Liverpool took a decisive step towards the championship by beating Leeds United at Anfield on 23 April 1973. Peter Cormack broke the deadlock just after half-time and Kevin Keegan added a late second, ending the visitors' remaining title hopes.
The Easter Monday crowd numbered 55,738. The ground was full well before kick-off, but Don Revie's side made Liverpool work for the result. Leeds held their own through a goalless first half, with Peter Lorimer and Joe Jordan threatening at the other end.
They were without several familiar names, including Johnny Giles, Eddie Gray and Jack Charlton. Roy Ellam played in central defence, with Jordan leading the attack. Liverpool had Phil Thompson at full-back alongside Chris Lawler, while Brian Hall started in a side captained by Tommy Smith.
Two minutes into the second half, Cormack put Liverpool ahead. Keegan was involved in the opening goal and would eventually supply the finish which removed the immediate danger of a Leeds equaliser overturning the afternoon's work.
That second goal did not arrive until the eighty-fifth minute. Keegan beat David Harvey from close range to make it 2–0, giving Liverpool a margin which the earlier stages had not guaranteed.
The table explained the scale of the result. Liverpool had 59 points with one league match remaining. Leeds, on 51 with three to play, could no longer catch them under the two-points-for-a-win system. Arsenal remained second on 55 points, with two games left: they could still draw level if Liverpool lost their final fixture.
For that reason, this was not quite the afternoon on which the championship became mathematically certain. Liverpool completed the job five days later, drawing 0–0 with Leicester City at Anfield to take the point they needed.
The Leeds victory had brought that finish within reach. Against opponents still contesting the title, Liverpool had turned a difficult, level first half into two goals and two points at precisely the right time.