Chris Lawler gave Liverpool something to bring home from Belgrade. Two goals behind against Red Star, Bill Shankly’s side reduced the deficit through their right-back in the seventy-second minute and left the first leg of their European Cup second-round tie beaten, but still in contention.
The 2–1 defeat on 24 October 1973 continued a difficult run away from Anfield. Liverpool had lost their previous two matches, both 1–0, at Southampton and Leeds. Before those defeats had come a League Cup draw at West Ham. The champions’ latest European journey offered no immediate escape from their troubles on the road.
Red Star went ahead six minutes before half-time through Slobodan Janković. His long-range effort was followed, three minutes after the interval, by a second goal from Vladislav Bogićević, who got behind Liverpool’s offside line. Miljan Miljanić’s team now held a substantial advantage with most of the second half still to play.
Liverpool had started with the familiar attacking partnership of Kevin Keegan and John Toshack, supported by Steve Heighway. It was Lawler, however, who supplied their reply. His goal did not prevent defeat, but it changed the demands of the return: Liverpool would be trying to recover one goal rather than two, with an away goal already secured.
The contrast with their home results remained striking. Earlier in October, Liverpool had beaten Jeunesse d’Esch 2–0 at Anfield to complete a 3–1 aggregate victory in the first round. After Belgrade, they returned home to beat Sheffield United in the league and West Ham in their League Cup replay, each by a single goal.
Anfield therefore offered a credible prospect of recovery when Red Star arrived on 6 November. The first leg had left that possibility open. It had also shown, through goals either side of half-time, how quickly the Yugoslav side could make Liverpool’s task more difficult. Lawler had limited the damage; the tie was still Red Star’s to defend.