5th April

Seventh heaven
2006 - We thumped Birmingham City 7-0 at St. Andrews in the Sixth Round of the FA Cup, our record away victory in the competition, and our biggest win to that date under Rafael Benítez. Sami Hyypiä put us in front in the first minute, with Peter Crouch soon also scoring with his head, to get on target in his third consecutive game. Crouch added a third just before the break, with substitute Fernando Morientes scoring on the hour. John Arne Riise belted in our fifth, with Olivier Tebily’s own goal and a shot from another sub, Djibril Cissé, completing the rout. Momo Sissoko made his comeback from his eye injury at SL Benfica a month earlier, while attempting to wear a set of protective goggles!
European victories
1984 - A superb reds victory came as we won 4-1 at SL Benfica, then led by Sven-Göran Eriksson, in the second leg of our European Cup Third Round tie. Ronnie Whelan bagged a brace, as Craig Johnston and Ian Rush also got on the scoresheet, with Kenny Dalglish running the show. Nené scored the first of his three goals for the Portuguese outfit against us.
1973 - Kevin Keegan netted the only goal of the game at Dynamo Dresden in the UEFA Cup Fourth Round second leg, en route to claiming the trophy for the first of three times so far. Keegan had two first-half strikes chalked off before finally notching. Bill Shankly described this as “one of our finest performances in Europe.”
Derby delight and despair
We have twice entertained our neighbours from across the park on this day over the years.
1970 - We lost 2-0 as the Blues went on to claim the title for the seventh time, one of just eleven home League defeats we suffered in the entire 1970’s. Joe Royle struck the first of his five goals against the reds, with Alan Whittle also netting.
1981 - A John Bailey own goal handed us a 1-0 victory. Billy Wright skippered the Blues, the only player ever to lead them out for the first time in a derby.
SteG honoured
2007 - Steven Gerrard was presented with his MBE by The Queen.
Comeback defeat
2012 - We led 2-0 at Queens Park Rangers with a quarter of an hour to go through a stunning Sebastián Coates strike, his first for the club, and Dirk Kuyt’s final reds goal, in his 200th game for the club, but eventually lost 3-2. Shaun Derry and ex-red Djibril Cissé both headed in before Jamie Mackie scored a last-gasp winner.
Beaten down the East Lancs
2010 - We lost 2-1 at Manchester United as Fernando Torres headed us in front before Wayne Rooney converted the rebound of a penalty saved by Pepe Reina, one of his seven goals past us. Ji-Sung Park struck the winner after an hour with Torres and Yossi Benayoun both wasting good chances to draw us level.
Winging his way in
1995 - Mark Kennedy signed from Millwall for £1.5m. He only ever made 21 senior reds appearances, without getting on the scoresheet. He was sold to Wimbledon for £1.75m after three years at Anfield.
Tottenham twice
We twice faced Tottenham Hotspur in the League on this day in the 1990’s.
1992 - We won 2-1 at Anfield thanks to a brace from Dean Saunders, with future red Paul Stewart notching the second of his three goals past us.
1990 – We went down 1-0 at White Hart Lane, with Paul Stewart again the scorer.
Benefit game
1914 – We played a benefit game for two reds heroes, winger Arthur Goddard and striker Jack Parkinson. The League match at Anfield ended in a 3-1 win over Preston North End, raising the then-princely sum of £250. Tom Miller bagged a brace, with Jimmy Nicholl also on target.
1908 - We also faced PNE, losing 3-0 at Deepdale in another top-flight encounter. Full-back Harry Griffiths played his sixth and final reds game that day. Dickie Bond bagged one of his four goals against the reds from the spot, with Charles Dawson and James Wilson also netting.
A swift thumping
1896 - We trounced Burton Swifts 6-1 at Anfield in a Second Division fixture. George Allan and Harry Bradshaw both struck braces, while Jimmy Ross and Joe McQue were also on the scoresheet. Half-back Barney Battles made the first of his six reds appearances in this game, with half-back Thomas Cleghorn also debuting.
Fred’s first
1925 - Fred Baron grabbed his first two reds goals as we beat Burnley 3-0 in a top-flight encounter at Anfield. Danny Shone was also on target.
Tamed by Wolves
We have twice been beaten by Wolverhampton Wanderers on this day in history.
1936 - We lost 2-0 at Anfield.
1953 – We were beaten 3-0 at Molineux, our worst ever League defeat there as they went on to claim the title. Roy Swinbourne struck one of his five goals against the reds, with Billy Wright and Jim Hanc***s also on target.
Miki on the move
2007 - Reserves centre-half Miki Roqué joined Oldham Athletic on loan. He turned out on four occasions for the Latics, before returning to his native Spain having been released by the reds in June 2009. However, he died from pelvic cancer three years later.
Birth and death
1997 – Centre-half Nathaniel Phillips was born in Bolton. He joined from his hometown club in the summer of 2016 and is currently Under-23’s skipper.
1886 - John Bovill was born in Rutherglen, Lanarkshire. He signed from Chesterfield Town in April 1911 and went on to bag seven goals in 29 reds games before leaving for Linfield in 1914.
2009 – Club Secretary Bryce Morrison died. He had worked for the reds for seventeen years.
Shown the door
1983 - Emlyn Hughes was sacked as Manager of Rotherham United as they headed towards the old Third Division. He had been in charge since July 1981.
2010 - Steve Staunton was dismissed as Darlington boss, having led them to just four victories in 25 games in charge, although they still went on to finish rock bottom of League Two.
On the move
1984 - John Aldridge joined Oxford United from Newport County for £78,000. He went on to strike ninety times in 141 games for the U’s, before making his big move to Anfield for £750,000 in January 1987.
1994 - Danny Murphy signed as a professional for Crewe Alexandra. He bagged 77 goals in 166 games before Roy Evans signed him for a fee rising to £3m in July 1997.
Internationals off the mark
2013 – Mario Balotelli struck his first goal for Italy as an AC Milan player in their 2-2 draw with Brazil in Geneva. On the same day, Jack Robinson scored his first goal for England Under-21’s as they beat Romania 3-0 in Wycombe, with Jordan Henderson captaining a side that also included Jonjo Shelvey, Raheem Sterling, Andre Wisdom and future red Nathaniel Clyne. Sevilla’s Alberto Moreno won his first cap for Spain Under-21’s as they beat Norway 5-2 in a friendly in Toledo. Future red Gini Wijnaldum also featured at this level that day.
2019 - Dominic Solanke won his first England Under-21’s cap as a Bournemouth player as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Poland at Ashton Gate, with Kamil Grabara in the visitors’ goal. On the same day, Ryan Babel won his first cap as a Fulham player as the Netherlands thumped Belarus 4-0 in a European Championships qualifier in Rotterdam, with skipper Virgil van Dijk and Gini Wijnaldum both on target. Ex-red Péter Gulácsi also played for his country that day.
Scottish first and last
1891 - Future reds player, Manager and Director Matt McQueen won his second and final cap for Scotland as they beat Wales 4-3 in the British International Championships in Wrexham.
1896 - Ex-reds left-back Duncan McLean won the first of his two caps as the Scots thumped Wales 4-0 in Dundee in the same competition, with Robert Neill bagging a brace, his first of two senior caps, and only one on loan with the reds from Hibernian.
 

Stevie off but derby joy
2006 - Steven Gerrard was sent off at home to Everton for two quick-fire yellow cards before Phil Neville put us ahead at the end of the first half with a superb headed own goal from a corner. Luis García put us 2-0 up with a beautiful lob soon after the restart, our 500th home Premiership goal. Tim Cahill headed the visitors back into the game with one of his five goals against us, also their hundredth League goal in an Anfield derby. Substitute Andy van der Meyde was sent off for elbowing Xabi Alonso just five minutes after coming on before Harry Kewell rounded off a 3-1 victory with a fine strike. The two clubs had received special permission for Gerrard and James Beattie to wear ‘08’ shirts to promote Liverpool’s status as the European Capital of Culture in 2008.
1905 – Orlando Evans was sent off for Burton United for kicking Sam Raybould as we lost 2-1 at Peel Croft in a Second Division meeting. Winger Jack Cox struck our goal.
We’re all off to Wembley
1984 - The first all-Merseyside cup final ended in a goalless draw, after extra time. The game was notable for a failed penalty appeal for handball against Alan Hansen, and an Alan Kennedy goal that was disallowed for offside. We clinched our fourth consecutive League Cup in the replay three days later.
1950 - We won through to our first Wembley FA Cup Final, beating Everton 2-0 at Maine Road thanks to goals from Bob Paisley and Billy Liddell. Unfortunately, Arsenal went on to claim the cup.
Igor sees red
2004 - Igor Bišcan was sent off after Emile Heskey had given us the lead at the Stade Vélodrome as we lost 2-1 on the night to Olympique de Marseille, with Didier Drogba converting the resulting penalty, one of his eleven goals past us. We therefore crashed out of the UEFA Cup at the Fourth Round stage 3-2 on aggregate with Abdoulaye Meïté scoring the home side’s other goal.
Willie’s treble
1908 - Inside-left Bill McPherson scored a hat-trick in our stunning 7-4 top-flight win over Manchester United at Anfield. Joe Hewitt and Robbie Robinson both added braces that day against the side that would be crowned champions at the end of the season. George Wall netted two of his ten strikes past us, with Jimmy Turnbull nabbing one of his seven and Jimmy Bannister also on target.
1967 - Our other top-flight meeting with United on this day ended goalless.
First and last
1895 - Inside-forward Frank Becton scored on his reds debut in a 3-2 home First Division defeat by Sunderland, with Jimmy Ross also on the scoresheet. Left-back Billy Dunlop made his reds bow in the same game, which was the first time we had ever entertained the Wearsiders. Jimmy Millar scored one of his four goals past the reds with John Campbell adding a brace.
1921 – Winger Chris Harrington played his fourth and final reds game as we were held to a 1-1 draw at Anfield by Tottenham Hotspur, with Dick Forshaw on target.
1933 – Outside-left Gordon Gunson played his 87th and last reds game as we were held to a 2-2 top-flight draw at Anfield by Blackburn Rovers. Gordon Hodgson and Harold Barton netted for the reds, while Tommy McLean struck one of his five goals against us, with Ernie Thompson also scoring.
No longer in training
1893 – Trainer Wally Richardson had to step in to play his only reds game in our Lancashire League fixture against Rossendale United at Anfield due to injuries. Malcolm McVean and John Smith netted as we won 2-1.
Beating the Geordies
We have twice beaten Newcastle United in the top flight at Anfield on this day in history.
2000 - We won 2-1 as substitute Jamie Redknapp headed a dramatic winner. Titi Camara had opened the scoring with his tenth and final reds goal before Alan Shearer nodded in a leveller, one of his eight goals against the reds.
1975 - John Toshack netted twice as we triumphed 4-0, with future and past Magpies Kevin Keegan and Terry McDermott also netting.
International beginnings and end
1981 - Steve Heighway won his 33rd and final cap for the Republic of Ireland as they lost 1-0 to Belgium in a World Cup qualifier in Liège. Future red Michael Robinson also played.
1998 - Future red Craig Bellamy won his first senior international cap as Wales were held to a goalless draw by Jamaica in a friendly at Ninian Park. Robbie Keane made his senior bow for the Irish on the same day while fellow future red Vladimír Šmicer was on target in the Czech Republic’s 2-1 friendly win in Olomouc.
2011 – Future reds keeper Simon Mignolet made his senior international bow as Belgium won a European Championships qualifier 2-0 in Austria.
2017 – Corey Whelan won his first Under-21’s cap for the Republic of Ireland in their 1-0 European Championships qualifying defeat of Kosovo in Dublin.
Thommo at the wrong end
1978 – Phil Thompson scored an own goal after Jimmy Case had opened the scoring at Molineux. A second-half Kenny Dalglish brace secured a 3-1 defeat of Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Irish reds for both sides
1992 - Ex-red John Aldridge bagged a penalty in the Republic of Ireland’s 2-1 friendly defeat of Roy Hodgson’s Switzerland at Lansdowne Road. Ronnie Whelan put though his own net, while ex-reds Kevin Sheedy and Steve Staunton also featured. This was Sheedy’s first cap as a Newcastle United player.
Mixed fortunes against the Trotters
1922 - We beat Bolton Wanderers 3-1 at Burnden Park in a First Division fixture, with Dick Forshaw grabbing a brace and Harry Chambers also on target late on with his fiftieth League strike for the reds. Jock McNab was sent off for retaliation between our second and third goals. Joe Smith struck one of his twelve goals past us.
1940 - We also met them in a friendly, losing 1-0 at Anfield.
The Wright move
1982 - Mark Wright joined Southampton from Oxford United in a deal that saw £80,000 and forward Keith Cassells also head south, with midfielder Trevor Hebberd leaving the Saints. He had only made eleven senior appearances for the U’s, but established himself with England while at The Dell.
On the move en masse
2004 - Three ex-reds reserves switched clubs. Forward Jon Newby left Huddersfield Town to join York City on loan, but he failed to find the net in seven games for the Minstermen. Midfielder Danny Williams joined Bristol Rovers from Kidderminster Harriers on a free transfer, for whom he made just six first-team appearances, scoring once, before rejoining Wrexham in May 2004. Meanwhile, Leyton Maxwell, who scored in his only senior reds game, joined Swansea City on non-contract terms. He played for the Swans three times, moving on to Mansfield Town in December 2004, after a spell with Rhyl.
Also on the move
1999 - Steve Nicol was released by Conference side Doncaster Rovers after one season at Belle Vue. On the same day, Paul Dalglish joined Norwich City on loan from Newcastle United. He played five times before signing permanently in May of that year. Also, Mike Newell re-joined Crewe Alexandra from Aberdeen on a free transfer. He only played four times in this second spell, before joining Doncaster Rovers three months later. Meanwhile, keeper Jørgen Nielsen re-joined Wolverhampton Wanderers on loan, again failing to make their first team.
1988 - Julian Dicks left Birmingham City for West Ham United for £300,000, after one goal in 102 appearances as they struggled in the Second Division. On the same day, current Assistant Manager joined Sunderland from Swansea City for £70,000, after 45 strikes in 201 outings in this first spell in south Wales.
2010 – Another former reserves custodian, Tony Warner, signed for Charlton Athletic having recently been released by Hull City although he did not play a first-team game in his two months with the Addicks. Former reserves forward Astrit Ajdarević joined Hereford United on loan from Leicester City on the same day, making just one substitute appearance for the Bulls.
2014 – Centre-half James Smith joined Telford United on loan from Southport.
Youngsters off the mark
1908 – Centre-half Norman James was born in Liverpool. He signed from Braby’s Athletic in April 1929, making eight senior appearances before moving on to Bradford City in May 1933.
2005 - Daniel Agger bagged his first two goals for Denmark Under-21’s in their 5-1 European Championships qualifying thumping of Kazakhstan in Copenhagen.
1985 - Aston Villa’s Mark Walters netted his first England goal at the same level while winning his fourth cap, as they beat the Republic of Ireland 3-2 in a friendly at Fratton Park.
Future reds on target for their countries
1981 - John Wark grabbed Scotland’s goal as Northern Ireland held them to a World Cup qualifying draw at Hampden Park. On the same day, Kevin Keegan won his first cap since his return from Germany, as England lost 2-1 to Spain in a friendly at Wembley. Ray Clemence and Phil Neal also featured. Meanwhile, ex-red Joey Jones played as Wales won a qualifier 1-0 in Turkey.
2019 – Ex-red Raheem Sterling netted as England thumped Montenegro 5-1 in a European Championships qualifier in Podgorica, with Jordan Henderson and ex-red Nikolay Mihaylov also in action.
1992 - Jari Litmanen also scored at Hampden Park as Finland and Scotland drew 1-1 in a friendly. Fellow future red Gary McAllister played for the Scots.
1997 – Forward Haukur Ingi Guðnason netted for Iceland Under-19’s as they lost 2-1 to Belgium in the Italy Tournament.
1998 - Fernando Morientes struck twice as Spain thumped Slovenia 4-0 in Vigo.
2008 - Ex-red Florent Sinama-Pongolle scored as France A beat Mali 3-2 in a friendly in Charléty.
2013 – Future red Gini Wijnaldum bagged a brace as the Dutch Under-21’s beat Norway 4-1 in a friendly in Waalwijk, with Sevilla’s Alberto Moreno also in action at this level, while future red Joe Gomez played for England Under-17’s.
Most recent internationals
2016 – Ex-red Luis Suárez struck while captaining Uruguay in their 2-2 World Cup qualifying draw with Brazil in Recife, with Sebastián Coates winning his first cap while on loan at Sporting Clube de Portugal. Future red Mohamed Salah scored as Egypt drew 1-1 in an African Cup of Nations qualifier in Nigeria. Philippe Coutinho, Martin Škrtel, future reds Alisson Becker, Virgil van Dijk and Gini Wijnaldum, future red Naby Keïta and ex-reds Sebastián Coates and Victor Moses also played for their countries that day.
2017 – Wijnaldum played for the Netherlands again, as they lost a World Cup qualifier 2-0 in Bulgaria, with ex-red Nikolay Mihaylov also in action. Also representing their countries that day were Caoimhín Kelleher, ex-red Toni Silva and future red Xherdan Shaqiri.
2011 – Dirk Kuyt struck while winning his 75th cap for the Netherlands in their 4-0 thumping of Hungary in a Euro 2012 qualifier in Budapest. Milan Jovanović won his last cap as a reds player as Serbia beat Northern Ireland 2-1 in another qualifier in Belgrade. Meanwhile, Alberto Aquilani and ex-reds Xabi Alonso, Álvaro Arbeloa, Milan Baroš and Fernando Torres all also featured in qualifiers, while Chris Mavinga won his fourth and final cap for France Under-20’s as they won a friendly 2-1 in Peru.
More youngsters in action
2005 - Scott Carson, Anthony Le Tallec, Darren Potter, John Welsh, ex-red Arnaud Bühler and future reds Alberto Aquilani, Glen Johnson and James Milner all featured in European Championships qualifiers for the Under-21’s, with Le Tallec coming on as a substitute and then later himself being substituted. Italy beat Scotland 2-0 in Pavia, England drew 2-2 with Germany in Hull, France were held 1-1 by Switzerland, while the Irish lost 3-1 in Israel.
2009 – Future red Jordan Henderson won his only cap for England Under-19’s as they were held to a goalless draw by the Czech Republic in a friendly in Walsall, with Martin Kelly also featuring. On the same day, future red Jonjo Shelvey played for the Under-17’s as England beat Portugal 1-0 in a European Championships qualifier in Hungary.
2013 – Jonjo Shelvey scored as England Under-21’s thumped Austria 4-0 in a friendly in Brighton, with the visitors having two players dismissed. Jordan Henderson, Jack Robinson, Raheem Sterling, Andre Wisdom and future red Nathaniel Clyne all also featured.

Happy birthday Jerzy
1973 - Jerzy Dudek was born in Rybnik. The big Pole in our goal made 186 reds appearances after signing from Feyenoord for £4.85m in August 2001, helping us to glory in Istanbul, as well as the Worthington Cup in 2003. He left to join Real Madrid in July 2007, although he barely featured for their first team.
A new boss
1951 – Don Welsh took charge of his first reds game as Jack Haigh nabbed the only goal of our top-flight meeting with Charlton Athletic at Anfield. He had been officially appointed eighteen days earlier.
Away goals galore
1985 - John Wark netted an eighteen-minute hat-trick in our 5-0 win at West Bromwich Albion, with Steve Nicol and Kenny Dalglish also on target, while Bruce Grobbelaar saved a Derek Statham penalty. Wark therefore became the only red to score trebles in three different competitions in the same season, after Anfield hat-tricks against Lech Poznan in the European Cup and York City in the FA Cup.
1991 - We routed Derby County 7-1 at the Baseball Ground under Ronnie Moran’s temporary control, thanks to a Jan Mølby penalty, braces from John Barnes and Steve Nicol, and goals from Ian Rush and Ray Houghton. Future red Dean Saunders scored the first of his four goals past us, although the only one before he moved to Anfield.
1903 - We also beat Derby in the First Division, winning 3-1 at Anfield, with left-half Bill Goldie netting his sixth and final reds goal and Sam Raybould and Jack Cox also on target.
Masch off
2008 - We were beaten 3-0 at Manchester United, with Javier Mascherano sent off under a short-lived clampdown on players questioning officials. Wes Brown, Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani netted for the home side.
1912 - We held the Red Devils to a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford when Jack Parkinson netted our goal in this top-flight encounter.
Jay off
2010 – Reserves midfielder Jay Spearing joined Leicester City on loan. He struck once in eleven outings as they reached the Championship Play-off Semi-finals.
Bradley off the mark
1907 - Left-half Jim Bradley scored his first reds goal of eight as we thumped Newcastle United 4-1 at Anfield. Arthur Goddard, Jack Cox and Joe Hewitt were also on the scoresheet.
A half century over Leeds
2003 - We earned our fiftieth League win over Leeds United in the 98th meeting. Michael Owen, Danny Murphy and Steven Gerrard all netted in a 3-1 win, with Mark Viduka bagging one of his six goals past us.
Other births and death
1983 - Former reserves right-back Jon Otsemobor was born in Liverpool. He played just six first-team games for us, before joining Rotherham United in July 2005.
1914 - Centre-half Norman Low was born in Aberdeen. He signed from Newcastle United in October 1933 but only played thirteen times while at Anfield, deputising for Tom Bradshaw, before moving on to Newport County in November 1936.
1908 – John Charlton was born in Leadgate, County Durham. He signed from Bradford City in October 1929, but only played three senior games before moving on to Derry City in 1932.
2011 – Ex-reds midfielder Trevor Storton died. He struck eight times in 118 League games for Tranmere Rovers before switching to Anfield for £25,000 in July 1972. He only played twelve times in two years before joining Chester, for whom he turned out more than 400 times.
Double Irish
1994 - Future reds Phil Babb and Jason McAteer both won their first full international caps for the Republic of Ireland in their goalless friendly meeting with Russia at Lansdowne Road. Ronnie Whelan skippered the Irish that day, while future red Gary McAllister captained Scotland on the same day, as they lost a friendly 1-0 to the Netherlands at Hampden Park.
Stig on the way out
2000 - Stig Inge Bjørnebye was loaned out to Brøndby IF. He netted twice in thirteen League games for the Danish side and was sold to Blackburn Rovers within a month of his return to Anfield.
1999 - Reserves midfielder Danny Williams joined Wrexham on a free, bagging four goals in 48 games. He was then signed by Jan Mølby for Kidderminster Harriers.
Alf’s last strike
1968 - Centre-forward Alf Arrowsmith struck his final reds goal as we won 2-1 at Sheffield Wednesday. His 24 goals came in 56 games.
1901 - We also faced The Wednesday, being held to a 1-1 draw at Anfield in another top-flight encounter, with Sam Raybould grabbing our goal and Fred Spiksley scoring one of his four against the reds.
Anfield first
1893 – The first testimonial to be played by the reds at Anfield saw Bootle Boys Brigade beaten 1-0 in a match staged in aid of Liverpool Caledonians’ David Kirkwood. John Miller scored the goal.
A semi-final thriller
1899 - We drew an FA Cup Semi-final replay 4-4 with Sheffield United at Burnden Park. Our goals came from John Walker, George Allan, Jack Cox and a Peter Boyle own goal. Walter Bennett struck one of his five goals past us, with Fred Priest bagging a brace and Billy Beer also on target. Unfortunately, we lost a second replay 1-0 at Baseball Ground a week later.
1929 – The fifth and most recent FA Cup Semi-final to be staged at Anfield took place, with eventual winners Bolton Wanderers beating Huddersfield Town 3-1.
Harkness starts out
1989 - Steve Harkness signed as a professional for Carlisle United. He played thirteen times before being signed by Kenny Dalglish four months later.
Underneath the floodlights
1960 - We lost a match played to commemorate new floodlights at Dens Park. Dundee won 1-0, with brothers Bill and Bob Shankly in opposing dug-outs.
Other international firsts
2013 – Ex-reds keeper Charles Itandje made his debut for Cameroon in their 2-1 World Cup qualifying defeat of Togo in Yaoundé, with Joe Gomez and future red Xherdan Shaqiri also in international action that day.
1991 - Sami Hyypiä won his first cap at any level, playing for Finland Under-18’s as they were held to a goalless draw by Yugoslavia in a friendly in Italy.
2019 – Ex-red Toni Silva won his first cap as an Al Ittihad Alexandria Club player as Guinea-Bissau drew 2-2 with Mozambique in an African Cup of Nations qualifier. Roberto Firmino, Ki-Jana Hoever, ex-red Philippe Coutinho and future red Sepp van den Berg also played for their countries that day.
2016 – Trent Alexander-Arnold made his debut for England Under-18’s in their 3-2 friendly win in Austria, with Herbie Kane also featuring.
2017 – Ex-red Sebastián Coates won his first cap as a Sporting Clube de Portugal player while facing Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino and future red Alisson Becker as Brazil thumped Uruguay 4-1 in a World Cup qualifier in Montevideo. Sadio Mané featured for Senegal in a 1-1 friendly draw with Nigeria in Barnet on the same day, while future red Dominic Solanke converted a spot-kick as England Under-20’s drew 2-2 with Portugal in a tournament in France, the fourth consecutive game at his level he had scored in. Keeper Caoimhin Kelleher also played for his country that day.
2015 – Future red Kelleher played for the Irish Under-17’s as they beat Belarus 3-1 in a European Championships qualifier in Poland.
2018 – Coutinho won his first cap as a Barcelona player, scoring from the spot in Brazil’s 3-0 friendly win in Moscow, with Roberto Firmino and future red Alisson Becker also in action. On the same day, Virgil van Dijk played for the Netherlands for the first time as a red, with Joe Gomez, Jordan Henderson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Gini Wijnaldum and ex-reds Ryan Babel and Raheem Sterling all also featuring as England won 1-0 in Amsterdam. Ex-reds Luis Suárez and Victor Moses both scored from the spot, with Mohamed Salah also on target as Marko Grujić and Andrew Robertson also played for their countries.
Tosh the boss again
1995 - John Toshack was appointed Manager of Deportivo La Coruña, although he did not take over for another three months. He lasted a year and a half before he resigned, during which time they beat Real Madrid to win the Supercopa, the Spanish equivalent of the Charity Shield.
Kenny and Jimmy for their countries
1982 - Kenny Dalglish netted in Scotland’s 2-1 friendly defeat of the Netherlands at Hampden Park. Future red John Wark also played.
1976 - Jimmy Case struck on his Under-23’s debut as England played their last ever fixture at this level, beating Hungary 3-1 in a European Championships qualifier at Old Trafford, although they went out on aggregate. Future red Alan Kennedy also played.
Future reds on target
2001 - Milan Baroš scored for the Czech Republic Under-21’s as they won 2-0 in a European Championships qualifier in Northern Ireland. Meanwhile, Christian Poulsen won his first cap for Denmark at the same level in their goalless European Championships qualifying draw with Malta in Corradino.
1988 - Dean Saunders won his first cap as an Oxford United player, scoring as Wales lost 2-1 to Yugoslavia in a friendly in Swansea. Juve’s Ian Rush also played. On the same day, John Barnes, Peter Beardsley and future red Mark Wright all played as the Netherlands held England 2-2 in a friendly at Wembley. Also that day, future red Ronnie Rosenthal netted in Israel’s 9-0 trouncing of Taiwan in Wellington, New Zealand in an Olympics qualifier. Ex-red Avi Cohen also played, while Everton’s Kevin Sheedy appeared in the Republic of Ireland’s 2-0 friendly defeat of Romania at Lansdowne Road.
Ex-reds on the move
1994 - Jimmy Carter joined Oxford United on loan from Arsenal. He made five appearances, returning for a second spell later that year.
1995 - Ray Houghton signed for Crystal Palace from Aston Villa for £300,000, bagging eight goals in 87 games for the Eagles.
2006 - Jon Newby joined Kidderminster Harriers on loan from Bury, failing to score in seven outings.
2012 – Former reserves forward Nikola Sarić signed for HB Køge in his native Denmark.
Jim the Saint
1994 - Former reds reserves midfielder Jim Magilton won his first Northern Ireland cap as a Southampton player as they beat Romania 2-0 in a friendly at Windsor Park.