Aston Villa 2 - 2 Liverpool - 21 August 1985

Kenny Dalglish left himself out of this game and was replaced by Paul Walsh.

Liverpool certainly didn't have things their own way and Villa actually led this game on two occasions. Villa may have lacked experience with their youthful side, but they more than made up for this with raw enthusiasm.

Villa scored after only 7 minutes through Gary Shaw and it took until the 38th minute for Liverpool to equalise, from a superb Ian Rush header. Rush's goal was his 11th in 9 meetings between these two clubs, but the hero was to turn villain near the end of the game. Villa restored their lead in the 77th minute through Mark Walters and despite a siege on the Villa goal, it took Liverpool until the 84th minute to equalise, through Jan Molby. This exciting game ended in dramatic fashion, when Ian Rush's header hit the bar. The referee however awarded a penalty, as Rush had been pushed in the back. The dependable Phil Neal was not allowed to take this penalty and it was Rush who got there ahead of him. However, his tamely hit shot was easily claimed by Nigel Spink, in the Villa goal.

Liverpool definitely felt that they had dropped two points in this game.

Liverpool Team - Grobbelaar, Neal, Kennedy, Lawrenson, Whelan, Hansen, Walsh, Nicol, Rush, Molby, Beglin. Sub: Johnston.

Aston Villa Team - Spink, Williams, Dorigo, Glover, Ormsby, McMahon, Birch, Shaw, Gray, Walker, Walters. Sub: Daley.

Half Time: 1-1

Attendance: 20,197