3rd January

In comes Cody
2023 – Dutch forward Cody Gakpo signed from PSV Eindhoven for a reported initial £40m. He settled in quickly, bagging fifteen goals in 51 outings in his first year with the reds.

Yet another win
1981 - We registered our 85th consecutive home match without defeat as we beat Alliance Premier League side Altrincham 4-1 in the FA Cup Third Round at Anfield, thanks to goals from Terry McDermott, Ray Kennedy and a Kenny Dalglish brace, with shipping clerk Graham Heathcote converting a penalty for the visitors in front of the Kop. Future Academy Manager John Owens and Zak Whitbread’s dad Barry were both on the losing side while reds legend Bill Shankly bizarrely travelled to the game on the Altrincham team coach and went into the visitors’ dressing room before the game, as part of a promotional campaign for Robinson’s Barley Water that he was involved with. We lost our next home match 2-1 to Leicester City, at the end of the month, to bring the run to an end. This was the most recent day on which both the reds and Everton have played at home at the same time, with the Blues hosting Arsenal in another cup tie.

Cup glory
1976 - We knocked out the FA Cup holders in a Third Round tie at Upton Park, as goals from John Toshack and Kevin Keegan handed us a 2-0 win over West Ham United.
1987 - We also beat the Hammers when Steve McMahon netted the only goal of our League match at Anfield late on.

2009 – We won 2-0 at Preston North End, with Albert Riera opening the scoring past future reds keeper Andy Lonergan before Steve Gerrard set up Fernando Torres for a last-minute tap-in to settle any nerves. This was our 400th FA Cup game to date. On the same day, Jonjo Shelvey became the youngest ever FA Cup goalscorer, aged sixteen years and 311 days, as Charlton Athletic were held to a 1-1 draw at The Valley by Norwich City.
1999 - We won 3-0 at struggling First Division side Port Vale with Robbie Fowler, Michael Owen and Paul Ince on the scoresheet.

Cup despair
1998 - We were humbled 3-1 by Coventry City in the FA Cup Third Round at Anfield. Jamie Redknapp grabbed our consolation, our 600th in the competition. Dion Dublin bagged one of his seven goals against the reds, with Darren Huckerby and Paul Telfer also netting.
1993 - We were held 2-2 at Second Division Bolton Wanderers, with our goals coming from Ian Rush and a Mark Winstanley own goal, with John McGinlay and ex-red Mark Seagraves netting for the home side. We went on to lose the Anfield replay 2-0.

Starting the new millennium badly
2000 - Chris Armstrong scored the first goal against the reds in the new millennium as we lost 1-0 at Tottenham Hotspur.

Start and end
1953 - Inside-right Sammy Smyth made his reds bow as we lost 3-1 in a top-flight game at Stoke City. Kevin Baron scored our consolation, while centre-forward Albert Stubbins appeared for the 178th and final time. Outside-left Ken Brierley also played his 61st and last reds game. Harry Oscroft struck the first two of his six goals past us, with Don Whiston also netting.
1948 - We entertained the Potters, being held to a goalless draw, when forward Jack Balmer played his 200th reds game and Scottish left-winger Doug McAvoy was making the first of just two senior reds appearances. The players were presented with their medals from the previous season’s League title-winning campaign before the match by the President of the Football League, William Cuff.
1931 - Harry Barkas made his reds debut in our 3-1 defeat of Middlesbrough at Anfield in the top flight. Gordon Hodgson struck a brace, with Robert Done also on target.

East Anglian joy
2005 - Steve Finnan played his 400th club career game as goals from Luis García and John Arne Riise secured a 2-1 win at Norwich City, who were relegated at the end of the season. Salif Diao made his 61st and final reds outing in this match.

Happy birthdays
1987 – Spanish keeper Adrián was born in Seville. He signed for free in August 2019, keeping just seven clean sheets in 26 senior games across his first four campaigns as he helped us to claim the Premier League title and UEFA Super Cup.
1888 - Forward Arthur Berry was born in Liverpool, the son of Edwin Berry who was reds Chairman in the 1900’s. Arthur only played four first-team games in his two spells at Anfield before the First World War, as well as twice claiming Olympic Gold medals for football.
1855 - John McKenna was born in Drumcaw, County Monaghan, Ireland. He served as a Director from the formation of the club until July 1921, having two lengthy spells as the club’s Chairman. He acted as our boss for the 1895/96 season, guiding us to the Second Division title, before being replaced by Tom Watson. He was later Chairman of the Football League for two decades.

Title decider?
2019 – We lost 2-1 at Manchester City, narrowing our lead at the top of the table to four points. Sergio Agüero put the home side ahead with the last of his seven goals past us after a Sadio Mane shot was within 1.1cm of crossing the line after an attempted clearance rebounded. Roberto Firmino equalised after the break. However, Leroy Sané bagged a late winner as City went on to retain the title, the latest of his four goals against us. Earlier that day, Roberto Firmino was named as winner of the Samba d’Or for 2018, an award given to the best Brazilian playing in Europe, voted for by journalists, players and fans.
2012 - We also lost 3-0 at the Etihad Stadium, with Sergio Agüero profiting from a Pepe Reina error to net his first past us. Yaya Touré headed in before Gareth Barry was dismissed and future red James Milner converted a late penalty.

Incoming
1958 - Inside-forward Jimmy Harrower signed from Hibernian for £11,000. He bagged 22 goals in 105 reds games, moving on to Newcastle United in March 1961.
2018 - Peter Crouch became a father for the third time, to Johnny.

Beating the Gunners
We have twice defeated Arsenal at Anfield on this day in history.
1925 - Harry Chambers and Dick Forshaw struck as we won 2-1.
1983 - Ian Rush, Graeme Souness and Kenny Dalglish were on the scoresheet in a 3-1 victory to put us ten points clear at the top of the table. Brian Talbot bagged one of his six goals against the reds.

Double farewells
1903 – Inside-forward Tommy Green bagged his only reds goal in his seventh and final appearance for the club, as we lost a top-flight match 3-1 at Blackburn Rovers, with right-back Don McCallum playing his second and last reds game. Walter Whittaker netted one of his six goals past us from the spot, with William Bow and Albert Monks also scoring.

Wearside joy
1914 - We won 2-1 at Roker Park in a top-flight encounter, with Jackie Sheldon on target as Jack Parkinson scored his 128th and final reds goal. James Richardson struck the last of his five goals past us.
1959 - Johnny Wheeler, Louis Bimpson and Fred Morris netted as we beat Sunderland 3-1 at Anfield in a Second Division match, with left-winger Alan A’Court playing his 200th League game for the reds aged 24 years and 95 days, the youngest ever reds player to achieve this milestone.

Roy in charge
1982 - Roy Hodgson was appointed Manager of Bristol City, moving up from Assistant. He won just three of his twenty games in charge before moving to Sweden to take over at Örebro SK.
2004 – Hodgson took charge of United Arab Emirates as they were held to a goalless draw by Qatar in the Gulf Cup of Nations in Kuwait.

Crazy Horse for the three
1973 - Emlyn Hughes appeared in an unofficial international as The Three beat The Six 2-0 at Wembley Stadium. This was a ‘Common Market’ match with The Three representing Denmark, the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, while The Six featured players from Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and West Germany.
1977 – Future red Glenn Hysén played for Sweden Under-18’s as they beat Switzerland 3-2 in a friendly in Israel.

Other reds games
1989 – Ronnie Whelan headed in the only goal of Aston Villa’s visit to Anfield.
1920 – We lost 3-2 at Sheffield United, with Stan Fazackerley bagging a brace for the Blades and Harry Johnson scoring the first of his seven goals against the reds. Tom Miller scored twice for us, with his second coming from the rebound after Harold Gough had saved his spot-kick.

Moving on
2007 - Former reserves right-back Stephen Vaughan joined Rochdale on loan from Chester City, although he did not make an appearance before returning to the Deva Stadium.
2013 – Keeper Jamie Stephens moved to Welsh Premier League side Airbus UK Broughton on a temporary basis, before being released by the reds in the summer. He is now with Newport County. On the same day, Stuart Webber was appointed Head of Recruitment for Wolverhampton Wanderers. He had joined the reds as Senior National Scout in 2009, moving up to become Director of Recruitment in May 2011, before leaving in the summer of 2012.

2014 – Ex-reserves forward Astrit Ajdarević joined Charlton Athletic on loan from Standard de Liège, netting twice in 22 outings for the Addicks.
2017 – Ex-reds centre-back Stephen Sama signed for German side Spielvereinigung Greuther Fürth, although he only made one League appearance, moving on to Heracles Almelo in the Netherlands in July 2018.
2018 – Midfielder Adam Phillips joined Cambridge United on loan from Norwich City, for whom he played four times.
2019 – Winger Adam Hammill joined Sc***horpe United from St. Mirren, scoring once in nineteen outings before the end of the campaign.
2020 – Midfielder Herbie Kane joined Hull City on loan, nabbing two goals in nine games for the Tigers.