Richard MONEY

As with others like Ray Clemence and Alan Hansen before him, when Richard Money joined Liverpool for £300,000 from Fulham the England B international was expected to spend a period gaining experience in the reserves before eventually being handed the opportunity to show his ability in the first team. Everything went very much according to plan and he made his debut as a sub in September 1980 in a 4-0 home win against West Bromwich Albion, four months after joining Liverpool. Forcing himself into the team on a more regular basis, however, proved to be a near impossible task especially with Alan Hansen and Phil Thompson barring his way to the first team.

Seventeen appearances in that first season is all that he managed to achieve during his time at Anfield, before being sold for £100, 000 to Luton in March 1982 after a brief loan spell with Derby County. Nevertheless Money's career at Anfield did have one incredible high. Having been forced to settle for a 0-0 draw at home in the 1981 European Cup semi-final against Bayern Munich, Liverpool travelled to Germany with an injury ravaged squad and Money was drafted into the side along with other inexperienced youngsters like Colin Irwin and Howard Gayle. Perhaps sub-consciously aware that they would never play at such levels again during their career, the trio performed superbly, helping Liverpool to a 1-1 draw that secured their place in the Paris final where they would eventually see off Real Madrid.

Money also featured in the second leg of a League Cup semi-final against Manchester City but missed out on a place in either final. Added to these disappointments was the fact that his one full season at Anfield - the 1980/81 campaign - was the only season in six between 1978/79-1983/84 that the Reds failed to win the title. (Paul Grech)