The Forgotten Full-Back

Feb 17, 2016, 12:37 AM

"Anderson chased back, but Nicol dropped a shoulder as he entered the box from the side. Anderson skittered away on the seat of his pants, foot down as he drove the engine of the Puskas-Wright Fire Service. Nicol, now in space, 12 yards out, floated an exquisitely placed effort over Kelly. It was one of the great goals".
In Episode Twenty Five we look back to Scott Murray's 'The Forgotten Full-Back', which examines how it was really Steve Nicol, and not John Barnes, Peter Beardsley or John Aldridge that was the key behind Liverpool's title-winning side of 1987-88. His fearless foraging from full-back (both left and right), and a number of early goals and outstanding performances, gave the new Liverpool side the momentum to sweep all before them and take their seventeenth title.
Scott Murray writes for the Guardian. He is co-author of And Gazza Misses The Final, a history of the World Cup through the medium of minute-by-minute match reports. He also co-wrote The Anatomy of Liverpool and Phantom of the Open: Maurice Flitcroft, the World's Worst Golfer.
For more information on our Q&A event in Dublin on 3rd March, mentioned at the beginning of the episode, featuring a panel of Jonathan Wilson, Philippe Auclair and James Horncastle, head to www.theblizzard.co.uk/events. Podcast listeners can save 10% on ticket prices by using the code 'blizzarddub' at the checkout.
If you have any feedback comments or suggestions email podcast@theblizzard.co.uk or find us on Twitter @blzzrd.
Issue Eighteen, like all issues of The Blizzard, is available on a pay-what-you-like basis from www.theblizzard.co.uk. Digital downloads cost as little as 1p each (RRP £3), while print versions are available from £6 + postage (RRP £12). You can also find us on the Kindle and Google Play stores.