Jack Whitham scored seven goals in his Liverpool career. Three came in one afternoon against Derby County, and Liverpool needed every one of them.
The 3–2 win at Anfield on 11 December 1971 gave a forward whose opportunities had been restricted by injuries and competition for places his clearest moment in the side. Against Brian Clough’s Derby, Whitham scored all Liverpool’s goals while John O’Hare supplied both for the visitors.
Whitham opened the scoring after fourteen minutes, recovering the ball after his initial touch had rebounded from goalkeeper Colin Boulton. Derby equalised through O’Hare shortly before half-time, but Liverpool did not remain level for long.
Whitham scored again in the forty-fourth minute, with Ian Callaghan providing the assist. Liverpool went into the interval 2–1 ahead.
Eight minutes after the restart he completed his hat-trick, this time with Steve Heighway credited with the assist. The lead was now two goals, though O’Hare’s second soon reduced it to one. More than half an hour remained, but the scoring was finished.
The result left Liverpool fifth, level on twenty-seven points with fourth-placed Derby after twenty-one league matches. It was a win against another side in the upper part of the table, secured by a player who rarely had a sustained run in Liverpool’s attack.
Whitham had come from Sheffield Wednesday in 1970. The injury problems that had interrupted his progress there followed him to Anfield, while John Toshack’s arrival further limited his chances. He had shown what he could contribute three weeks before Derby’s visit, scoring twice in the away win at Coventry.
That productive spell did not become a lasting breakthrough. His Liverpool career amounted to eighteen senior appearances, and he made only one appearance across the following two seasons before leaving.
At Anfield against Derby, however, his contribution was decisive from beginning to end: the opening goal, the restored lead before half-time, and the third which ultimately separated the teams.