31st October

YNWA is number one
1963 - “You'll Never Walk Alone” by Gerry & The Pacemakers reached number one in the UK singles chart. It stayed there for four weeks, before being replaced by The Beatles’ “She Loves You”.

Four for Fred
1914 - Fred Pagnam scored four goals as we thumped Tottenham Hotspur 7-2 in our First Division encounter at Anfield. Jackie Sheldon added a brace, with our scoring completed by Billy Banks. This was Spurs’ hundredth League defeat as they reached a century of away games in the League.
We have also twice visited White Hart Lane on this day in history, losing on both occasions.
1984 - We lost a League Cup Third Round fixture 1-0, with Clive Allen on target after just six minutes. Michael Robinson made his 52nd and last reds appearance in this game.
1992 – We lost a League game 2-0. Nayim struck a spectacular volley before future red Neil Ruddock headed in from a corner.

Rafa’s century
2006 - Rafael Benítez named an unchanged side for the first time in exactly a century of games as we beat Girondins de Bordeaux 3-0 to secure a place in the knock-out phase of the Champions League with two games remaining, thanks to a Luis García brace and a first reds goal of the season from Steven Gerrard. Fernando Menegazzo was sent off for the visitors, with Istanbul hero Vladimír Šmicer confined to the stands due to injury.

Trent’s ton
2020 – Right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold played his hundredth League game for the reds as we came from behind to beat West Ham United 2-1 behind closed doors at Anfield. Mohamed Salah equalised from the spot before the break after Pablo Fornals had opened the scoring. Diogo Jota struck the late winner.

Also recently
2015 – We came from behind to win 3-1 at Chelsea. Ramires opened the scoring for the home side early on, with Philippe Coutinho equalising in first-half stoppage time. Coutinho put us ahead before substitute Christian Benteke completed the scoring.
1953 – Roy Bentley bagged the last three of his five goals past us as we lost 5-2 at Chelsea, with Sammy Smyth nabbing a brace for the reds. Ken Armstrong and Frank Blunstone were also on target for the Blues as centre-half Joe Maloney turned out for the reds for the twelfth and final time.

2010 – Maxi Rodríguez bagged the only goal of our trip to Bolton Wanderers late on, with boss Roy Hodgson declaring it to be a “famous victory”.
2007 - Steven Gerrard netted in his third consecutive game to win the game, a minute after Darren Purse’s headed equaliser, with Nabil El-Zhar bagging his only reds strike from distance as we beat Cardiff City 2-1 in a Carling Cup Fourth Round tie at Anfield, with Robbie Fowler returning with the Bluebirds. Teenage centre-back Jack Hobbs made his first start in this game, while Argentine winger Sebastián Leto played his fourth and final reds game.

First and last
1936 - Right-half Harry Eastham made his reds bow in our 2-1 First Division defeat of Arsenal at Anfield, with Jack Balmer and Fred Howe on the scoresheet and Alf Kirchen netting the first of his four goals past us. He struck four goals in 68 reds appearances, with his career being interrupted by the Second World War. Outside-left Alf Hanson reached a century of League appearances for the reds that day.
1931 – We lost 3-0 at Sheffield United as Jimmy Dunne nabbed one of his nine goals past us, Jack Pickering scoring the first of his five and George Green also scoring. Forward Jimmy Smith appeared for the 62nd and final time.

Seeing off Sion
1996 - We beat Swiss side Sion 6-3 at home after falling two behind, to progress to the Third Round of the European Cup Winners’ Cup 8-4 on aggregate, with John Scales making his 94th and last reds appearance. No other team has scored more at Anfield in European competition. Robbie Fowler grabbed a brace, while Steve McManaman, Stig Inge Bjørnebye, John Barnes and Patrik Berger also struck that night. Forward Frédéric Chassot netted twice for the visitors, with midfielder Christophe Bonvin also on target.

Losing to the Mancs
We have twice faced Manchester United on this day in history, losing both meetings.
1964 - We were beaten 2-0 in a First Division game at Anfield, thanks to goals from Paddy Crerand and David Herd.
1990 - We lost a League Cup Third Round tie 3-1 at Old Trafford, with Ray Houghton grabbing our late consolation. Steve Bruce, Mark Hughes, with one of his nine goals past us, and Lee Sharpe had netted for the home side.

We have also twice faced Manchester City on this day, although we won one of these encounters.
1942 - Cyril Done netted a brace with Willie Fagan also on the scoresheet as we secured a 3-1 Wartime League victory at home.
1903 - We lost 3-2 in a top-flight meeting at Hyde Road when Arthur Goddard and Jack Parkinson struck, our first ever defeat to them after nine previous meetings. Sandy Turnbull struck the first of his six goals against the reds, Billy Gillespie one of his six and Frank Booth also on target.

On record
1995 - The Anfield crowd was recorded for “Three Lions” by Baddiel & Skinner And The Lightning Seeds as we lost 1-0 against Danes Brøndby IF to crash out of the UEFA Cup at the Second Round stage after a goalless first leg. Ian Rush had an effort ruled offside after just seventy seconds, with defender Dan Eggen heading the only goal of the tie with twelve minutes left.

Joy against the Rokerites
We have faced Sunderland three times on this day in history, without being beaten.
1925 - We were held to a 2-2 top-flight draw at Anfield when Harry Chambers and Dick Forshaw struck for the reds. Jock McNab put through his own net while outside-right Cyril Oxley made his reds bow. Dave Halliday grabbed the first of his thirteen strikes in just twelve outings against the reds.
1959 - We also drew at Roker Park in a Second Division match, with Roger Hunt grabbing our goal.
1981 - Our most recent meeting on this day ended in a 2-0 victory on Wearside, with Graeme Souness and Terry McDermott on the scoresheet.

Also recently
2012 – We lost 3-1 at home to Brendan Rodgers’ former side Swansea City to crash out of the League Cup at the Fourth Round stage. Chico Flores headed the visitors in front. Substitute Steven Gerrard hit the post before Nathan Dyer doubled the Swans’ lead. Luis Suárez headed a goal back, but Jonathan de Guzmán completed the scoring for the Welsh outfit. Forward Samed Yeşil played his second and final senior reds game.

Cottage despair
2009 - Jamie Carragher and Philipp Degen were both sent off as we lost 3-1 at Roy Hodgson’s Fulham. Fernando Torres volleyed in an equaliser after Bobby Zamora’s opener. Erik Nevland restored the home side’s lead, with Clint Dempsey sealing the points.
1980 - 1950’s wing-half Bobby Campbell was sacked as Manager of Fulham. He had been in charge for nearly four years, keeping them in the Second Division until they were relegated earlier that year.

1998 – Tony Cottee bagged the only goal of our trip to Leicester City, one of his eight past us, with Jason McAteer dismissed late on.

Reds birthdays
1906 – Forward Ted Crawford was born in Filey, Yorkshire. He signed from Halifax Town in 1932, bagging four goals in eight games before joining Clapton Orient in July 1933, for whom he struck 73 times in 212 Division Three South games.
2002 – Midfielder Tyler Morton was born in Wirral. He joined the club in 2009, signing a new contract in January 2021. He made his senior bow from the bench in a League Cup Third Round win at Norwich City in October 2021, appearing nine times in total during 2021/22.
2006 – Defender Lucas Pitt was born. Hailing from Formby, he signed his first professional contract in April 2024, having been at the Academy since the age of five.

White wrong
2006 - Noel White resigned from the Board after leaking critical stories of Rafael Benítez’s rotation policy to the press. He had been on the Board for twenty years, including a spell as Chairman between 1990 and 1991.

On the move again
1983 - Former reserves striker Mike Newell joined Wigan Athletic from Crewe Alexandra on a free transfer. He struck 35 times in 92 games for the Latics, before moving on to Luton Town in January 1986.
2011 - El-Hadji Diouf signed for Doncaster Rovers, after his contract with Blackburn Rovers was terminated by mutual consent two months earlier. He bagged six goals in 23 outings for Donny.
2014 – Czech defender Jakub Sokolík re-joined Southend United on loan, playing just twice in this second spell.

For Nicholson
1966 - We took part in a match in aid of The Late John Nicholson Memorial Fund, beating a Doncaster Rovers Representative XI 4-3 at Belle Vue. Geoff Strong bagged a brace, while Bobby Graham and Gordon Milne also netted.

First caps
1990 - Molde’s Øyvind Leonhardsen made his debut for Norway in their 6-1 friendly defeat of Cameroon in Oslo. Kongsvinger’s Stig Inge Bjørnebye also played. Future red Istvan Kozma also represented his country on that day as Hungary beat Cyprus 4-2 in a Euro 92 qualifier in Budapest.
2000 – Future red Alberto Aquilani won his first cap for Italy Under-16’s as they beat Portugal 2-1.

2014 – Ex-Academy Manager Steve Cooper took charge of England Under-16’s for the first time, but they lost 1-0 to Wales in the Victory Shield in Bangor with young reds Ben Woodburn and Okera Simmonds facing each other.
2008 – Jack Robinson played for England Under-16’s for the only time as they beat Wales 1-0 in the Victory Shield in Llanelli, with Andre Wisdom also featuring.
2001 – Chris McGrath featured for the Irish Under-16’s as they lost a European Championships qualifier 2-0 to Spain in Latvia.

Other reds games
1994 – We lost 2-1 at Queens Park Rangers. Trevor Sinclair opened the scoring for the Hoops before John Barnes equalised. Les Ferdinand then struck one of his six goals against the reds.
1972 – Leeds United held us to a 2-2 draw in our League Cup Fourth Round tie at Anfield. Kevin Keegan and John Toshack scored as Mick Jones netted one of his seven goals past us, with Peter Lorimer also on target.

1970 – Tommy Smith converted a penalty before Alun Evans struck as we beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-0 in L4. One of the linesmen was injured midway through the first half, having to be replaced by a referee who was amongst the crowd.
1931 – We lost 3-0 at Sheffield United as Jimmy Dunne nabbed one of his nine goals past us, Jack Pickering scoring the first of his five and George Green also scoring.
1908 – We beat Newcastle United 2-1 at Anfield, thanks to goals from Ronald Orr and Jack Cox, with George Wilson bagging one of his five goals past us.
1896 – George Allan netted the only goal of our visit to West Bromwich Albion’s old Stoney Lane ground in the first minute.

New deals
2003 - Jamie Carragher and Chris Kirkland both signed new contracts until 2007 and 2009, respectively. Carra remained at the club until the summer of 2013, while Kirkland was sold to Wigan Athletic in October 2006.
2011 – Left-back Jack Robinson signed a new contract. He became the club’s youngest ever player in May 2010, aged sixteen years and 250 days. He made just eleven senior reds appearances before moving permanently to Queens Park Rangers in August 2014.

Dad again
2011 - Steven Gerrard became the father of his third daughter, Lourdes.