In the game, Aston Villa went 1-0 up thanks to a goal from Allan Evans. Thompson then helped them on their way by making it 2-0 via an own goal. David Johnson pulled a goal back for the Reds in the second half to make it 2-1 but, late on, John Deehan all but sealed the win with an 84th minute strike to round off the win in style.
Thompson came back into the dressing room after the loss and former Liverpool manager, Bob Paisley, had something to say about his glaring mistake at the back.
Thompson said: “My greatest rollicking? [It was] off Bob Paisley at Aston Villa. I sliced an own goal past Ray Clemence and he came in the dressing room after the game – we’ve won the league and only conceded 16 goals all season.
“And I sliced one past Ray Clements at Villa Park and after the game, he’s in the dressing room and he went, ‘is the captaincy too much for you, is it getting to you?’
“And I said ‘you can f-off’ and he went ‘what’d you mean f-off’ and all the players were killing themselves laughing. We’ve been beaten 3-1, oh my god, that was probably the biggest rollicking that I’d ever had.”
Despite Thompson’s claim, Liverpool didn’t win the league until the return match against Villa the following month. On that occasion, the Reds triumphed without reply, routing their opponents 3-0 to secure the league title at Anfield.
