Ghosts of Christmas Past: 1976: Aston Villa 5 Liverpool 1

There was a time when every minute of every football match wasn't filmed; when Match of the Day covered just two matches while the local ITV stations picked a local game. If you weren't picked, your team's match wouldn't be preserved for posterity, unless a local TV news team had rocked up with a grainy 16mm film camera to capture the goals for the news. Even this was rare, as they'd have to waste loads of film in the hope of capturing the goals, often in light which cruelly exposed the limitations of their camera equipment.

Midweek matches were even less likely to be captured although we did have the odd league match on Sportsnight, if there wasn't an important boxing match on the same night and ITV's Wednesday Special slot would offer a match if they didn't have some grim documentary to show.

On Wednesday 15th December 1976, ITV do have a grim documentary to show and the BBC's Sportnight has been replaced by Sports Review of the Year 1976. As a consequence, no footage remains of one of the greatest ever nights at Villa Park, as Aston Villa take on the might of all-conquering champions Liverpool.

Pre-match all the talk has been of the absence of John Toshack through injury. No-nonsense Villa boss Ron Saunders doesn't think it will make our task any easier but he does expect to win.

“The trouble is Liverpool have such strength in depth the player they bring in to replace Toshack is just as likely to score against us” warns Ron, before adding “I want us to beat them this time and I want us to deserve to do so, but I will happily settle for the result rather than the performance if need be.”

Andy Gray heads Villa in front

So on a chilly December night, with blizzards just a few days away, a packed Villa Park is buzzing with anticipation.

Villa start off with a drive and energy that instantly has the champions on the back foot and the Holte End roaring. After just nine minutes, the deadlock is broken after some absolutely top-rate play from Alex Cropley, John Deehan and John Robson. The beautiful move ends with a trademark Andy Gray header and we have the lead.

The Merseysiders' back line is still trying to come to terms with that just two minutes later when Dennis Mortimer's incisive pass slices them clean open and John Deehan's clinical finish gives us a two nil lead and sees B6 transformed into Dreamland.

Villa keep ripping into Liverpool who seem completely taken aback by Villa's free running, fast passing style. Phil Thompson's attempt to get physical with constant thorn in the side Andy Gray results in the ball running loose and into the path of Deehan who hammers home his second and is by now probably feeling far happier that he was pulled out of an England Under 21 fixture to take part.

It's not totally one-way traffic and eventually keeper Jake Findlay is called into action with a full length save as David Johnson finally manages a shot on target for the away team. Phil Thompson's frustration inevitably bubbles over and he goes in the book for wrestling the driving force that is Dennis Mortimer to the ground.

Deehan helps himself to his second goal

The Scousers manage to limp on until the half hour before the fourth Villa goal goes in, a lovely cross from fan-favourite right back John Gidman finding the boot of Brian Little. Ray Clemence can only watch in misery as Little coolly slots home.

Jake Findlay finally gets caught out when coming off his line for to punch clear a Terry McDermott cross and Ray Kennedy manages to pull back what already feels like a consolation goal with a low drive.

Still in the first half and we're not done. A Mortimer cross finds Andy Gray and his header loops over a shell-shocked Clemence and the Holte End parties like it's Christmas and New Year rolled into one..

HALF TIME: Aston Villa 5 Liverpool 1

Villa lose Alex Cropley to injury early in the second half and an 18 year old Mike Buttress is pressed into service as sub, which validates Saunders' comments that Liverpool have more strength in depth. Despite this Villa continue to dominate throughout the second half.

John Deehan misses a golden opportunity to grab his hat trick from a Brian Little pass, Ray Clemence pushes a Dennis Mortimer centre on to his own crossbar and has to make fine saves from Deehan and Gidman.

A miserable evening for Liverpool is capped when Ray Kennedy picks up a booking for foul on the much kicked Mortimer.

A five one triumph for Villa then, the first time in ten years since Liverpool have shipped in five and that was against the mighty Ajax. This is special.

Ron Saunders reflected “That was a highly professional performance but it is the sort of display that we have been threatening to produce in so many recent matches”.

“I’m not detracting from those Villa boys,” lamented Pool manager Bob Paisley, “they did well. But my defence... I didn’t think they could play so badly.”

Aston Villa 5 Liverpool 1

Competition: Football League Division One

Attendance: 42,851

Aston Villa: Findlay, Gidman, Robson, Phillips, Young, Mortimer, Deehan, Little, Gray, Cropley, Carrodus. Sub: Buttress (for Cropley, 54)

Liverpool: Clemence, Neal, Jones, Thompson, Kennedy, Hughes, Keegan, McDermott, Heighway, Johnson, Callaghan. Sub: Case