18th April

Our first European triumph
1973 - We lost 2-0 at Borussia Mönchengladbach with Jupp Heynckes getting both goals inside ten first-half minutes. However, that was enough to secure the UEFA Cup for the first time, as we had won the first leg 3-0 at Anfield two weeks before. We therefore became the first English side to claim the League title and a European trophy in the same season.
Athens despair
2007 - We lost 2-1 to AC Milan in the Champions League Final in Athens thanks to a Pippo Inzaghi brace, with Bolo Zenden playing his 47th and final reds game. Dirk Kuyt headed our late consolation, his first goal in Europe for us.
Keeping on track for a title showdown
1989 - Ray Houghton netted a brace, with John Aldridge, Ian Rush and John Barnes also on target as we beat West Ham United 5-1 at Anfield, our 24th consecutive game without defeat, just three days after our emotional FA Cup Final win, to keep us on course for our second double in four years. The FA Cup was on display on a table on the pitch before the game. However, the League was to be cruelly snatched from our grasp by Arsenal in the very last kick of the season.
1985 - Our only other first-class game on this day saw John Wark miss a penalty as we lost at Everton. Paul Wilkinson bagged the only goal of the game.
Uncle Joe announced
1983 – The appointment of Joe Fagan as Bob Paisley’s replacement as Manager was announced, although he did not take over until 1st July. In his first season as boss, he led the club to a unique treble of League, European Cup and League Cup, retiring just a year later. He remains the only Scouser to date to hold the position on a permanent basis.
Happy birthdays
1997 - Centre-half Joe Gomez was born in Catford, south east London. He signed from Charlton Athletic for £3.5m in June 2015, making 121 senior appearances up to his 24th birthday, without scoring. On the same day, Spanish midfielder Pedro Chirivella was born in Valencia. He signed from his hometown club in July 2013, playing eleven first-team games before moving on to Nantes in July 2020, captaining the side in our League Cup thumping at Aston Villa in December 2019.
1996 - Keeper Ryan Fulton was born in Burnley. He signed pro terms in the summer of 2013, making his first senior appearance in our friendly at Swindon Town in August 2015, moving on to Hamilton Academical in July 2017.
An obscure international
1987 - Young reds midfielder Ken de Mange made his senior international debut as a substitute for the Republic of Ireland alongside clubmates John Aldridge and Ronnie Whelan, as they beat Brazil 1-0 in a Rous Cup game at Lansdowne Road. He never made a first team appearance in his two seasons with the reds, before moving on to Leeds United.
On the same day, Peter Beardsley and Mark Wright both played as England were held to a goalless draw by Scotland in the same competition at Hampden Park. It was Beardsley’s last cap as a Newcastle United player, and Wright’s final one while with Southampton.
A treble for Albert
1948 - Albert Stubbins bagged a hat-trick as we beat a Philadelphia Select side 5-2 in a friendly on our post-season tour. Jack Balmer and Billy Liddell also netted.
Rush for his country for the last time
1994 - Ian Rush grabbed his final goal for Wales as they won 2-1 in a friendly in Estonia. He netted 28 goals in his 73 internationals, a Welsh record.
1980 - He also represented his country in their 1-0 British International Championships defeat by Northern Ireland in Cardiff, alongside ex-red Joey Jones.
Nigel’s debut
1989 - Future red Nigel Clough won his first full international cap as England were held to a goalless draw by Chile in a Rous Cup game at Wembley.
2001 – Future reds keeper Brad Jones won his only cap at Under-20’s level as Australia thumped Guam 6-0 in the East Asian Games in Japan.
Larry for England
1972 - Larry Lloyd won his third and final England cap as a red, and his last for his country for eight years. Emlyn Hughes also played as Northern Ireland won 1-0 at Wembley in the British International Championships.
Barmby’s brace
1996 - Future red Nick Barmby bagged a brace as England beat China 3-0 in a friendly in Beijing. Ex-red Peter Beardsley won his 59th and final cap in this game, while Robbie Fowler, Steve McManaman and Jamie Redknapp all also featured.
A French triumph
1956 - We thumped French outfit Racing Club Franc-Comtois 8-1 in Besançon. Billy Liddell bagged a brace, with Alan A’Court, Louis Bimpson, John Evans, Brian Jackson and Jimmy Melia all adding to an own goal.
The kids done well
1963 – Tommy Smith captained the reds to a 3-1 victory in the first leg of our first ever FA Youth Cup Final at Anfield. Unfortunately, we crashed 5-2 in controversial circumstances in the return match two days later.
Drawing at sea
1935 – We drew 2-2 with Victoria on Gran Canaria, with Vic Wright and Fred Howe netting. The reds were introduced to Miss Spain before the match!
On the way out
2005 - It was announced that Paul Harrison, Patrice Luzi, Jon Otsemobor, Richie Partridge and Mark Smyth would all be leaving the club. They had only managed eleven first-team outings between them.
1997 - Roy Hodgson resigned as Manager of Internazionale, with two games remaining of the Serie A campaign and the club sitting in third place. This came two days after their UEFA Cup Final defeat to Schalke 04 on penalties, when he was pelted with coins and cigarette lighters by fans at the San Siro.
2011 – Ex-reds defender David Raven was released by Shrewsbury Town after 28 games for the Shrews.
2012 – Emile Heskey was released by Aston Villa after fifteen strikes in 111 outings. On the same day, keeper Chris Kirkland signed for Sheffield Wednesday.
2014 – Forward Michael Ngoo was released by the reds, having not made the breakthrough. On the same day, John Arne Riise was let go by Fulham after failing to score in exactly a century of games for the Cottagers.
In charge
2006 - Nigel Spackman was appointed Manager of Millwall. He only remained in the post for four months before being sacked.
2009 – John Barnes led Jamaica to a 2-2 draw with Haiti in a friendly in Fort Lauderdale. Future red Thiago Alcântara scored for Spain Under-19’s on the same day as they won a friendly 3-0 in Estonia.
2010 – John Toshack took charge of Wales as they lost a friendly 2-0 in Croatia, with future red Dejan Lovren on the winning side. Future red Fabio Borini featured for Italy Under-19’s on the same day, as they beat Northern Ireland 3-2 in a friendly in Udine.
Penalty shoot-out despair
1996 - Future red Jari Litmanen scored for Ajax in the UEFA Champions League Final as their match with Juventus ended 1-1 in the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. The Dutch outfit lost the penalty shoot-out 4-2, with Jari again on target from the spot.
2001 - Fellow future red Mauricio Pellegrino saw his decisive penalty saved by Oliver Kahn to hand Bayern München the UEFA Champions League as Valencia lost their shoot-out 5-4 in Milan, after the match had ended 1-1.
Irish beginnings and end
2007 - Ex-red Darren Potter made his senior debut for the Republic of Ireland, with Steve Staunton leading his side to a 1-1 friendly draw with Ecuador in the Giants Stadium in New Jersey.
1998 - Mark Kennedy won his first cap as a Wimbledon player, and eighteenth in total, as the Irish were held to a goalless draw at Lansdowne Road by Mexico. Phil Babb and future red Robbie Keane also played.
1939 – Ex-reds reserves centre-half Matt O’Mahoney won his sixth and final Irish cap as they held Germany to a 1-1 draw in a friendly in Bremen.
2014 - Tiago Ilori scored his only goal for Portugal Under-21’s, the only goal of their European Championships qualifier in North Macedonia.
Harry in charge
2008 – Harry Kewell captained Australia in their 1-0 friendly defeat of Ghana in Sydney.
2017 - He was appointed Manager of Crawley Town, leading them to mid-table safety in League Two in his first campaign in charge.
Also in international action
1961 – Alan A’Court played for England as they beat a Combined Chinese XI 3-0 in an FA Tour game in Hong Kong.
1976 – Ray Clemence, Kevin Keegan and Phil Thompson all featured as England lost 1-0 to Brazil in the US Bicentenary Tournament in Los Angeles.
1977 – Future red Glenn Hysén played for Sweden Under-18’s in their 1-0 defeat of Italy in a European Championships Finals group game in Belgium.
1979 – Emlyn Hughes captained England as they were held to a goalless draw by Wales in the British International Championships at Wembley. Terry McDermott, future reds coach Joe Corrigan and ex-reds Kevin Keegan, Joey Jones and John Toshack all also played.
1981 – Corrigan played again as England lost 1-0 to Scotland in the same competition at Wembley.
1984 – Future red Glenn Hysén played for Sweden as they thumped Malta 4-0 in a World Cup qualifier.
1991 – Future red Øyvind Leonhardsen featured for Norway in their 1-0 friendly defeat of Romania in Oslo.
1993 – Future red Brad Friedel played for the USA in their goalless friendly encounter with Bolivia in California.
2000 – Future red Craig Bellamy and ex-reds Gareth Roberts and Dean Saunders all played as EWales lost 3-0 to Brazil in Cardiff.
2002 – Future reds Salif Diao and El-Hadji Diouf both represented Senegal as they beat Ecuador 1-0 in a friendly in Japan.
2003 - John Welsh faced future red Arnaud Bühler as England Under-19’s beat Switzerland 1-0 in a European Championships qualifier in Ireland.
2006 – Florent Sinama-Pongolle faced future red Raul Meireles as France Under-21’s beat host nation Portugal 1-0 in a European Championships Finals group game.
2016 – Future red Takumi Minamino featured for Japan Under-23’s as they lost 1-0 to Portugal in France.
2017 – Sheyi Ojo and future red Dominic Solanke both played for England Under-20’s as they drew 1-1 with Guinea in a World Championship Finals group game in South Korea.

Clem for the first time
1968 - Ray Clemence played his first reds game as we lost a friendly 1-0 to Porto in their Estádio das Antas.
Farewells
2011 - We lost in our final game of the season at Aston Villa, with future red Stewart Downing netting the only goal. David N’Gog played his 94th and last reds game. On the same day, ex-reds keeper Jerzy Dudek announced his retirement from playing. He had made 186 reds appearances, helping us to glory in Istanbul, as well as the Worthington Cup in 2003. He left to join Real Madrid in July 2007, although barely featured for their first team.
1925 - Northern Irish inside-forward Billy McDevitt was sold to Exeter City for a club record fee, having been converted to a centre-half since arriving at Anfield from Swansea Town in 1923. He has played just four reds games.
1903 – Scottish right-back Don McCallum left the reds to sign for Morton after just two senior outings since arriving from Queen’s Park in June 1901.
An England debutant
1974 - Reds left-back Alec Lindsay won the first of his four England caps in their 2-2 friendly draw with Argentina at Wembley. Emlyn Hughes was skipper that day, with Kevin Keegan also playing.
Roger for England for the last time
1968 - Roger Hunt netted his eighteenth and final international goal as England beat Sweden 3-1 in a friendly at Wembley. He won a total of 34 caps for his country.
A Scotland debutant
1979 - Reds reserves forward Frank McGarvey won his first full international cap as Scotland beat Northern Ireland 1-0 in the British International Championships at Hampden Park. Kenny Dalglish captained the side, with Graeme Souness and future red John Wark also featuring.
Emile and Digger for England
2003 - Emile Heskey struck as England beat South Africa 2-1 in a friendly in Durban, his final England goal as a red. Steven Gerrard, Michael Owen, future red Joe Cole and ex-red David James all also played.
2016 – Jordan Henderson and ex-red Raheem Sterling played for Roy Hodgson’s England as they beat Turkey 2-1 in Manchester.
1990 - John Barnes was on target, although England lost 2-1 in a friendly to Uruguay at Wembley. Clubmate Peter Beardsley also appeared, as a substitute.
1985 - Barnes also featured for England in a 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw in Finland, with future Glenn Hysén also playing for his country.
1994 – Ex-red Beardsley represented his country again, playing with Rob Jones and future red Paul Ince as England were held to a goalless friendly draw by Norway at Wembley.
Young debutants
2003 - Reds reserves forward Daniel Sjölund made his senior international debut as a substitute, with ex-red Øyvind Leonhardsen on target as Norway beat Finland 2-0 in a friendly in Oslo. John Arne Riise also played, while Finland were skippered by Sami Hyypiä. Oddly, Finland’s starting line-up included more players from the Norwegian Tippeliga than the eleven that began the game for Norway!
2002 - Sami Hyypiä also featured for Finland, playing alongside clubmate Jari Litmanen as they beat Latvia 2-1 in a friendly in Helsinki. On the same day, John Arne Riise and ex-red Øyvind Leonhardsen played as Norway were held to a 1-1 draw by Iceland in another friendly in Bodø.
2014 – Ex-red Peter Gulácsi made his senior bow as Hungary drew a friendly 2-2 with Denmark in Debrecen. Daniel Agger was on the opposing side. Meanwhile, Australian left-back Brad Smith won his first cap for England Under-21’s as they beat Qatar 3-0 in the Toulon Tournament, while future red Sadio Mané featured for Senegal as the drew a friendly 1-1 in Burkina Faso.
2012 – Gini Wijnaldum won his first cap as a PSV Eindhoven player as the Dutch Under-21’s were beaten 1-0 by Macedonia in a friendly in Austria.
Happy birthdays
2000 – Reserves forward Rafael Camacho was born in Lisbon. He made his senior bow at right-back in an FA Cup Third Round defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers last January, playing twice for the first team before moving on to Sporting Clube de Portugal for £5m in June 2019.
1933 – Inside-forward Harold Jones was born in Liverpool. He signed on in January 1952, but only made one senior appearance in a 5-1 thumping at Anfield by Preston North End in September 1953. He moved on to Rhyl in June 1954.
Other friendlies
1932 – We trounced Århus Workers Sports Club 8-0 on our Danish tour, with Dave Wright, Gordon Gunson and Archie McPherson all bagging braces. Robert Done and Harold Barton also scored.
1969 - RCD Mallorca used ten substitutes at the start of the second half as we won a friendly there 2-1. Ian Callaghan and Bobby Graham netted our goals. Bizarrely, Bob Paisley was escorted to the dressing room by civil guards after trying to make a second substitution for the reds!
1984 - We defeated the Israeli national team 4-1, with Ronnie Whelan scoring twice and Michael Robinson and Graeme Souness also grabbing goals.
For the King
1967 - We took part in a testimonial match for Tranmere Rovers legend John King, winning 3-1 at Prenton Park thanks to strikes from Gerry Byrne, Ian St. John and an own goal.
Internationals on target
2012 – Future red Mohamed Salah struck twice as Egypt beat Togo 3-0 in a friendly in Sudan.
2002 - Future red Fernando Torres bagged a brace for Spain Under-19’s as they beat FYR Macedonia 4-0 in a European Championships qualifier. On the same day, future reds Paul Konchesky and Jermaine Pennant played for England Under-21’s in their 3-1 European Championships Finals defeat to Portugal in Switzerland.
1991 - Future red Nick Barmby scored a brace as England Under-18’s beat Wales 3-0 at Yeovil in a European Championships qualifier.
1988 - Ex-reserves midfielder Kevin Sheedy struck as the Republic of Ireland beat Poland 3-1 in a friendly at Lansdowne Road. John Aldridge and Ronnie Whelan both also played.
1991 - Sheedy also played for his country at the same venue, alongside reds Ray Houghton and Steve Staunton in a 1-1 friendly draw with Chile.
Tosh for Wales
John Toshack twice played for Wales on this day in the 1970’s.
1971 - They lost 1-0 in Northern Ireland in the British International Championships. Chris Lawler faced future red Peter Cormack on the same day as England beat Scotland 3-1 at Wembley.
1976 - Wales were held to a 1-1 draw by Yugoslavia in a European Championships qualifier in Cardiff.
For Billy
2010 - A memorial cairn in the Billy Liddell Sports Complex in Townhill, Dunfermline was unveiled in honour of the reds legend.
Titi in charge
2009 - Titi Camara was appointed National Technical Director of Guinea, additionally becoming Head Coach a month later.
An international first
1938 – Ireland met Poland in an international fixture for the first time, with the home side triumphing 6-0 in Warsaw. Ex-reds reserves centre-half Matt O’Mahoney played for the Irish.
Also in international action
2008 - Mikel San José played for Spain Under-19’s as they beat their Ukrainian counterparts 3-1 in a European Championships qualifier in Armenia. Meanwhile, Damien Plessis featured for France Under-20’s in their 2-1 defeat by Japan in the Toulon Tournament in Hyères.
2006 – Carl Medjani captained France Under-20’s as they beat China 2-0 in the Semi-final of the Toulon Tournament.
1995 – Ex-red Jim Magilton played for Northern Ireland as they lost 2-0 to Canada in Edmonton.
1989 – Future reds Stig Inge Bjørnebye and Paul Stewart faced each other in a B international as England won 1-0 in Norway.
1984 – Ian Rush and ex-red Joey Jones both played as Wales drew 1-1 with Northern Ireland in the British International Championships in Swansea.
1980 – Future red Glenn Hysén featured for Sweden Under-21’s in their 3-0 friendly defeat of Finland in Stockholm.
1969 – Emlyn Hughes played for England Under-23’s as they lost a friendly 2-1 in the Netherlands.
1957 – Tommy Younger featured as Scotland lost a friendly 3-1 to West Germany in Stuttgart.
1949 – Ray Lambert represented Wales in their 3-1 friendly defeat in Belgium.

Birthdays galore
1954 - Midfielder Jimmy Case was born in Liverpool. He signed from South Liverpool for a bargain £500 in May 1973 and bagged 46 goals in 269 reds games, helping us to claim three European Cups, four League titles, UEFA Cup, UEFA Super Cup, League Cup and three FA Charity Shields, before joining Brighton & Hove Albion for £350,000 in August 1981.
1863 - Matt McQueen was born in Harthill, Lanarkshire. He arrived from Leith Athletic in October 1892 and bagged seven goals in 103 games for the reds, playing in every position on the park including 41 games in goal, helping us to claim the Second Division title twice, once while as a keeper. He moved on to Heart Of Midlothian in 1899 but later served the reds as a Director, and then as Manager for five years in the 1920’s, leading us to our fourth League title in 1923.
1958 - Howard Gayle was born in Toxteth. The first black player to represent Liverpool in modern times, he signed professional terms in November 1977 and notched once in five first-team appearances before moving on to Birmingham City in January 1983 for £75,000.
2013 – Under-23’s Assistant Coach Gary O’Neil was born in Beckenham. He had enjoyed a successful playing career with the likes of Portsmouth and Middlesbrough, retiring in the summer of 2019. He joined the reds in August 2020, leaving the following February to take over as Senior First Team Coach at Bournemouth.
Two keepers also share a birthday today.
1971 - Brad Friedel was born in Bay Village, Ohio. He made 31 first-team appearances for us after signing from US side Columbus Crew for £1m in December 1997, moving to Blackburn Rovers on a free transfer in November 2000.
1973 - Pegguy Arphexad was born in Guadeloupe. Our former reserve custodian signed on a free transfer in July 2000 but only played six senior reds games, although he claimed six winners’ medals from the bench in his time at Anfield, before moving on to Coventry City in August 2003 after his contract had expired.
Euro disappointment
2016 – Daniel Sturridge gave us a half-time lead in the UEFA Europa League Final against Sevilla in Basel, but we collapsed after the break to lose 3-1 with Jorge Moreno bagging a brace to add to a Kévin Gameiro strike. Midfielder Joe Allen, centre-forward Christian Benteke and centre-half Kolo Touré all played their last reds games. We had been denied a clear-cut penalty in the first half as the Spanish side went on to claim the trophy for the third consecutive season.
Off goes Emile
2004 - Emile Heskey was sold to Birmingham City for a fee rising to £6.25m after sixty goals in 223 reds games. He struck sixteen times in 78 games for the Blues before moving to Wigan Athletic for £5.5m in July 2006.
Other reds signings
1927 - Forward Tom Devlin signed from Preston North End for £250. He was unable to make the first-team, unlike his brother, centre-forward Willie, who was at Anfield at the same time. He moved on to Swindon Town in July 1928.
1985 - Reserves defender Alex Watson signed for the reds as a professional. He only made nine first-team appearances, including our 1988 FA Charity Shield win, before joining Bournemouth in January 1991 for £150,000.
The end of the road for A’Court
1963 - Alan A’Court played his 354th and final League game as we lost 2-0 at Aston Villa in a game postponed from Boxing Day to finish the season in eighth place with George Graham netting the first of his four goals past us and Bobby Thomson also on target. He had played 381 games for us in total, scoring 63 goals, helping us to win the Second Division title in 1962.
1982 - Our only other first-class game on this day produced a goalless draw at Middlesbrough, the final game of a season in which we won the League by four points from Ipswich Town. Led by skipper Graeme Souness, the reds had all snuck out of the hotel to go down the pub shortly before the game!
On target
2014 – Future red Dominic Solanke netted as England Under-17’s beat Portugal 2-0 in their European Championships Semi-final in Malta, with fellow future red Joe Gomez also in action.
First and last caps
1935 - Ex-reds defender Tom Gardner won his second and final cap as England beat the Netherlands 1-0 in a friendly in Amsterdam.
1938 – Ex-reds reserves centre-half Matt O’Mahoney won the first of his six caps for Ireland in their 2-2 friendly draw with Czechoslovakia in Prague.
1939 – O’Mahoney played again as Ireland again drew 2-2 in a friendly, this time with Hungary in Budapest.
1950 - Bill Jones made his second and final senior appearance for England as they beat Belgium 4-1 in a friendly in Brussels. His grandson Rob went on to win eight full caps for England.
1949 - Bill also played for his country, when England B beat the Netherlands 4-0 in an unofficial international in Amsterdam.
2002 - Future red Djibril Cissé made his senior international debut as a substitute in France’s 2-1 defeat by Belgium at the Stade de France. On the same day, Vladimír Šmicer scored the only goal of the game as the Czech Republic beat World Cup-bound Italy in Prague, his twentieth senior goal for his country. Meanwhile, Dietmar Hamann starred in Germany’s 6-2 defeat of Austria in Leverkusen, playing alongside ex-red Christian Ziege.
1996 - Reds centre-back Mark Wright won his 45th and final full England cap as they beat Hungary 3-0 in a friendly at Wembley. Future red Paul Ince also played.
Into the book
2009 – The club launched its own official Facebook page, which now has over 38m followers.
Ex-reds on the move
1999 - John Barnes was released by Charlton Athletic. He had made just two starts for the Addicks, plus a further ten appearances from the bench. His Charlton debut had been at home to the reds, as they won 1-0 following Jamie Carragher’s dubious dismissal.
2000 - Mike Marsh signed for Southport from Kidderminster Harriers on a free transfer. He netted seven times in 37 games as they just missed out on promotion from the Conference.
2020 – Nigel Clough brought his second spell as Manager of Burton Albion to a close by mutual consent, due to the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Walters starts out
1982 - Mark Walters signed as a professional for Aston Villa. He struck 48 times in 224 games for the Villains before moving to Rangers for £550,000 in December 1987.
Released
2006 - It was announced that Ramon Calliste, Robbie Foy, Paul Lancaster, Paul Willis and Calum Woods were not being retained for the next season once their contracts expired later in the summer.
2007 - Ex-reds midfielder David Thompson was released by Bolton Wanderers after eight games in five months with the Trotters.
1907 – Forward John Carlin was sold to Preston North End after eight goals in 35 outings since signing from Barnsley in December 1902, helping us to the League title in 1906.
Young champion
2009 – Christopher Buchtmann helped Germany Under-17’s to claim the European Championships as they beat their Dutch counterparts 2-1 in the Final in Magdeburg after extra time.
2010 – Andre Wisdom featured in the same tournament as England beat the Czech Republic 3-1 in a group game in Liechtenstein. On the same day, future red Gini Wijnaldum played as the Dutch Under-21’s lost 3-1 in a European Championships qualifier in Portugal.
Also in international action
1974 – Emlyn Hughes captained England as they lost 2-0 to Scotland in the British International Championships, with future red Kenny Dalglish on the winning side.
1975 – Steve Heighway featured for the Republic of Ireland as they lost a European Championships qualifier 2-1 to the USSR in Kiev.
2006 – Carl Medjani skippered France Under-20’s as they drew 1-1 with the Netherlands in the Toulon Tournament.

The youngsters claim a trophy
1996 - We won the FA Youth Cup for the first of four times to date. We beat West Ham United 2-1 at Anfield, to claim the trophy 4-1 on aggregate. Jamie Carragher and Michael Owen featured for the reds.
Setting records
1979 - Our 3-0 win at Leeds United was our thirtieth League victory of the season, one behind Tottenham Hotspur’s record from 1960/61. David Johnson bagged a brace either side of a Jimmy Case strike in a game originally postponed from two months earlier. We therefore ended the League season having only conceded sixteen goals in all, a record that stood until 2004/05 with a then record 68 points, having clinched our eleventh League title a week earlier. We also netted a total of 85 League goals, so claiming a £50,000 prize from a national newspaper for scoring more than two goals per game across the season.
Al’s farewell
2009 - We won 2-0 at West Bromwich Albion to relegate the home side, thanks to goals from Steven Gerrard and Dirk Kuyt. This was our thirteenth away League win of the season, equalling a club record from 1904/05, and our ninth straight win at The Hawthorns. Álvaro Arbeloa played his 98th and final reds game, being involved with an angry exchange with Jamie Carragher towards the end of the match.
Crossing the park
1895 - Forward Fred Geary signed from Everton for £60, having top scored as they won the League in 1891 and won three England caps. He bagged fourteen goals in 45 reds games, helping us to claim the Second Division title in his first season.
Other games on this day
We have only played three other first-class games on this day over the years.
1985 - We beat Watford 4-3 at Anfield with Ian Rush grabbing a brace, to add to a goal from Kenny Dalglish and a John Wark penalty. Jim Beglin scored an own goal in this match, with John Barnes and Colin West also on target for the visitors.
Our other two games ended in 1-1 away draws.
1947 - Winger Bob Priday netted his first reds goal at Brentford as we survived almost the entire second half with ten men after an injury to Bob Paisley.
1969 - Roger Hunt was on the scoresheet at Newcastle United as we ended the season in second place, six points behind champions Leeds United. This game was originally postponed back in December.
International debutants
1964 - Peter Thompson made his England debut in their 4-3 friendly defeat of Portugal in Lisbon. Clubmate Gordon Milne also played.
1928 - Future reds left-back Ernie Blenkinsop won the first of his 26 England caps as they thumped France 5-1 in a friendly in Paris.
2007 - Stephen Darby won his first cap for England Under-19’s, playing alongside clubmates Adam Hammill, Jack Hobbs and Craig Lindfield, and against Jordy Brouwer as the Netherlands won this European Championships qualifier 2-1 at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry.
Into the park
2002 - Liverpool Football Club announced their first set of plans for a new stadium in Stanley Park, which it was said would hold 55,000 supporters. The new stadium was scheduled to cost between £60m and £70m to build and it was claimed that it could even be ready for the start of the 2005/06 season. These plans have now been moth-balled.
Wor Kev’s testimonial
1984 - We took part in a testimonial game for Kevin Keegan as we drew 2-2 at Newcastle United. Michael Robinson and Graeme Souness bagged our goals, while Keegan and Terry McDermott were on target for the home side.
Thommo at the wrong end
1980 - Skipper Phil Thompson scored an own goal for England as they were thumped 4-1 by Wales at the Racecourse Ground in the British International Championships. Ex-red Larry Lloyd won his fourth and final cap, and his only one as a Nottingham Forest player, eight years after his previous cap. Ray Clemence, Ray Kennedy and Phil Neal all also played, as did ex-red Joey Jones for the Welsh.
A treble for the Saint
1964 - Ian St. John scored a hat-trick as we beat Mexican side Monterrey 3-0 in a friendly in Chicago.
Heading east
1991 - We played our first ever game in Singapore, drawing 1-1 with Arsenal in the Caltex Cup, with Ian Rush on the scoresheet. The game went into extra-time, but we lost 4-3 on penalties in the National Stadium.
1961 - Alan A’Court netted for England in an FA Tour game in Singapore that ended in a 9-0 rout. Manchester City’s George Hannah bagged a treble.
Facing the Mancs
1919 – We lost 1-0 to Manchester United at Old Trafford in a game staged in aid of the National Footballers’ War Fund.
Red departures
1909 – Welsh international right-half Maurice Parry left the reds to join Partick Thistle. He had scored four times in 221 reds games since arriving from Brighton United in August 1900. He later spent time coaching back at Anfield.
1935 - Right-back Bob Done was sold to Reading for £150. He struck thirteen times in 155 reds games after signing from his hometown club Runcorn in April 1926.
2020 – First-team coach Jacques Crevoisier died. He worked under Gérard Houllier for two years after the departure of Patrice Bergues.
On target for England
1986 - Future red Peter Beardsley grabbed his first full international goal as England beat Mexico 3-0 in a friendly in Los Angeles. Watford’s John Barnes also played.
1994 - Beardsley, then back with Newcastle United, also scored for England, playing alongside reds full-back Rob Jones, as England thumped Greece 5-0 in a friendly at Wembley.
2002 - Another future reds forward struck for England Under-21’s, as Peter Crouch grabbed his only goal at this level in a 2-1 defeat of host nation Switzerland in a European Championship Finals group game, with fellow future reds Paul Konchesky and Jermaine Pennant also featuring. Ex-red Rigobert Song also represented his country that day, as Cameroon lost a friendly 2-1 in Denmark.
King Kenny for the Scots
Kenny Dalglish twice represented his country against Wales in the British International Championships on this day in the 1970’s.
1975 - He featured in a 2-2 draw alongside John Toshack and ex-red Ted MacDougall at Ninian Park. Ray Clemence, Emlyn Hughes and Kevin Keegan all played the same day in a goalless draw in Northern Ireland.
1978 - Kenny, Graeme Souness and Joey Jones also played in a 1-1 draw at Hampden Park.
A Swedish thumping
1914 - We trounced a Swedish XI 8-0 in a friendly in Stockholm. Billy Lacey bagged a brace, with William Banks, Donald Mackinlay and Tom Miller also amongst the scorers.
Djibril the champion
1999 - Future red Djibril Cissé played as Auxerre beat Saint-Étienne at the Stade de France in a penalty shoot-out to claim the Coupe Nationale des Juniors, also known as the Challenge Emmanuel Gambardella.
2006 – Future reds centre-half Kolo Touré was on the losing side as Barcelona beat Arsenal 2-1 in the UEFA Champions League Final in Paris.
Happy birthday cobber
1974 – Former Head of Fitness & Conditioning Darren Burgess was born in Sydney. He joined the club after the 2010 World Cup, but moved back down under in September 2012.
On the move again
2005 - Ex-red Patrik Berger agreed to sign for Aston Villa from Portsmouth on a free transfer on 1st July. He had notched eight times in sixty Pompey games, but turned out just 32 times for Villa, netting twice. He was released in May 2008, returning home to join Sparta Praha.
2010 – Ex-reserves forward Astrit Ajdarević was released by Leicester City, having failed to make the first team since making his loan move permanent.
2012 – Ex-reserves left-back Robbie Threlfall signed for Morecambe, so far netting twice in 64 games for the League Two outfit.
2018 – Pep Lijnders was sacked as Manager of N.E.C. after they failed to gain promotion, soon returning to a coaching role with the reds.
Signing on
1991 - Midfielder Kevin Lampkin signed professional terms with the reds. He failed to break through into the first team, but went on to play League football with Huddersfield Town and Mansfield Town.
2015 - Future reds midfielder Marko Grujić signed a new three-year contract with Crvena Zvezda. However, he was transferred to the reds for £5.1m the following January.
Also in international action
1924 – Tommy Lucas played for England as they beat France 3-1 in a friendly in Paris.
1950 – Jimmy Payne and Phil Taylor both featured for England B in an unofficial international against the Netherlands in Amsterdam, losing 3-0.
1964 – Future red Dave Wilson appeared for England Under-23’s in their 4-0 win in Israel.
1968 – Roger Hunt played for England as they lost 4-1 to a Young England side.
1984 – Ex-reds Howard Gayle and Dave Watson both featured for England Under-21’s as they won the first leg of their European Championships Final 1-0 in Spain.
1988 – Steve Nicol played for Scotland in their goalless Rous Cup draw with Colombia at Hampden Park, with future red István Kozma appearing for Hungary in their 4-0 friendly defeat by Austria in Budapest.
1992 – Future red Gary McAllister represented Scotland in their 1-0 friendly defeat by the USA in Denver.
2006 – Future red Daniel Agger played for Denmark Under-21’s as they beat Spain 2-0 in Copenhagen.
2014 – Future red Gini Wijnaldum featured for the Netherlands in their 1-1 friendly draw with Ecuador in Amsterdam.
2018 - Elijah Dixon-Bonner won his fourth and last cap for England Under-17’s, with Bobby Duncan also playing in their goalless European Championships Semi-final in Chesterfield. However, the Dutch triumphed in a penalty shoot-out.

Auf wiedersehen twice
1965 - We faced 1. FC Köln in a European Cup Third Round replay in Rotterdam after two goalless draws. This third game ended 2-2 after extra time, with Ian St. John and Roger Hunt on target. That meant that the tie was decided on a coin toss. Skipper Ron Yeats called tails but the first attempt landed upright in the mud, although the Germans claimed it was leaning towards heads! Fortunately, it came down the right way at the second attempt so we went through.
1971 - We drew 1-1 at Bayern München in the second leg of our Fairs Cup Fourth Round tie, with Ian Ross on target, taking us through to face Leeds United in the Semi-final 4-1 on aggregate.
Not such a Saint
1962 - Ian St. John scored and was later sent off as we beat Preston North End 4-1 at Anfield on our way to the Second Division title. Roger Hunt bagged a brace in his hundredth League games for the reds, with Jimmy Melia also on the scoresheet.
1906 - We also won 2-1 at Deepdale in a top-flight encounter, with Tom Chorlton and Joe Hewitt grabbing our goals while Herbert Danson struck the first of his four goals against the reds.
A sterling debut
2012 – Winger Raheem Sterling made his reds bow from the bench as we lost 2-1 at home to Wigan Athletic. Shaun Maloney scored from the spot, with Luis Suárez equalising before Gary Caldwell netted the winner as the Latics won at Anfield for the first time in their history.
A vladdy good win
2002 - A last-gasp Vladimír Šmicer goal from Emile Heskey’s cross handed us all three points at home to Chelsea, to keep us in the title hunt.
1913 - We also entertained the Blues in the top-flight when Billy Lacey netted as we lost 2-1. However, the reds were later accused of throwing the match, with Football League official H.G. Norris saying, “Never in their career have they given a worse exhibition.” Outside-right Arthur Goddard made his 400th reds outing in this game.
East Anglian half centuries at Anfield
We have twice beaten Ipswich Town 2-0 on this day over the years.
1970 - Ian Callaghan netted his fiftieth reds strike with Tommy Smith also converting a penalty.
1979 - Kenny Dalglish bagged his fiftieth reds goal, and sixth past the Blues’ Paul Cooper in five meetings, with David Johnson also on target in windy conditions. This game was Emlyn Hughes’ 474th and final League appearance for the reds.
1973 - We also beat Norwich City 3-1 at Anfield with our goals coming from Chris Lawler, Emlyn Hughes and Brian Hall. Neil Mellor’s dad Ian scored for the visitors.
Lawro the boss
1988 - Mark Lawrenson took over as Manager of Oxford United. He was only in charge for seven months, being sacked by Chairman Kevin Maxwell after he objected to the sale of Dean Saunders to Derby County, whose then Chairman was Kevin’s dad Robert Maxwell!
Gerard for once
1894 - We beat Crewe Alexandra 2-0 at Anfield on our way to the Second Division title. Outside-right Douglas Dick struck his second goal in his eleventh and final reds game with Hugh McQueen also netting. Forward Gerard Dewhurst made his only reds appearance, guesting with the reds from Corinthians.
Derby joy
1945 - Billy Liddell grabbed the only goal of the game as we beat Everton at Anfield in a Wartime League game that also counted towards the Wartime League Cup.
Inter-war tonkings
1928 - We were thumped 4-0 at Hillsborough by The Wednesday. Mark Hooper struck the first of his eight goals past us, with Ellis Rimmer netting the first of his five, as Jimmy Seed and Jimmy Trotter also scored.
1934 - We went down 5-1 at Leeds United, with Gordon Hodgson netting in his fourth consecutive League game, in which time he had scored nine times, in what was his 300th League game for the reds. Centre-forward Harold Barton was playing his 109th and final reds game. Harry Duggan bagged the last two of his five goals against the reds, with Jack Mahon netting one of his four and Joe Firth also scoring twice.
On the move
1902 - Inside-left Richard Morris signed from Druids. He only struck five times in 39 reds games before joining Leeds City in May 1905.
1958 – Left-back Phil Ferns signed as a professional, having arrived as an amateur the previous September. He struck once in 28 reds games, making enough appearances in 1963/64 to claim a League title medal but moved on to Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic in August 1965.
1994 - Mark Walters joined First Division Stoke City on loan. He netted twice in nine games for the Potters.
2014 – Ex-reds left-winger Albert Riera signed a pre-contract agreement with Udinese, although he was sacked after just four months in Italy after allegedly attending a poker tournament rather than playing in a match!
2011 – Dani Pacheco joined Norwich City on loan, while keeper Brad Jones moved to Derby County on a temporary basis. Pacheco struck twice in six outings as they were promoted to the top flight, while Jones turned out on seven occasions for the Rams. On the same day, Pacheco played for Spain Under-21’s for the first time in their 3-2 friendly defeat to France in Reims. Meanwhile, Jordan Henderson was on target while winning his sixth and last cap at this level as a Sunderland player, as Chelsea’s Daniel Sturridge also scored. England thumped Denmark 4-0 in Viborg. Future red Samed Yeşil struck for Germany Under-17’s in their 2-0 European Championships qualifying defeat of Turkey, while future red Loris Karius made his debut for the German Under-18’s. Also in international action that day were Péter Gulácsi, András Simon and future reds Christian Benteke, Fabio Borini and Emre Can
Birth and death
1997 – Midfielder Jordan Rossiter was born in Liverpool. He signed pro terms on his seventeenth birthday, netting on his senior bow as we entertained Middlesbrough in a League Cup Third Round tie in September 2014, making five first-team appearances in total before moving on to Rangers in July 2016 after his contract with the reds expired.
1935 – Welsh international right-half Maurice Parry died. He signed from Brighton United in August 1900, scoring four times in 221 reds games, moving on to Partick Thistle in May 1909, later spending time coaching back at Anfield.
Down the Banks
1961 - Inside-forward Alan Banks bagged his sixth and final reds goal as we were held to a 1-1 draw at Anfield by Plymouth Argyle in our Second Division encounter.
English reds galore
1976 - Ray Kennedy, Phil Neal and Phil Thompson all debuted in England’s 2-1 defeat of Wales in Wrexham, with Kennedy netting. Kevin Keegan was captain for the first time, and Ray Clemence and Joey Jones also played, while Steve Heighway featured for the Republic of Ireland.
2001 - Anfield hosted England’s 2-1 World Cup win over Finland. Six reds featured, with Michael Owen netting. Robbie Fowler, Steven Gerrard, Emile Heskey and ex-red Steve McManaman all featured for England, with Sami Hyypiä and Jari Litmanen turning out for the Finns. Jari broke his wrist, which ruled him out of the rest of the season.
2008 – Future red Jonjo Shelvey converted his spot-kick as England Under-16’s beat France 5-4 on penalties after a goalless match in the Final of the Montaigu Tournament.
1998 - Jamie Carragher, Dominic Matteo, Jamie Redknapp and future reds Nick Barmby and Emile Heskey all played in a 2-0 Under-21’s friendly defeat in Switzerland, with Gareth Roberts and future red Alex Manninger also in international action.
1992 - Michael Thomas and future red Julian Dicks played for England B as they won 1-0 in Czechoslovakia.
2001 - Matteo had switched countries by the time he played for the senior Scotland side as they drew 2-2 with Belgium in a World Cup qualifier at Hampden Park. Fellow ex-red Don Hutchison also featured.
2005 - Future reds Michael Nardiello and Daniel Sturridge bagged their first Under-16’s goals as England drew 3-3 with Portugal in the Montaigu Tournament in France.
International debutants
2018 – Young reds forward Liam Millar made his senior bow for Canada as they beat New Zealand 1-0 in a friendly in Spain. Trent Alexander-Arnold won his third and final cap for England Under-21’s on the same day, with Ovie Ejaria making his debut. Meanwhile, Ragnar Klavan captained Estonia in their goalless friendly draw in Armenia.
2016 – Keeper Danny Ward came off the bench to make his senior Wales bow in their 1-1 friendly draw with Northern Ireland in Cardiff, with Joe Allen also featuring. Sheyi Ojo, Brad Smith, future reds Ragnar Klavan, Andy Robertson and Thiago, and ex-reds Daniel Agger and Mikel San José also represented their countries that day.
1993 - Erik Meijer won his only senior cap as the Netherlands thumped San Marino 6-0 in a World Cup qualifier in Utrecht. On the same day, Patrik Berger made his senior debut for the Republic of Czechs & Slovaks, as a substitute in their 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw in Cyprus. Meanwhile, future red Karlheinz Riedle netted the only goal of Germany’s friendly defeat of Scotland at Hampden Park.
2019 - Caoimhín Kelleher made his debut for the Republic of Ireland Under-21’s as they beat Luxembourg 3-0 in a European Championships qualifier in Dublin. Curtis Jones scored as England Under-18’s beat Mexico 3-2 in the UAE Sports Chain Cup in Dubai, with Bobby Duncan, Dejan Lovren, Andy Robertson, Virgil van Dijk, Gini Wijnaldum, Harry Wilson and ex-reds Joe Allen, Ryan Babel and Péter Gulácsi also in international action.
2001 - Robbie Keane won his first cap while on loan at Leeds United from Internazionale as the Republic of Ireland won a World Cup qualifier 4-0 in Cyprus, with ex-red Jason McAteer also featuring. Dietmar Hamann, Stéphane Henchoz, Vladimír Šmicer, ex-reds Jim Magilton and Dean Saunders, and future reds Craig Bellamy, Jerzy Dudek, Paul Jones and Bolo Zenden all also featured in qualifiers.    
In Euro action
2007 - A host of reds appeared in Euro 2008 qualifiers. Ex-reds Nicolas Anelka, Milan Baroš, Fernando Morientes and future reds Sotirios Kyrgiakos and Martin Škrtel all scored for their countries, with Milan’s goal being his first as an Olympique Lyonnais player, and Nando opening his account while with Valencia. Craig Bellamy and Steve Finnan faced each other in the first football match staged at Croke Park as Steve Staunton’s Republic of Ireland beat John Toshack’s Wales 1-0, while Daniel Agger, Xabi Alonso, Jamie Carragher, Djibril Cissé, Steve Finnan, Steven Gerrard, Mark González, John Arne Riise, future reds Ryan Babel, Yossi Benayoun, Stewart Downing, Robbie Keane, Ragnar Klavan, Alex Manninger, James Milner, Christian Poulsen, Fernando Torres and Andriy Voronin and ex-reds El-Hadji Diouf and Rigobert Song also in international action.
Internationals on target
2001 - Future red El-Hadji Diouf bagged a brace as Senegal beat Uganda 3-0 in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Dakar. Salif Diao also played.
2008 - Future reds reserves forward Nikola Sarić scored while winning his thirteenth and final Under-17’s cap as Denmark were beaten 5-2 by Belgium in a European Championships qualifier in Croatia.
2017 – Trent Alexander-Arnold bagged a brace, including one from the spot, as England Under-19’s beat Spain 3-0 in a qualifier in Burton. These were his last goals at this level. On the same day, future red Diogo Jota netted as Portugal Under-21’s beat Norway 3-1 in Estoril, with Marko Grujić, future red Thiago and ex-reds Joe Allen and Iago Aspas also in international action.
1982 - Ex-red Joey Jones played for Wales in their 1-1 friendly draw with Spain in Valencia.
Glasgow joy
1986 – Kenny Dalglish was made a Freeman of Glasgow by the Lord Provost in a ceremony in his native city.
1902 - Future reds forward Ronald Orr netted the only goal of the game as an Anglo Scots side beat a Home Scots eleven in a game in Glasgow.