YNWA takes a trip down memory lane as Blackburn Rovers travel to Anfield on Saturday for our sixtieth League meeting at home. So far, we have beaten them 34 times, drawn sixteen, and lost only nine.
Most recently
Craig Bellamy was on target with a header against his former employers as we were held to a 1-1 draw in October 2006, with Benni McCarthy giving the visitors a surprise early lead. Djibril Cissé grabbed the only goal from a free-kick a year earlier, with the visitors having Zurab Khizanishvili dismissed, although his red card was later rescinded.
King Kenny returns
Kenny Dalglish's Rovers clinched their first title for 83 years, despite losing in May 1995, as Manchester United failed to win at Upton Park on the same day. John Barnes and Jamie Redknapp scored as we won 2-1. Blackburn's most recent League win at Anfield came in September 1993, with ex-red Mike Newell scoring the only goal as Kenny won in L4 as visiting Manager for the only time. His first return to his old stomping ground as boss was in December 1992, when he left empty-handed as a Mark Walters brace gave us a 2-1 win. This was Rovers' first League visit for 27 years.
Debuts galore
In November 1998, Steven Gerrard made his reds bow as a last minute substitute for Vegard Heggem in a 2-0 win, as Michael Owen and Paul Ince grabbed our goals. Stéphane Henchoz was in the away side that day. In September 1995, Jason McAteer eventually made his reds bow against the reigning champions after kick-off was delayed due to fire alarms going off. We won 3-0, with goals from Stan Collymore, Jamie Redknapp and Robbie Fowler. Henning Berg was sent off for Rovers.
Back in October 1929, centre-forward Harold Barton debuted in our 1-1 draw, with Henry Race nabbing our goal. Outside-right Archie Rawlings made his first reds appearance in a goalless draw in March 1924. In February 1923, centre-half David Pratt made his reds bow in a 3-0 win, as Dick Forshaw scored the only treble in this fixture. This was Matt McQueen's first game as reds boss.
In September 1902, inside-right George Livingstone scored on his reds bow, as we won 5-2 in our first game of the season. Sam Raybould and Jack Cox both netted braces, while inside-forward Edgar Chadwick was also making his debut. Two years earlier, right-back John Robertson played his first reds game in another season opener as we won 3-0 thanks to goals from Thomas Robertson, Charles Satterthwaite and Sam Raybould.
High-scoring wins
We triumphed 4-0 in April 2004, equalling our record defeat of Rovers. Michael Owen bagged a brace and Andy Todd notched an own goal before Emile Heskey added a late fourth. This was our 300th match since Gérard Houllier took sole charge. We won by the same score in October 1933 with Alf Hanson, Berry Nieuwenhuys and Syd Roberts on target, to add to a Gordon Hodgson penalty. 37 years earlier, George Allan struck twice with Bill Michael and Jimmy Ross adding the other goals.
We eventually triumphed 4-3 in a thrilling encounter in May 2002, with Emile Heskey striking a dramatic late winner. Sami Hyypiä, Nicolas Anelka and Danny Murphy also netted for the reds. We won another high-scoring game in November 1965 5-2 to go top of the table for the first time that season, thanks to an Ian St. John brace, penalty from Willie Stevenson, and goals from Roger Hunt and Tommy Smith. This was our last Anfield meeting for fourteen years.
Honours even
Andy Cole equalised after John Arne Riise's deflected shot, to score his seventh Premiership goal at Anfield, as we drew 1-1 on Boxing Day 2002. Emile Heskey played his hundredth reds League game as we became only the third side to reach 700 Premiership points.
First and last goals
Right-half John Bamber struck the first of his 29 reds goals as we won 3-0 in February 1920, with Harry Chambers adding a brace. Centre-half Bob Ferguson scored the first of only two reds goals as we triumphed 4-1 in October 1912, with Arthur Metcalf netting a brace, and Arthur Goddard scoring from the spot. Forward Fred Buck bagged his only reds strike as we lost 2-1 in December 1903. In April 1899, centre-forward George Allan grabbed his 58th and final reds goal as we won 2-0, with Tom Robertson also on the scoresheet.
Biggest defeat
We lost 3-1 back in September 1905, with Jack Cox nabbing our consolation, our worst defeat at Anfield to Rovers.
