1987/88: Newcastle v Liverpool

Sunday September 20, 1988. The First Division season has only been in up and running for a month, yet it is hard not to arrive at a premature conclusion. For the millions of viewers watching the BBC live coverage of Liverpool's win at Newcastle, all the evidence points to the fact that the title will once again be going to Anfield.

Hindsight shows us that all the kneejerk reactions were right. Ian Rush may have departed, but Kenny Dalglish had dipped into the transfer market to add key parts to his latest machine. John Aldridge had arrived in January 1987, and with Peter Beardsley and John Barnes joining in the summer, Liverpool were well equipped to wrestle the title back from Everton.

Golden Goals: Zbigniew Boniek (1983)

Some times you just have to hold your hands up after a defeat in sport. You recognise that maybe your loss was more down to the skills of your opponent rather than your own failings. Sport hurts, but it can ease the pain a little when true quality or a genius such as Warne or Maradona do something that mere mortals can only dream of achieving. 

Take Aston Villa's defeat against Juventus in the 1983 European Cup quarter final first leg. Thousands of home fans would have left Villa Park on that March evening disappointed to have their club's grip on the European Cup loosened. Yet there was no disgrace in losing to that Juventus team, their calibre clear for all to see in the sublime winning goal that combined grace and power. 

1988/89: Arsenal v Nottingham Forest

With their title credentials being questioned by many, a win against Nottingham Forest feels like a must for Arsenal after the latest unwanted international interruption. The progress made by Mikel Arteta's team over the last two years has rightly earned praise, but can the club go one step further and end their long wait for the title?

Comparisons can be made with the last time Forest won a league match away at Arsenal. Coming to Highbury in March 1989 after an international break, Brian Clough's in-form team were aiming to land another blow on an Arsenal side wobbling under the pressure. Table toppers they may have been at that time, but defeat for Arsenal would ring alarm bells.

Book review: Go To War

Jon Spurling has always been an author I have admired. So when the opportunity arose to review his latest publication, I jumped at the chance. The fact that the book in question tackles football in the 1980s was an added bonus for someone who has been known to wallow in nostalgia.

Go To War is Spurling's sequel to his excellent Get It On book on football in the 1970s. Covering a wide range of topics during a turbulent decade for the sport, Spurling's book brings to life what it was really like to follow football at a time where it was far from fashionable.

1981/82: Tottenham v West Ham

Performing heroics against a local rival is a sure fire way in sport to guarantee a place in the hearts of your team's supporters. In football there are numerous examples of players enjoying a 90 minutes to remember in derby matches: Gary Rowell, Alan Sunderland, Ian Rush, Craig Bryson, Phil Foden and Erling Haaland. An object lesson in how to win friends and influence people. 

Another example of this could be found on the evening of September 2, 1981. Newly promoted West Ham went to White Hart Lane knowing that the clash would be a significant examination of their ability to compete in the top flight. What followed was the stuff of dreams. A memorable night for both the club and their number nine.

1988: The Paul Davis affair

One moment of madness. A split second that would play a huge part in the career of a footballer on the brink of international recognition. On an afternoon of frustration for Arsenal's players and supporters, one man could take no more. Paul Davis was about to inflict pain on both an opponent and his own future.

Trailing 2-0 at Highbury against Chris Nicholl's Southampton, Arsenal looked condemned to another home defeat, having lost two weeks before to Aston Villa. With 79 minutes played there was an air of desperation as George Graham's team looked for a way back into the match. This was not the stuff of title contenders.

Golden goals: Peter Withe (1982)

Dalglish, Francis, Robertson and Kennedy. Not a group of solicitors, but a list of players who scored winners in European Cup finals between 1978-1981. A time when English clubs ruled Europe. After Liverpool's 1977 triumph, four 1-0 wins continued England's continental dominance. Yet there was more to come.

The name of Peter Withe would soon be added to this merry band of players. But there is a lot of ground to cover before we arrive at the right boot/shin of the England centre forward at the De Kuip, Rotterdam. Someone has kindly covered the story of Aston Villa's 1982 European Cup glory before. However, a recap might be useful.