtful starter. "John is touch and go to play," said Burns, who has said farewell to the two Nigerians who had been on trial. Both are leaving today. Uche Okafur is to sign for Maccabi in Israel but Bilaje Douglas has not yet settled his future.
Dutch striker Hans van Arum, however, is still trying to prove his capabilities and will be given his chance to shine at some stage in the proceedings.
However well he does, he is never likely to equal the achievements of the man for whom the whole show is arranged, Rush, who ended Blackburn's Coca-Cola Cup interest last week when he hit a hat trick against them in what was his 600th appearance for the club. He continued on form with a goal against Coventry on Saturday, bringing his career total to 382.
Rush's job satisfaction has been considerable as he collected three FA Cup medals, five league championship badges, four League Cup medals, the European Cup of 1984, and personal recognition in the shape of the Golden Boot award and player of the year prize, also in 1984.
He did not have a memorable season in Italy with Juventus, but otherwise it has been glory, glory all the way.