Opinion and history from a Liverpool supporter.
Liverpool history · People
Explore Ian Rush through the original writing.
30 September 1981 · European Cup first round, second leg · Anfield
Ian Rush and Mark Lawrenson scored their first Liverpool goals in a seven-goal European win the day after Bill Shankly’s death.
4 November 1981 · European Cup second round, second leg · Anfield
Alan Hansen scored five minutes from time after AZ twice equalised, taking Liverpool through 5–4 on aggregate.
7 November 1981 · First Division · Anfield
Kenny Dalglish scored twice in five minutes after the interval, before Ian Rush added his first Merseyside derby goal.
10 April 1982 · First Division · Maine Road
Liverpool followed victory at Old Trafford with five goals at Maine Road and moved five points clear of Ipswich Town.
7 September 1982 · First Division · Anfield
David Hodgson scored twice, but Liverpool needed late goals from Graeme Souness and Ian Rush to beat Nottingham Forest.
11 September 1982 · First Division · Anfield
Liverpool scored against three different Luton goalkeepers but needed Craig Johnston’s equaliser to take a point at Anfield.
6 November 1982 · First Division · Goodison Park
Ian Rush scored four and Mark Lawrenson added the other as Liverpool overwhelmed Everton, who lost Glenn Keeley to a first-half dismissal.
27 December 1982 · First Division · Anfield
Kenny Dalglish scored a hat-trick and set up Ian Rush as Liverpool beat Manchester City 5–2 at Anfield.
2 March 1983 · European Cup quarter-final, first leg · ŁKS Stadium, Łódź
Mirosław Tłokiński punished Bruce Grobbelaar’s handling error before Wiesław Wraga headed Widzew’s second, leaving Liverpool without an away goal.
16 March 1983 · European Cup quarter-final, second leg · Anfield
Liverpool recovered to win on the night, but Widzew’s two away goals helped secure a 4–3 aggregate victory.
29 October 1983 · First Division · Anfield
Ian Rush scored a first-half hat-trick and two more after the interval as Liverpool overwhelmed Luton Town.
2 November 1983 · European Cup second round, second leg · San Mamés
Ian Rush headed the only goal of the tie as Liverpool won at San Mamés to reach the European Cup quarter-finals.
6 November 1983 · First Division · Anfield
Ian Rush, Michael Robinson and Steve Nicol scored as Liverpool beat Everton to move above Manchester United.
21 March 1984 · European Cup quarter-final, second leg · Estádio da Luz
Ronnie Whelan scored twice and Kenny Dalglish supplied three goals as Liverpool reached the European Cup semi-finals in Lisbon.
7 April 1984 · First Division · Anfield
Ian Rush and Graeme Souness scored twice each as Liverpool beat West Ham 6–0 to remain two points clear at the top.
25 April 1984 · European Cup semi-final, second leg · 23 August Stadium
Ian Rush scored twice as Liverpool won in Bucharest and secured a 3–1 aggregate victory to reach the European Cup final.
20 October 1984 · First Division · Anfield
Graeme Sharp’s early second-half volley gave Everton their first Anfield victory for 14 years and left Liverpool seventeenth.
24 October 1984 · European Cup second round, first leg · Anfield
Ian Rush scored his first European hat-trick, twice striking after Benfica’s equaliser to give Liverpool a two-goal lead for Lisbon.
10 April 1985 · European Cup semi-final, first leg · Anfield
Two quick Ian Rush goals after half-time turned Liverpool’s narrow lead into a four-goal advantage for the return leg.
28 September 1985 · First Division · Anfield
Jan Mølby converted two second-half penalties after Ian Rush restored Liverpool's lead against Tottenham at Anfield.
22 February 1986 · First Division · Anfield
Late goals from Kevin Ratcliffe and Gary Lineker left Liverpool eight points behind Everton with twelve league matches remaining.
17 March 1986
A late Jan Mølby penalty forced extra time at Watford, where Ian Rush secured Liverpool’s place in the FA Cup semi-finals.
22 March 1986
Kenny Dalglish supplied three goals in a 6–0 win over Oxford that brought Liverpool level on points with Everton.
5 April 1986
Ian Rush scored twice in extra time against Southampton to secure Liverpool’s place in an all-Merseyside FA Cup final.
10 May 1986
Liverpool recovered from a goal down against Everton at Wembley to complete the league and FA Cup Double in Kenny Dalglish’s first season as player-manager.
16 August 1986 · Charity Shield · Wembley
Ian Rush met Kenny Dalglish's cross to cancel out Adrian Heath's late goal as Liverpool and Everton shared the Shield.
16 September 1986 · Football League Super Cup final, first leg · Anfield
Ian Rush's double and Steve McMahon's header gave Liverpool a two-goal advantage in the belated Super Cup final.
23 September 1986
Steve McMahon scored four and missed a penalty as Liverpool beat Fulham 10–0 in a League Cup first leg at Anfield.
30 September 1986 · Football League Super Cup final, second leg · Goodison Park
Ian Rush scored three times at Goodison as Liverpool won the delayed Super Cup final 7–2 on aggregate.
1 November 1986 · First Division · Anfield
Paul Walsh scored a hat-trick and supplied both Ian Rush goals as Liverpool put six past Norwich at Anfield.
14 February 1987
Ian Rush scored three times as Liverpool held off Leicester City in a seven-goal match at Anfield.
5 April 1987
Ian Rush put Liverpool ahead at Wembley, but two Charlie Nicholas goals gave Arsenal their first League Cup.
25 April 1987
Two Ian Rush goals secured a 3–1 Anfield victory and brought him level with Dixie Dean on 19 goals in Merseyside derbies.
1987-88
Liverpool lost their most potent goalscorer in the summer of 1987 and somehow became more potent. John Barnes was at the centre of the attack Kenny Dalglish built without Ian Rush.
23 November 1988
Substitute John Aldridge scored the late winner as Liverpool came from behind to settle their League Cup tie at Villa Park.
20 May 1989 · FA Cup final · Wembley
Ian Rush and Stuart McCall each scored twice after coming off the bench, but Rush’s header won the FA Cup for Liverpool.
12 September 1989
Nine goals, eight scorers, and a farewell to John Aldridge. Nobody at Anfield that night knew they were watching the end of something.
23 September 1989
Peter Beardsley helped create all three goals as Liverpool came from behind to win at Goodison Park and replace Everton at the top.
16 December 1989
Two goals in the opening five minutes set Liverpool on their way to a 5–2 victory over Chelsea.
9 January 1990
Three days after being held at the Vetch Field, Liverpool beat Swansea City 8–0 at Anfield in the FA Cup.
8 April 1990
Liverpool led 3–2 late in normal time, but Andy Gray’s equaliser and Alan Pardew’s extra-time header ended their defence of the FA Cup.
28 April 1990
Ian Rush and John Barnes overturned QPR’s lead at Anfield, before Aston Villa’s draw confirmed Liverpool as champions with two matches remaining.