YNWA looks back at past memorable home League encounters as we welcome Manchester City for their 72nd visit in the League this Sunday, including once when they were known as Ardwick. Our record is very good, so far reading 44 wins, fourteen draws and thirteen defeats.
King Kenny's trebles
In May 1978, Kenny Dalglish scored a treble as we won 4-0, with Phil Neal bagging the other from the penalty spot. Kenny repeated the feat in December 1982, with Neal again and Ian Rush on target in our 5-2 win. These were his only League hat-tricks for the reds, and his only Anfield ones.
Most recently
Steven Gerrard bagged the only goal of the game in November 2006. Nine months earlier, Joey Barton was dismissed after Harry Kewell had struck the only goal of the game. Richard Dunne was sent off late on for City as they lost 2-1 at Anfield in August 2004 in Rafael Benítez's first Anfield game in charge, with our goals coming from Milan Baroš and Steven Gerrard. This was the first time in over five years that we had triumphed in a League game after trailing at half-time, with ex-red Nicolas Anelka having put the visitors in front just before the break.
Michael Owen had broken a nine-match goalless run six months earlier, with Steven Gerrard also netting in a 2-1 win. Steve McManaman made his first Anfield return, with David James and Robbie Fowler also playing for City. The game's main talking point was the ridiculous booing of Gérard Houllier's decision to bring on Igor Bišcan in the last few minutes to shore up the defence.
Reds debuts
Christian Ziege made his reds bow against City in September 2000, with Erik Meijer playing his 27th and final game. Jamie Carragher was captain for the first time as Michael Owen netted his 55th goal in his hundredth League game, with Didi Hamann adding a brace as we won 3-2. Ex-World Player of the Year George Weah scored his only League goal for City. In August 1962, left-back Phil Ferns made the first of his 28 reds appearances in our 4-1 win. Roger Hunt netted a brace, to add to goals from Ian St. John and Alan A'Court.
In March 1938, Ron Jones scored on his reds bow, with Jack Balmer also netting as we won 2-0. In September 1934, centre-half Norman Low debuted in a 2-1 win, with Sam English and Gordon Hodgson on the scoresheet. Right-half David McMullan made his debut in October 1925, as Harry Chambers and Dick Forshaw struck in our 2-1 win, with left-half Tom Bromilow playing his 200th League game. In January 1896, keeper Harry Storer made his reds debut in our 3-1 win, with Jimmy Ross netting a brace, to add to a Malcolm McVean goal.
Larry in 1972
Larry Lloyd bagged his first reds goal as we won 3-0 in February, with Kevin Keegan and Bobby Graham also on target. Six months later he was dismissed along with City's Wyn Davies as we triumphed 2-0, thanks to goals from Brian Hall and Ian Callaghan. Lloyd later became the first player to fight a ban before the newly formed independent disciplinary tribunal, in relation to this sending off.
Thumping victories
We thumped City 6-0 in October 1995 just three days after beating them 4-0 at Anfield in the League Cup, with strike partners Ian Rush and Robbie Fowler each grabbing a brace, and Jamie Redknapp and Neil Ruddock also on target, while Steve McManaman played his 200th reds game. City's fans ironically chanted "Alan Ball is a football genius" as they registered their worst ever Premier League defeat. Jimmy Smith scored in the first minute, but City went on to win 6-1 back in October 1929, their biggest ever win at Anfield.
Reds farewells
Steve McMahon played his final hour for the reds in December 1991, before his imminent move to Maine Road, which was already public knowledge. Dean Saunders and Steve Nicol scored in a 2-2 draw. Forward Sam Bowyer struck the last of his sixteen reds goals in January 1911, a last-minute equaliser as we were held 1-1.
A poor start
Ronnie Whelan netted as we lost 3-1 in 1981, as we ended Boxing Day in the bottom half of the table. Rookie keeper Bruce Grobbelaar was responsible for two of the goals, while Kenny Dalglish was employed ‘in the hole' behind Ian Rush and Craig Johnston for the first time. Phil Thompson lost the captaincy to Graeme Souness following this defeat as we went on to stage the mother of all comebacks to clinch our thirteenth League title.
Other trebles
In March 1937, Eric Brook struck three times as we were thumped 5-0. In October 1906, Robert Robinson scored a hat-trick in our 5-4 victory, to add to goals from Sam Raybould and Billy McPherson. Forward Sam Raybould bagged a treble in our 4-0 win in March 1902, with winger Jack Cox netting the other.
Firsts
City's first trip to Anfield came in December 1893 when they were still known as Ardwick. We started as we meant to continue, winning 3-0, with James Stott, Hugh McQueen and Hugh Henderson scoring. Joe Corrigan's first game at Anfield ended in a 3-2 reds win in August 1969, thanks to late goals from Roger Hunt and Ian St. John's second, with City's strikes including a Tommy Smith own goal. We headed the League table for the first time in March 1986 after a 2-0 Easter Monday win, courtesy of a brace from future Blue Steve McMahon.
God off target
Robbie Fowler had a penalty saved by Andy Dibble in front of the Kop in December 1994, but netted three minutes later as we won 2-0, to add to a Terry Phelan own goal.
