16th December

The knight departs
1969 - ‘Sir’ Roger Hunt was sold to Bolton Wanderers for £33,000, after ten years at Anfield. In that time he had struck a then-record 286 times in 492 reds games, helping us to two League titles, the Second Division championship, our first FA Cup win in 1965 and an FA Charity Shield. He remains our record League goalscorer, with 245 strikes. He is also revered among older Wanderers’ fans after 25 goals in 84 games.

From villain to hero
1991 - Michael Thomas signed from Arsenal for £1.5m. He spent nearly seven years at Anfield, playing 163 reds games, and scoring twelve times, including the 1992 FA Cup Final opener. He left to join SL Benfica on a free transfer in August 1998, after a loan spell with Middlesbrough.

Ton up for Nando
2009 – Fernando Torres played his hundredth reds game as we beat Wigan Athletic 2-1 at Anfield, coming off the bench to add to David N’Gog’s early headed goal. Charles N’Zogbia bagged an injury time consolation after Jason Scotland had struck the crossbar for the visitors.

Beaten again
2007 - Manchester United kept their fourth consecutive League clean sheet at Anfield, a joint record for any club, as Carlos Tévez struck the only goal of the game, the first of his four to date past us.

Billy’s bow
1939 – Billy Liddell played his first reds game as we lost 1-0 to Preston North End in a friendly at Anfield that was billed as a “Grand Match”.

A Bridge too far
2001 - We were thumped 4-0 at Stamford Bridge by Chelsea, our hundredth Premier League defeat, despite many commentators naming Blues keeper Carlo Cudicini as their man of the match, with his saves including a penalty from Gary McAllister. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink bagged one of his seven strikes against the reds, with Graeme Le Saux, Sam Dalla Bona and Eiður Guðjohnsen all also on target.
1989 - We won 5-2 in west London with Ian Rush grabbing a brace against ex-red Bobby Campbell’s side. Our other goals came from Peter Beardsley, Steve McMahon and Ray Houghton. Dave Beasant saved a penalty from Jan Mølby, wile Houghton had a goal disallowed. Campbell said, “On this form Liverpool could win the World Cup!” Gordon Durie struck one of his five goals against the reds, with Kerry Dixon netting one of his seven past us.

An away milestone
1899 - We played our hundredth away League game, going down 1-0 to Nottingham Forest at the City Ground thanks to a late Arthur Capes strike, one of his four goals against the reds, with forward Charles Satterthwaite making his reds bow.
1893 - We also visited them at the then-named Town Ground, when Tom Bradshaw, Patrick Gordon and Malcolm McVean all struck as we won a friendly 3-0.
1922 - We also faced Forest, when Dick Johnson and Donald Mackinlay netted as we won 2-1 at Anfield, with Bobby Parker bagging one of his eight goals against the reds.

Another away win
2006 - We won 3-0 at struggling Charlton Athletic, only our second away victory in the League to date that season but our sixth straight clean sheet in the League. We had to wait until the final ten minutes to add to a Xabi Alonso penalty, given away by ex-red Djimi Traoré, when Craig Bellamy and Steven Gerrard, in his 250th League outing, made the scoreline better reflect the game.

A party at Gay Meadow
1986 - A testimonial match for short-lived reserves keeper Bob Wardle was played at Shrewsbury Town. Steve Nicol scored both our goals in a 2-0 win.

A Welsh foursome
1944 - Future reds boss Don Welsh scored four goals, including a penalty, as we thumped Tranmere Rovers 5-1 at Prenton Park in a Wartime League game. Jackie Campbell bagged the other.

Mixed fortunes against the Blades
1905 - Jack Cox and Maurice Parry were on target as we won 2-1 at Sheffield United.
1911 - We returned to Bramall Lane for another First Division match, with Jack Parkinson grabbing our late consolation in a 3-1 defeat.

No luck against Citeh
We have twice faced Manchester City in the top flight on this day in history, failing to claim all the points on either occasion.
1933 - Berry Nieuwenhuys struck early on as we lost 2-1 at Maine Road, with South African-born forward Lance Carr making his reds bow. Alex Herd struck one of his eight goals against the reds, with Fred Tilson bagging one of his six past us.
1967 - Roger Hunt was on the scoresheet while skippering the side for the first time as we were held to a 1-1 draw at Anfield, with Franny Lee netting one of his six goals past us. Hunt and Tommy Lawrence had both separately been stuck in traffic getting to the match, whose start had to be delayed, leading to a hefty fine for the club. Both players eventually abandoned their cars and ran to the ground to try to make kick-off!

European joy
1964 - Roger Hunt bagged the only goal of the game in the last minute as we won a European Cup tie at RSC Anderlecht, to reach the last eight by 4-0 on aggregate. We progressed as far as the Semi-final in our first ever season in European competition, where we lost to Internazionale in controversial circumstances.

Other defeats
1978 - We lost 1-0 at Bristol City with the only goal being scored by former Blue Joe Royle, the last of his five against the reds. Ex-red Peter Cormack also played for the home side.
1950 – We were thumped 4-1 at Anfield by Wolverhampton Wanderers with Billy Liddell netting our consolation from the spot. This was our biggest home defeat for four years as Johnny Walker nabbed a brace, with Roy Swinbourne netting one of his five goals against the reds, and Dennis Wilshaw scoring one of his seven past us.

Happy birthdays
1897 - Forward Peter McKinney was born in Consett, County Durham. He struck once in three reds appearances, all in 1920/21, and later emigrated to the USA to join New York Giants.
1974 - Phil Neal’s son Ashley was born in Liverpool. He was a defender on our books in the early 1990’s before moving to Huddersfield Town in December 1996.

1985 - Ex-reserves forward Ramon Calliste was born in Cardiff. The former Welsh Under-21’s international joined the club in the summer of 2005 after being released by Manchester United, and top-scored with seven goals for the second string. He moved on to Sc***horpe United in July 2006 but was released at the end of that season, having also failed to break into their first team.

Royal manoeuvres
2014 – Former reds First Team Coach Steve Clarke was appointed Manager of Reading.
2009 - Brendan Rodgers left as Manager of the Royals by mutual consent, having been in charge for just six months after guiding them to only six victories in 23 games in charge.

Other management moves
2008 – Paul Ince was sacked as Manager of Blackburn Rovers, having led them to just six victories in his 21 fixtures in charge.
1976 - 1950’s wing-half Bobby Campbell was appointed Manager of Fulham. He was in charge for nearly four years, keeping them in the Second Division until they were relegated in 1980.
1999 - Mark Wright was named Southport boss. He led them up from 21st to ninth place in the Conference in his first season, and to fourth in the following campaign before moving to Oxford United.

Luis wins again
2013 - Luis Suárez was presented with William Hill Football Supporters’ Federation Player of the Year award at the Emirates Stadium

Brucie on the move again
1997 - Bruce Grobbelaar signed for Second Division Oldham Athletic on non-contract terms. He made four appearances, keeping three clean sheets, before moving to Chesham United at the end of the season.