Favourite FA cup final memories

[splott parker]

It’s strange how that ‘88 Cup Final is regarded by many ‘experts’ as one of the biggest upsets in a Final. Ok Liverpool were League Champions but Wimbledon finished 7th, hardly a huge gulf. Bit of a slight on the real apple cart upsetters such as Man Utd in ‘63, Sunderland ten years later and in more modern times Wigan.

[Eric the Half a Bee]

It’s strange how that ‘88 Cup Final is regarded by many ‘experts’ as one of the biggest upsets in a Final. Ok Liverpool were League Champions but Wimbledon finished 7th, hardly a huge gulf. Bit of a slight on the real apple cart upsetters such as Man Utd in ‘63, Sunderland ten years later and in more modern times Wigan.

Agreed. During the league season there was a 1-1 draw between them while Liverpool won the return fixture 2-1 at Anfield. Wimbledon were only 1 of 4 teams in the division that season who scored in both league fixtures against Liverpool and they also had one of the better defensive records against Liverpool. Liverpool's defence was starting to show vunerability against set pieces and Wimbledon were masters at them.

On the other side, Liverpool were almost invincible that season and had their highest points total in the club's history (until this season, though the 1978/79 would have given them 98 points on a 3 point for a win basis). That was all the more impressive as they played only 40 games instead of the normal 42 until that point (21 team division that season).

I think most of the media expected Liverpool to just turn up and win.

[lardy]

Agreed. During the league season there was a 1-1 draw between them while Liverpool won the return fixture 2-1 at Anfield. Wimbledon were only 1 of 4 teams in the division that season who scored in both league fixtures against Liverpool and they also had one of the better defensive records against Liverpool. Liverpool's defence was starting to show vunerability against set pieces and Wimbledon were masters at them.

On the other side, Liverpool were almost invincible that season and had their highest points total in the club's history (until this season, though the 1978/79 would have given them 98 points on a 3 point for a win basis). That was all the more impressive as they played only 40 games instead of the normal 42 until that point (21 team division that season).

I think most of the media expected Liverpool to just turn up and win.

The Liverpool 87/88 side was probably the strongest domestic club side of the 80s, and the strongest until Man Utd 93/94.