Although Liverpool’s 1985-86 season is best remembered for their marvellous league and FA Cup double, one of the undoubted highlights was the Milk Cup fourth-round tie at home to Manchester United on Tuesday November 26.
Having won their opening 10 games, Ron Atkinson’s side were being touted in the press as the champions-elect and it was approaching six years since United had last lost at Anfield.
For a Liverpool team adjusting to life under new player-manager Kenny Dalglish, a stern test was expected, but roared on by a raucous home crowd they issued an ominous warning to their rivals.
For a then-22-year-old Jan Molby, it was the game that kickstarted his Liverpool career. Signed 15 months earlier from AFC Ajax, the midfielder came of age to cement his place in Liverpudlian folklore.
With the Reds trailing to an early Paul McGrath goal, Molby famously turned the game during a frantic two-minute spell shortly before the hour mark.
Intercepting a pass inside his own half, the ‘Great Dane’ proceeded to power his way towards the Kop goal before unleashing an unstoppable shot past Gary Bailey from the edge of the area to level matters.
Sixty seconds later he completed the comeback, and a much-celebrated victory, with a coolly taken penalty. But it’s the equaliser that remains imprinted on the minds of those lucky enough to be there.
