Peter CORMACK

Peter Cormack, a Scotland international midfielder, joined Liverpool in July 1972 in a £110, 000 deal from Nottingham Forest, where he had made 74 League appearances and scored 15 goals. He made his debut on September 2, 1972, in a 2-1 League defeat at Derby County and scored his first goal a week later in a 4-2 League win over Wolves at Anfield. Cormack quickly established himself in Liverpool's midfield, going on to start 52 games that season and being subsituted just once. Adding his silky skills to a side that had narrowly missed out on the League title the previous term, Peter's fine performances - and eight goals in 30 League appearances - were an important factor in Liverpool being crowned champions in season 1972-73.

His most important League goal came when he opened the scoring in a crucial 2-0 defeat of Leeds United at Anfield, a win that virtually assured Liverpool of their eighth championship. With that medal in the bag, Cormack soon collected his second award of the campaign as he helped the Reds complete a League-UEFA Cup double, starting both legs of the UEFA Cup Final against Borussia Moenchengladbach, who Liverpool beat 3-2 on aggregate to lift their first European trophy. The following season saw Cormack continue to perform at a consistently high level. He appeared in all 42 League games, starting all but two of them, and found the net nine times.

However, Liverpool faded in the title run-in, winning only once in eight games, and finished runners-up to Don Revie's powerful Leeds United side. Nevertheless, compensation came in the form of FA Cup Final glory at Wembley as Liverpool brushed aside Newcastle United 3-0. Peter picked up the third medal of his short Anfield career after starting in the final, maintaining his run of appearing in all eight of the Reds' FA Cup ties that year. Overall, he made an impressive 57 appearances that season and scored 11 goals. (Martin Greensill)

Peter Cormack began the 1974-75 campaign in similar winning style to how the previous season had ended, converting a spot-kick as Liverpool beat Leeds 6-5 on penalties in the Charity Shield match at Wembley on August 10, a game which marked the end of Bill Shankly's legendary managerial career. His second strike of the season came in an 11-0 mauling of Norwegian minnows Stromsgodset in a European Cup Winners' Cup tie at Anfield on September 17, 1974, which is still a club record win.

Peter made 36 League appearances that term, finding the net three times, including the fifth goal in a 5-2 drubbing of Ipswich in a League game at Anfield in February 1975. However, Liverpool again fell agonisingly short in the title race, this time finishing runners-up to Derby County by two points. Cormack also appeared in eight cup ties but, unusually, Liverpool failed to make the latter rounds of any of the three knockout competitions they were involved in. Season 1975-76 was to bring success back to Anfield - but disappointment for Peter personally.

He had started the campaign in fine form and by the end of year had made 17 League appearances, scoring his only goal in a 1-0 win against Manchester City at Anfield on December 27. However, for the following week's FA Cup tie at West Ham, he was dropped for Ray Kennedy, the ex-Arsenal striker whom manager Bob Paisley had converted to a left-sided midfield player. This switch proved a masterstroke as Kennedy adapted superbly to his new role, but it also signalled the end of Cormack's Anfield career.

Although he collected his second League championship medal as Liverpool won a record ninth title, he never appeared in the first team again and moved to Bristol City for £50,000 in November 1976. Peter made a total of 178 appearances for Liverpool, scoring 28 goals. (Martin Greensill)

Senior career.

1963–1970    Hibernian    182    (75)
1967              Toronto City (guest)    11    (5)
1970–1972    Nottingham Forest    74    (15)
1972–1976    Liverpool    121    (21)
1976–1980    Bristol City    67    (15)
1980              Hibernian    20    (1)
1980              Partick Thistle    1    (0