The European Super Cup was founded in the early 1970s, as a means to determine the best team in Europe and serve as a challenge to Ajax, the strongest club side of its day.

They had beaten German team Borussia Mönchengladbach 3–1 in the final to win the European Cup for the first time.

[7] A subplot to the matches was that Hamburg striker Kevin Keegan, would be playing against the club that he left the previous season.

[8][9] Keegan was confident in Hamburg's chances going into the match: "We're beginning to run into form, Liverpool, on the other hand, are tired physically and mentally.

"[11] Liverpool had chances to score through Jimmy Case, Ray Kennedy and David Fairclough but they were unable to convert them.

[11] Klaus Zaczyk passed to Keller whose shot went beyond Liverpool goalkeeper, Ray Clemence, to give Hamburg a 1–0 lead.

[12] Three minutes later, Joey Jones was replaced by Tommy Smith after he picked up a thigh injury from attempting a long-range shot.

[11] The first chance of the second half fell to Fairclough when he was put through on the left hand side of the pitch but he was unable to score.

[11] Hamburg made two substitutions in the 63rd and 64th minutes with Andreas Karow and Horst Bertl replacing Manfred Kaltz and Felix Magath respectively.

[12] Barclay stated the goal "roused Hamburg to their most animated spell" with Clemence saving a shot by Arno Steffenhagen.

[15] Liverpool extended their lead in the 40th minute when Terry McDermott chested down a pass by Kennedy and scored from the right-hand side of the penalty area.

McDermott scored again as he intercepted the ball and ran down the right-hand side of the pitch before his shot went into the top-right corner of the Hamburg goal.

[10] A minute later, McDermott scored his third and Liverpool's fourth off the match after he received a pass from Kennedy down the left-hand side of the pitch.

"[20] McDermott was adamant that his performance in the second leg was a turning point in his Liverpool career: "Someone was injured, I think it may have been Ian Callaghan.