Red Star Belgrade left Anfield with a second 2–1 victory over Liverpool and a place in the European Cup quarter-finals. Chris Lawler’s late equaliser briefly restored the possibility of extra-time, but Slobodan Janković settled the second leg in the last minute. The aggregate score was 4–2.
On 6 November 1973, Liverpool needed to overturn the deficit sustained in Belgrade thirteen days earlier. Lawler had scored their away goal there, and a single unanswered Liverpool goal at Anfield would have been enough to send them through. Instead, the teams reached half-time at 0–0 in front of 41,774 spectators.
Vojin Lazarević broke the deadlock on the hour. Red Star now led by two goals across the tie and had an away goal of their own. Liverpool responded with changes: Brian Hall replaced John McLaughlin, and Phil Boersma subsequently came on for Steve Heighway.
Lawler scored in the eighty-fourth minute, with John Toshack credited with the assist. At 1–1 on the night, another Liverpool goal would have made both legs 2–1 home victories and taken the contest into extra-time. That opening lasted only until Janković scored Red Star’s winner. Liverpool had lost both matches, with their right-back responsible for both of their goals.
The defeat subsequently acquired a significance beyond elimination. In its later accounts of the tie, Liverpool’s own historical coverage identifies Red Star’s patient, short-passing approach as an important lesson for Shankly and the Boot Room. Miljan Miljanić’s side had demonstrated the value of retaining the ball and constructing attacks from deeper positions, even at Anfield.
That is the retrospective meaning of the night, not a trophy won in disguise. Liverpool’s later European success still lay ahead, under Shankly’s successors; the club would win four European Cups between 1977 and 1984. What was certain when this match ended was less comforting. A side arriving as English champions and UEFA Cup holders had been knocked out in the second round of Europe’s senior competition.
It would prove to be Shankly’s last European match as Liverpool manager. The lessons became part of the club’s continuing development. The victory belonged to Red Star.