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In comes Spud 1997 - Danny Murphy arrived from Crewe Alexandra for an overall £3m fee. Spud was nearly on his way out early into his Anfield career, but later established himself as a vital squad member. He made 249 first-team appearances, scoring a useful 44 times, before moving to Charlton Athletic for £2.5m in August 2004. He had helped us to claim the UEFA Cup, FA Cup, UEFA Super Cup, League Cup and FA Charity Shield in his time at the club. Double capture 2011 – Winger Stewart Downing signed from Aston Villa for £18.5m, while keeper Alexander Doni joined on a free transfer from Roma. Downing netted seven times in 91 outings before moving to West Ham United for £6m in August 2013, as well as scoring in the shoot-out as we claimed the Carling Cup at Wembley in 2012. Doni featured four times before joining Botafogo in his native Brazil in January 2013 having apparently suffered a heart attack during a routine medical in the summer of 2012. The Wright signing 1991 - Mark Wright arrived from Derby County for £2.2m. With Alan Hansen retired, Glenn Hysén soon to go and Gary Gillespie moving on to Celtic, we were in dire need of a quality centre-back, and Wright was drafted in after his impressive displays for England at the 1990 World Cup. He notched nine times in 210 reds appearances and lifted the FA Cup at Wembley in 1992 before retiring from playing in August 1998. Final despair 2018 – Dejan Lovren played in the World Cup Final in Moscow, with France beating Croatia 4-2. 2007 - Javier Mascherano was on the losing side in the Copa América Final, also being booked as Argentina were beaten 3-0 by future red Alexander Doni’s Brazil in Venezuela. Meanwhile, Emiliano Insúa featured as Argentina Under-20’s beat Mexico 1-0 in the Quarter-final of the World Championships in Ottawa. Off goes Igor 2005 - Igor Bišcan signed for Panathinaikos after 118 reds games. The big Croat netted three times as he helped us to the Worthington Cup, UEFA Super Cup and Charity Shield in 2001, the Worthington Cup again two years later, as well as playing a key role on the road to Istanbul. He had arrived from Dinamo Zagreb for £5.5m in December 2000. Lazar signs on 2014 - Serbian winger Lazar Marković signed from SL Benfica for £20m. He struck three times in 34 games before spending much of his time out on loan, moving on to Fulham for free in February 2019. Bellers off the mark 2006 - Paul Anderson and Craig Bellamy both scored in their first reds games as we won a friendly 2-0 at Wrexham. Also making their first senior appearances that day were Godwin Antwi, Danny Guthrie, Adam Hammill, Jack Hobbs, Besian Idrizaj, David Martin, Danny O'Donnell, Gabriel Paletta, Lee Peltier, Miki Roqué, James Smith and Robbie Threlfall. More reds firsts 2009 - Keeper Péter Gulácsi, right-back Glen Johnson and centre-backs Daniel Ayala and Mikel San José all made their reds bows as we were held to a goalless draw in our friendly with St. Gallen 1879 in their AFG Arena in Switzerland. Bonne anniversaire 1981 - French midfielder Alou Diarra was born in Villepinte. After his free transfer from Bayern München in July 2002, he spent three seasons on loan in France, first at Le Havre AC, and then at Bastia and Racing Club de Lens, who he signed permanently for in June 2005. His only appearance in a red shirt came in a friendly win in Le Havre, when he enjoyed the rare distinction of returning to the pitch after having been substituted, as a replacement for Vegard Heggem. Suso the champion 2012 – Suso featured as Spain Under-19’s beat Greece 1-0 in the European Championships Final in Estonia. 2016 – Future red Dominic Solanke scored for England Under-19’s as they beat the Netherlands 2-1 in a group stage game in Germany, with Sheyi Ojo and Jordan Rossiter also in action. This was his second and last strike at this level. Stevie signs on again 2013 – Steven Gerrard signed a new contract to tie him to the club until 2015. He struck 186 times in 710 reds games, moving on to LA Galaxy in July 2015, before returning to the reds on the Academy staff. Redders in charge 1999 - It was confirmed that Jamie Redknapp would take over from the departed Paul Ince as reds captain. Robbie Fowler was appointed as his deputy. Unfortunately, much of his time as skipper was blighted by injury. Ray’s birthday 1920 - Keeper Ray Minshull was born in Bolton. He spent most of his five years at Anfield as deputy to Cyril Sidlow, making just 31 first-team appearances after joining the reds in September 1946. He left for Southport in June 1951, playing more than 200 times for them, and later became Player/Manager at Wigan Athletic. On the move 2003 – Future reds right-back Glen Johnson joined Chelsea from West Ham United for £6m, becoming the first signing of the Roman Abramovich era. He bagged four goals in 71 outings before joining Portsmouth in August 2006, initially on loan. On the same day, ex-reds reserves defender Alex Watson left basement side Exeter City for nearby Southern League side Taunton Town after one goal in 51 outings since signing on free transfer from Torquay United two years earlier. 1997 - Ex-red Ray Houghton signed for Reading from Crystal Palace on a free transfer. He struck just once in 56 appearances in his two seasons with the Royals before moving on to Stevenage Borough. 2016 – Ex-reds right-back Antonio Barragán joined Middlesbrough from Valencia, playing 27 times as they were relegated in his only campaign on Teesside, moving on to Real Betis Balompié in July 2017. 1993 - Ex-reserves striker John Durnin joined Portsmouth from Oxford United for £200,000, four years after moving to the Manor Ground from Anfield. He bagged just 33 goals in his 207 appearances for Pompey before moving on to Carlisle United on a free transfer. 2006 - Former reserves defender Gareth Roberts signed for Doncaster Rovers from Tranmere Rovers. He netted eight times in 165 games for his new club helping them to reach and remain in the Championship, before moving on to Derby County in July 2010.

Midfield arrivals 2011 – Charlie Adam signed from Blackpool for an initial £6.75m. He notched twice in 35 outings, helping us to claim the Carling Cup before being sold to Stoke City for a reported £4m thirteen months later. 1984 – Midfielder Alberto Aquilani was born in Rome. He signed from Roma for a basic fee of €20m in August 2009, but injury restricted him to just 28 senior appearances, in which he notched only twice, although he did manage to register six assists in the League, only one less than Steven Gerrard. He was sold to Fiorentina in August 2012 after two seasons on loan back in his native land, with Juventus and AC Milan. Champions 2019 – Alisson Becker, Roberto Firmino and ex-red Philippe Coutinho all featured as Brazil beat Peru 3-1 in the Copa América Final in Rio de Janeiro to become South American champions for the ninth time. Mixed semi-final fortunes 2010 – Fernando Torres and ex-red Xabi Alonso both featured as Spain beat Germany 1-0 in Durban to reach the World Cup Final. 1998 - Future red Bolo Zenden played as the Netherlands lost a penalty shoot-out 4-2 to Brazil in the World Cup Semi-final in Marseille after the match had ended 1-1. 2011 – Future reds Emre Can and Samed Yeşil both netted as Germany Under-17’s lost 3-2 to host nation Mexico in the World Championships Semi-final. On the same day, future red Mohamed Salah scored as Egypt Under-20’s drew a friendly 2-2 in Portugal. 2016 – Can played for the senior side as Germany lost 2-0 to France in the European Championships Semi-final in Marseille. Ince out 1999 - It was announced that Paul Ince would be leaving the club. Gérard Houllier said, “I have told him he is not in my plans for Liverpool. He should look elsewhere now.” He joined Middlesbrough for £1m three weeks later. He had struck seventeen times in 81 reds games during his two years at Anfield. Ending up fourth 1990 - Peter Beardsley, Steve McMahon and future red Mark Wright all played as England lost 2-1 to Italy in the World Cup third place play-off in Bari. Debuts galore 2018 – Rafa Camacho, Fabinho, Curtis Jones, Naby Keïta and Nathaniel Phillips all made their reds bows as we thumped Chester 7-0 at their Swansway Chester Stadium in our opening pre-season friendly. Winger Harry Wilson bagged his first two goals for the club as we led 2-0 at half time. James Milner converted a penalty before Daniel Sturridge bagged a brace, with Ryan Kent netting his first for the reds and Danny Ings also on target. In blows South 1931 - Centre-half Alex South was born. He struck once in just seven appearances after signing from his hometown club Brighton & Hove Albion for £5,000 in December 1954, before moving on to Halifax Town in October 1956, for whom he racked up over three hundred games. Besian’s treble 2007 - Besian Idrizaj scored a hat-trick, his first reds goals, as we took a three-goal half-time lead in our opening pre-season friendly at Wrexham before eventually winning 3-2. Jordy Brouwer, Stephen Darby, Ryan Flynn, Martin Hansen, Ronald Huth, Krisztián Németh, András Simon and Jay Spearing all played their first reds games that day. In and out 2008 – Sarajevo-born forward Nikola Sarić signed for the reds from Herfølge Boldklub in Denmark. He had recently been named as Under-17’s Player of the Year by the Danish Football Association. He failed to break through to the first team and moved on to HNK Hajduk Split in June 2011. 2015 – Spanish right-back Javier Manquillo had his loan from Club Atlético de Madrid terminated. He had made nineteen senior appearances. Emile on the move again 2006 - Emile Heskey joined Wigan Athletic from Birmingham City for £5.5m. He struck sixteen times in 88 games for the Latics before moving to Aston Villa for £3.5m in January 2009. Ray on the way up 1982 - Ray Houghton signed for Fulham from West Ham United on a free transfer, five years prior to his arrival at Anfield. He netted 21 times in 145 appearances for the Cottagers, before moving on to Oxford United. Also on the move 2000 - Young midfielder Leyton Maxwell joined Stockport County on loan. He scored twice in 23 appearances for them before joining Cardiff City on a free transfer a year later. His only reds appearance had come in a Worthington Cup tie against Hull City in September 1999, when he scored in front of the Kop. 2004 - Dominic Matteo joined Blackburn Rovers from Leeds United on a free transfer. Meanwhile, Nick Barmby also moved for free, joining Hull City from Leeds United. Matteo played just 39 times for Rovers before joining Stoke City in January 2007, while Barmby turned out on 197 occasions for his hometown club, netting 32 times, as well as taking over as Manager for five months. 1993 – Future reds first-team coach Kevin Keen joined Wolverhampton Wanderers from West Ham United for £600,000, having bagged thirty goals in 279 outings for the Hammers. 2008 – Ex-reserves forward Steven Gillespie joined Colchester United from Cheltenham Town for £400,000. He bagged 28 goals in 108 outings, stepping down a division to join Fleetwood Town in June 2012. 2011 - Robbie Fowler signed for SCG Muangthong United in Thailand, netting four times in twenty games while in Thailand, also taking over as coach for a while. Stephen Darby left Anfield on loan for Rochdale on the same day, playing forty times as they were relegated from League One. 2014 - Luis García signed for Indian Super League side Atlético de Kolkata, going on to win the Manyavar Most Exciting Player award as they claimed the title. On the same day, Tom Ince joined Hull City, netting once in thirteen outings before moving on to Derby County for £4.75m a year later. 2016 – Keeper Brad Jones signed for Feyenoord, helping them to clinch the League title in his first campaign, their first in eighteen years. 2017 – Right-back Stephen Darby joined Bolton Wanderers on a free transfer from Bradford City, after one goal in 239 games for the Bantams. Getting hitched 1983 - Bruce Grobbelaar married Debbie in Zimbabwe. In typical Brucie fashion, both the happy couple wore tracksuits! 2004 - Danny Murphy wed Joanna Taylor in Barbados, one month prior to his departure from Anfield 2006 - On a sadder note, former player, Coach and Manager Phil Taylor’s wife Maisey died. Larry in charge 1983 - Ex-reds centre-half Larry Lloyd was appointed Manager of Notts County. He was only in charge for fifteen months before he was sacked. They were relegated after three years in the top flight in his only full season in charge. Didi signs on 2005 - Dietmar Hamann signed a new contract for up to two years, depending on the number of appearances he made in the coming season. He moved on in July 2006 after 283 first-team appearances, in which he acted as a sturdy bulwark in front of the defence, scoring just eleven times. He helped us to claim the European Cup, UEFA Cup, two FA Cups, two UEFA Super Cups, two League Cups and the FA Charity Shield. 2011 – Reserves centre-half Andre Wisdom signed a new contract until 2014, subsequently extended further. He scored once in 22 senior games after making his debut in September 2012, moving on to Derby County for an initial £2m in July 2017. Knocked out 2007 - Mark González won his twentieth cap as Chile were thumped 6-1 by future red Alexander Doni’s Brazil in the Quarter-final of the Copa América in Venezuela. On the same day, future red Luis Suárez played as Uruguay Under-20’s lost 2-0 to Zambia in their World Cup Finals group game in Canada, although they still qualified for the knock-out phase.

Edging towards the title 1947 - We moved to within touching distance of our fifth League title as our 2-1 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers took us one point clear of both Wolves and Manchester United, in our final game of the season. Jack Balmer and Albert Stubbins bagged our goals before the break while Wolves legend Stan Cullis, who had guested for the reds during the war, played his final ever game for the club. Jimmy Dunn scored the first of his four goals past us in the second half. However, we had to wait a further two weeks to know for sure if the title was ours, as fellow championship challengers Stoke City had one final game, which they lost at Sheffield United. First and last caps 2000 - Steven Gerrard made his England debut as Kevin Keegan’s side beat the Ukraine 1-0 in a friendly at Wembley thanks to a goal from Robbie Fowler. Emile Heskey won his first cap as a reds player in this game, with future red Nick Barmby and ex-red Steve McManaman also featuring. 1989 - Future red Stig Inge Bjørnebye won his first cap for Norway as they beat Austria 4-1 in a friendly in Oslo. On the same day, Ian Rush, future reds player Dean Saunders and Assistant Manager Colin Pascoe faced future red Karl-Heinz Riedle in a goalless World Cup qualifier between Wales and West Germany in Cardiff. On the same day, Glenn Hysén won his last cap as a Fiorentina player as Sweden beat Algeria 2-0 in a friendly. 1994 - Dominic Matteo made his England Under-21’s debut as a substitute in their 3-0 defeat by France in the Toulon Tournament in Aubagne. Fellow reds Robbie Fowler and Jamie Redknapp both also played. 1977 - Kevin Keegan won his final cap as a reds player, skippering England in their 1-0 defeat to Wales in the British International Championships at Wembley. Fellow reds Emlyn Hughes, Joey Jones, Ray Kennedy and Phil Neal all also featured. 1994 - Ronnie Rosenthal won his last cap as a reds player, and 37th in total, as Israel lost 3-0 to Argentina in a friendly in Tel-Aviv. 2008 – Future red Andy Carroll won his sixth and final cap for England Under-19’s as they held Belarus to a goalless draw in Minsk, so qualifying for the European Championships Finals. 2014 – Young defender Ryan McLaughlin made his senior debut for Northern Ireland in their 1-0 friendly defeat in Uruguay. Sebastián Coates, future red Lazar Marković and ex-reds Alberto Aquilani, Carl Medjani and Gabriel Paletta all also represented their countries that day. Walker’s first steps 1874 - Inside-right John Walker was born in Coatbridge. He joined the reds from Heart Of Midlothian for £175 in March 1898, playing 120 times and scoring 31 goals, including the decisive final goal of the season to hand us our first League title in 1901. The following year he returned to his native Scotland, moving to Rangers. Goals galore in the US We have twice racked up hefty scores in US tour games on this day. 1953 - We trounced Toledo All Stars 10-3 with Kevin Baron, Jimmy Payne and Billy Liddell all bagging braces, and Alan A’Court, Bob Paisley and Jack Smith all also on target. 1946 - We thumped St. Louis All Stars 5-1 in the Walsh Stadium, with Willie Fagan netting twice this time around, and Bob Priday, Jack Balmer and Cyril Done also netting. A new trophy 1919 – We claimed the Lancashire Senior Cup, under its temporary tile of the Lancashire Section Subsidiary Competition, as we beat Oldham Athletic 3-0 in the Final at Old Trafford. Harold Wadsworth and John Miller netted either side of a Harry Lewis penalty. Derby stalemate 1941 - We drew 2-2 with Everton in a Wartime League game at Anfield with Billy Liddell and Cyril Done on target. Sal on target 2003 - Salif Diao netted in Senegal’s 2-1 friendly defeat of Cape Verde in Dakar, with clubmate El-Hadji Diouf also featuring. 2002 - They both also featured as Senegal beat France 1-0 in the opening game of the World Cup Finals, with future red Djibril Cissé appearing from the bench. Happy birthday Alan 1981 - Ex-reserves defender Alan Navarro was born in Liverpool. He never made a first-team appearance for us and moved to Tranmere Rovers for £225,000 in January 2002. Venison to Turkey 1995 - Barry Venison joined Galatasaray from Newcastle United for £750,000. He was signed by ex-reds boss Graeme Souness, but only remained in Turkey for five months, playing eight League games. Mighty Mouse on target 1976 - Kevin Keegan bagged a brace as England beat Team America 3-1 in the US Bicentennial Tournament in Philadelphia. Ray Clemence and Phil Thompson both also played for England, while ex-red Tommy Smith appeared for the Americans. On Song again and again Rigobert Song has played for Cameroon three times on this day in history. 2008 – He netted as skipper in their 2-0 defeat of Cape Verde Islands in a World Cup qualifier in Yaoundé. Xabi Alonso, Nabil El Zhar, Fernando Torres and ex-reds Nicolas Anelka and El-Hadji Diouf also represented their countries that day. 2001 - He was booked in their 2-0 defeat by Brazil in the Confederations Cup in Japan. 1998 - They won a friendly 2-0 in Luxembourg. Internationals on target 2013 – Alberto Aquilani bagged his first strike as a Fiorentina player as Italy beat San Marino 4-0 in a friendly in Bologna, with future red Mario Balotelli also in action, while future red Tiago Ilori played as Portugal Under-20’s beat Belgium Under-21’s 2-0 in a friendly in France. 2005 - Djibril Cissé struck in France’s 2-1 friendly defeat of Hungary in Metz. 2004 - He also featured for his country in a 2-0 friendly defeat of Denmark in Lens, with Christian Poulsen winning his final cap as a Schalke 04 player, and future red Philipp Degen also in international action that day. 2005 - Ex-red Michael Owen bagged a treble to become England’s all-time fourth top goalscorer as he struck his final goals as a Real Madrid player. England beat Colombia 3-2 in New Jersey, with Peter Crouch making his senior bow, winning his only cap as a Southampton player. Ex-red David James and future reds Joe Cole and Glen Johnson also played. On the same day, future red Besian Idrizaj played for Austria Under-19’s as they lost 3-2 to Scotland in a European Championships qualifier in Vöcklamarkt. Management moves 2005 - Mark Wright was appointed Manager of Peterborough United. He was only in charge until the following January, winning twelve of his 35 games in charge. 2018 – Former First Team Coach Paco Herrera was appointed Manager of Greek side Aris Thessaloniki, remaining in charge for six months. Conal on the move 2006 - Former reserves forward Conal Platt signed for Bournemouth having been released by the reds at the end of the season. He only made one senior appearance for the Cherries and is now playing for Stalybridge Celtic in the Conference North. On the same day, future red Nuri Şahin played as Turkey beat Saudi Arabia 1-0 in a friendly in Germany. 2015 - Ex-reserves defender Gareth Roberts signed for Conference North side Stockport County, having been released by Chester. John a Rover again 2007 – Future reds goalkeeping coach John Achterberg signed a new two-year playing/coaching contract with Tranmere Rovers. He went on to play 312 times in total for Rovers. Youngsters in action 2011 – Five reds featured for England Under-19’s as they beat Montenegro 1-0 in a European Championships qualifier in Switzerland. Andre Wisdom skippered a side that also included Conor Coady, Tom Ince, Michael Ngoo and Jack Robinson, with future red Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain making his debut at this level. 2017 – Future red Dominic Solanke played as England Under-20’s beat Costa Rica 2-1 in the World Cup Finals in South Korea.