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Happy birthdays 1961 - Steve McMahon was born in Liverpool. He signed from Aston Villa for £350,000 in September 1985 and struck fifty times in 277 reds appearances in his six years at Anfield, during which time he won three League titles, the FA Cup and two FA Charity Shields. He left the reds to sign for Manchester City for £900,000 in December 1991. 2003 – Forward Max Woltman was born in Wirral. He joined the Academy at the age of seven, playing in the FA Youth Cup Final in May 2021 after turning pro the previous January. He signed a new contract in May 2022, so far making two senior appearances in cup competitions. 1895 – Inside-left Dick Forshaw was born in Preston. He joined the reds in July 1919, winning two League titles while with the reds, scoring an impressive 124 times in 288 games. He has the unique honour of being the only player ever to claim League championship medals with both Merseyside clubs, helping the Blues to one in 1928 after he had crossed Stanley Park for £3,750 in March 1927. 1888 – Forward Harry Welfare was born in Liverpool. He signed from Northern Nomads in 1912, notching once in four outings before moving to Wrexham the following year. He later had a very successful career in Brazil, helping Fluminense to claim the title three times in succession while bagging 163 goals in just 166 games. Double hola 2004 - We signed a pair of Spaniards. Xabi Alonso arrived from Real Sociedad for £10.7m, with Luis García signing from Barcelona for a £6m fee. Xabi netted nineteen times, showing his silky passing skills in 210 reds games before moving to Real Madrid for £30m in August 2009. García struck thirty times, including five in our glorious Champions League campaign in 2005, in 121 games, before returning to his homeland to join Club Atlético de Madrid in July 2007. 2012 – Slovakian centre-half Martin Škrtel signed a new contract. He arrived from Zenit St. Petersburg for £6.5m to become our most expensive defender to date, notching eighteen goals in 320 games in total, including one in our Carling Cup win at Wembley in February 2012, moving on to Fenerbahçe Spor Kulübü for £5.5m in July 2016. Goalscoring debuts 1977 - Kenny Dalglish scored on his League debut as we drew 1-1 at Middlesbrough, with David Armstrong bagging the first of his four goals past us. 1960 - Winger and new £13,000 record signing Kevin Lewis scored on his debut as we beat Leeds United 2-0 at Anfield in another season opener, with the other goal coming from former blue Dave Hickson. 2016 – Marko Grujić made his senior reds bow as we dominated but lost 2-0 at Burnley, with Sam Vokes and Andre Gray both on target before the break. Royal victories 2018 - Sadio Mané scored in his third consecutive reds game as we won 2-0 at Crystal Palace, with James Milner handing us the lead from the spot at the very end of the first half. Aaron Wan-Bissaka was sent off for the home side before Mané struck in injury time. Daniel Sturridge played his hundredth League game for the reds. 1994 - We thumped Palace 6-1 at Selhurst Park to get the season off to a great start. Steve McManaman and Ian Rush scored twice apiece, with Jan Mølby and Robbie Fowler also on the scoresheet. Chris Armstrong bagged the home side’s consolation. Lefties on the way in 2013 – Left-back Aly Cissokho signed on loan from Valencia. The Frenchman played nineteen reds games without scoring. 1894 – Outside-left John Drummond joined from Sheffield United, scoring once in eighteen outings before moving on to Barnsley St. Peter’s the following year. Mixed fortunes at Wembley 1983 - Joe Fagan’s first game in charge came in the FA Charity Shield, when we lost 2-0 to Manchester United. Michael Robinson made his first-class reds debut in this match. Bryan Robson bagged both United’s goals, two of his seven strikes against us. 1988 - We gained some revenge on Wimbledon for our FA Cup Final defeat earlier that year, coming from behind to beat them 2-1 thanks to a John Aldridge brace, to claim the Shield for the seventh time outright. Charlie Boyd and Jim Magilton both sat on our bench for the first of just two occasions, while John Fashanu netted one of his six goals against us. Beating the Gunners 2011 – We beat Arsenal 2-0 in our first ever win at the Emirates Stadium. Emmanuel Frimpong was sent off before Ignasi Miquel’s clearance rebounded off Aaron Ramsey’s chest for an own goal. Luis Suárez then added a second in stoppage time. The king at Anfield 1966 - A fifteen-year old Kenny Dalglish wore the number eight shirt playing for Liverpool B as they beat Southport 1-0 in a Lancashire League match, five years before he signed professional terms with Celtic. However, he was not taken on by Bill Shankly, returning to Anfield as our record signing eleven years later. Milan’s farewell 2005 - Milan Baroš played his 108th and final reds game, with Luis García making his fiftieth reds appearance, as Xabi Alonso nabbed the only goal of our Anfield encounter with Sunderland, who had Andy Welsh sent off, the second of fifteen dismissals against the reds that season. 1949 - We also entertained the Mackems, winning 4-2 in a season opener, with Bob Paisley, Jack Balmer, Kevin Baron and Albert Stubbins all on target, with Billy Liddell missing a penalty. Dickie Davis struck one of his seven goals against us, with Ivor Broadis also on target. We went on to finish eighth that season. The mancs at home at Anfield 1971 - An unusual situation occurred as Manchester United played a home fixture at Anfield. Old Trafford was closed for two weeks due to hooliganism, and so United entertained Arsenal at Anfield. The ‘home’ side won 3-1. Frank McLintock sent the Gunners in ahead at half time, but goals from George Best, Bobby Charlton and Brian Kidd secured United’s victory. Jan’s debut 1984 - Jan Mølby scored in his first reds game, two days before he officially signed, as we beat Home Farm 3-0 in a friendly held at Tolka Park in Dublin. Ronnie Whelan added a brace, while Ian Rush sustained cartilage damage that kept him out of the first team for two months. The game had been arranged as part of the transfer deal that brought Ken DeMange and Brian Mooney to Anfield. Cally’s milestone 1974 – Ian Callaghan played his 500th League game for the reds in our goalless game at Wolverhampton Wanderers. Another season opener 1955 - We began our season with a 3-1 Second Division win at Nottingham Forest, with Alan A’Court nabbing a brace and John Evans also netting, as full-back Ray Lambert played his 300th League game for the club. Unfortunately, we ended the season in third, missing out on promotion again. Phil the champion 2011 – Future red Philippe Coutinho won his seventh and final cap for Brazil Under-20’s as they beat Portugal 3-2 after extra time in the World Championship Final in Colombia. Fifty years for the League 1938 - We lost a friendly 2-1 at Everton. Jack Balmer netted in a game staged to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Football League. International reds on target 2008 – Xabi Alonso struck twice as Spain beat Daniel Agger’s Denmark 3-0 in a friendly in Copenhagen, with Pepe Reina and Fernando Torres also featuring and Christian Poulsen winning his first cap while with Juventus. Milan Baroš scored while winning his first cap as a Galatasaray player as the Czech Republic drew 2-2 with an England side that included Steven Gerrard, future red Stewart Downing and ex-reds Emile Heskey and David James at Wembley, with future red Joe Cole netting. Also in international action were Dirk Kuyt, future reds Ragnar Klavan, Raul Meireles, Nuri Şahin, Luis Suárez and Kolo Touré, and ex-reds Salif Diao, Alou Diarra and John Toshack. 2003 - Michael Owen scored for England as they beat Croatia 3-1 in a friendly at Portman Road. Steven Gerrard, Emile Heskey, Danny Murphy and ex-red David James all also played, with Joe Cole winning his first cap as a Chelsea player. On the same day, Jerzy Dudek, Stéphane Henchoz, ex-red Don Hutchison and future reds Craig Bellamy, Yossi Benayoun, Djibril Cissé, Mark González, Paul Jones, Christian Poulsen and Bolo Zenden all also featured for their countries. International beginnings and ends 2008 – Andrea Dossena won his first cap as a reds player, only his second to date, as Italy drew 2-2 with Austria in a friendly in Nice, with future red Alberto Aquilani also featuring and Alex Manninger playing for the last time while with Juventus. Meanwhile, Robbie Keane netted while making his first appearance for the Republic of Ireland since moving to Anfield as they drew 1-1 with Norway in Oslo. Steve Finnan won his last cap before leaving the reds, while John Arne Riise played his first international since joining Roma. On the same day, Jari Litmanen won his first cap in his second spell as a Lahti player, playing alongside Sami Hyypiä as Finland beat Yossi Benayoun’s Israel 2-0 in Tampere. Sotirios Kyrgiakos won his first cap while with A.E.K Athens in Greece’s 2-0 friendly win against Martin Škrtel’s Slovakia in Bratislava. Meanwhile, Salif Diao and El-Hadji Diouf both played as Senegal drew a friendly 0-0 in Libya, for the first time since joining Stoke City and Sunderland, respectively. 1997 - Ex-red Lee Jones won his second and final cap, and only one as a Tranmere Rovers player, as Wales lost a World Cup qualifier 6-4 in Turkey. Keeper Paul Jones won his first cap as a Southampton player, while ex-red Dean Saunders netted his last goal while with Nottingham Forest, as he won his 59th cap. On the same day, Christian Ziege won his first cap as an AC Milan player, and Jim Magilton made his last appearance while at Southampton as Germany beat Northern Ireland 3-1 in another qualifier at Windsor Park. Ray Houghton won his seventieth cap, and final one as a Crystal Palace player, as the Republic of Ireland were held to a goalless draw in their World Cup qualifier against Lithuania at Lansdowne Road. Mark Kennedy and ex-red Steve Staunton also featured. Meanwhile, future red John Arne Riise won his fourth and last cap for Norway Under-16’s as they lost 3-2 to Sweden. Also in action that day were Stig Inge Bjørnebye and future reds Markus Babbel, Stéphane Henchoz, Jari Litmanen and Vladimír Šmicer. 2002 - Pepe Reina won his first Under-21’s cap as a Villarreal player in Spain’s 1-0 friendly win in Hungary, with fellow future red Xabi Alonso also featuring, and Daniel Sjölund featuring for Finland Under-21’s in their 1-0 defeat by the Republic of Ireland. 2003 - Andriy Voronin won his last senior cap while with 1. FSV Mainz 05, and twelfth to date, as the Ukraine lost a friendly 2-0 to Romania in Kyiv. On the same day, Alou Diarra, Anthony Le Tallec, Florent Sinama-Pongolle and future red Charles Itandje all featured as France Under-21’s drew 1-1 in a friendly in Switzerland. 2018 – Future red Harvey Elliott won his only cap for England Under-16’s in their 1-0 defeat of Scotland at St. George’s Park. 2019 – Billy Koumetio made his debut for France Under-18’s as they thumped Paraguay 5-1 in a friendly. On the move again 2015 – Former Assistant Manager Pako Ayestarán was appointed Club Santos Laguna boss in Mexico, but only remained in charge for three months before his contract was terminated “by mutual consent”. 2011 – Harry Kewell signed for Melbourne Victory, while Nabil El Zhar joined Spanish side Levante U.D. Kewell struck eight times in 25 outings in his one season in southern Australia, while El Zhar scored ten goals in 114 games before rescinding his contract in August 2015. 2010 - Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain signed as a professional for Southampton, going on to score ten goals in 43 outings before moving on to Arsenal in August 2011 for an initial £12m. 2005 - Albert Riera signed for R.C.D. Espanyol from Girondins de Bordeaux, having struck four times in 53 League games for the French side. 1993 – Current Chief Scout Barry Hunter joined Wrexham from Crusaders for £50,000, scoring six goals in 120 games before moving on to Reading in July 1996 for £400,000. 2003 - Future red Jermaine Pennant joined Leeds United on loan from Arsenal. He struck twice in 36 games as the Whites were relegated. 2004 - Ex-reserves defender Alan Navarro joined Chester City on loan from Tranmere Rovers. He played four times for the Blues, and then had another loan spell later in the season, this time with fellow League Two side Macclesfield Town. 2019 – Ex-reds midfielder Kevin MacDonald left Aston Villa’s coaching staff for a second time, this time having been suspended for eight months following allegations of bullying. 2021 – Keeper Andy Lonergan signed for Everton, failing to make a senior appearance in his first campaign, just as he did in his one season with the reds. Other reds games 1969 – We won 2-0 at Manchester City with Bobby Graham bagging a brace. 1968 – We beat Stoke City 2-1 at Anfield with Terry Conroy giving the visitors the lead with the first of his four goals past us. Ian Callaghan equalised before Tony Allen turned a Peter Thompson cross into his own net. 1966 – We defeated Leicester City 3-2 in L4 in our opening League game of the season. Roger Hunt and Geoff Strong struck before Derek Dougan netted the first two of his four goals against the reds. Willie Stevenson scored the winner from the spot. Also in international action 2017 – Bobby Duncan played for England Under-17’s as they beat Scotland 2-1 in a friendly in Burton. 2007 – Future red Christian Benteke featured for Belgium Under-17’s in the World Championships Finals as they lost a group game 4-2 to Tunisia in South Korea. 1986 – Future red Glenn Hysén played for Sweden in their goalless friendly draw with the USSR in Gothenburg. 1980 – Hysén played for Sweden Under-21’s in their 1-0 friendly victory over Hungary in Budapest.

Goalscoring feats at St. James’ Park 1987 - Steve Nicol grabbed a hat-trick in our 4-1 win at Newcastle United in front of the live TV cameras, following John Aldridge’s opener, who also had another strike disallowed for offside. Neil McDonald converted from the spot for the home side. 1961 - Right-half Gordon Milne scored his first reds goal to help us to a 2-1 Second Division win there, with our other score coming from a George Heslop own goal. Kevin Lewis had a penalty saved by United keeper Dave Hollins. Dirk off the mark 2006 - Dirk Kuyt grabbed his first reds goal, and 150th career strike to date, which was also our fiftieth Premier League strike against Newcastle United. We won 2-0 at Anfield, with Luis García playing his hundredth reds game. Xabi Alonso spectacularly scored from inside his own half, the second time he had managed that feat for the reds that year. Quick-fire Billy 1958 - Billy Liddell scored after sixteen seconds, with Ronnie Moran putting through his own net to level the score at Bristol City in our Second Division meeting. He added another in the second half, with wing-half Bobby Campbell grabbing the first of his two reds goals as we won 3-1. This was Liddell’s third brace in six games. Barney Rubble departs 1985 - Left-back Alan Kennedy was sold to Sunderland for £100,000. He is best remembered for his winning strikes in two European Cup Finals, but also won five League titles, four League Cups and three FA Charity Shields after moving from Newcastle United for £330,000 in August 1978, netting twenty times in 359 appearances. Off the mark 2015 – Substitute Danny Ings bagged his first reds goal as we were held to a 1-1 draw at Anfield by Norwich City, with Lucas Leiva playing his 200th League game for the club. Unfortunately, Russell Martin capitalised on a Simon Mignolet error to equalise. Happy birthdays 1922 - Left-back Eddie Spicer was born in Liverpool. He was decorated for bravery whilst serving with the Royal Marines in the Second World War, going on to score twice in 168 reds games, helping us to the first post-war League title and playing in the 1950 FA Cup Final. Unfortunately, a second broken leg ended his career in December 1953. 1895 - Full-back Tommy Lucas was born in St. Helens. He signed from Alexandra Victoria in 1916 and played 366 reds games, netting three times, winning one League title and captaining England in his time at Anfield. He moved on to Clapton Orient in July 1933. 2003 – Midfielder James Balagizi was born in Manchester. He signed pro terms in September 2020, having joined as an Under-11 from Manchester City. A wise move 2012 – Defender Andre Wisdom netted on his reds bow as we won our UEFA Europa League group game 5-3 at BSC Young Boys, with winger Oussama Assaidi and midfielder Suso also debuting. Juhani Ojala scored an own goal after just three minutes, with Wisdom nodding us back in front after an equaliser from Raphael Nuzzolo. Ojala and then Gonzalo Zárate struck after the break to turn the game around, before Sebastián Coates headed us level, with substitute Jonjo Shelvey bagging a brace to secure victory. Thiago’s bow 2020 - Thiago Alcântara debuted as we won 2-0 behind closed doors at Chelsea, with Andreas Christensen sent off for the home side on the stroke of half time. Sadio Mané bagged a brace early in the second half, with Alisson Becker later saving a penalty from Jorginho. East end despair 2014 – We lost 3-1 at West Ham United, with Winston Reid and Diafra Sakho putting the Irons two up inside the first ten minutes, with ex-red Stewart Downing effectively man-marking Steven Gerrard. Raheem Sterling struck past future red Adrián to give the reds hope, but Morgan Amalfitano completed the scoring late on. This meant we set a new club record of scoring in seventeen consecutive away games in the top flight, a record that eventually stopped at eighteen. Happy birthday Jerome 1996 – Forward Jerome Sinclair was born in Birmingham. He arrived from West Bromwich Albion’s Academy aged fourteen in the summer of 2011, becoming our youngest ever player in September 2012, aged sixteen years and six days, when he featured in a League Cup Third Round tie at his old club. He eventually struck once in five senior appearances before he moved to Watford for £4m in June 2016. Out-foxed again 2003 - Michael Owen netted from the spot before Emile Heskey struck the winner against his old club Leicester City at Anfield for the third consecutive season as we won 2-1, with Marcus Bent bagging a very late consolation for the visitors. Disappointment at The Dell 1986 - Kevin MacDonald broke his leg shortly after coming on as a substitute as we lost 2-1 at Southampton, with Steve McMahon equalising after David Armstrong opened the scoring with the last of his four goals against the reds. However, Glenn Cockerill struck the winner for the Saints. 1980 - Graeme Souness and David Fairclough netted as we drew 2-2, with Phil Neal missing a penalty. Avi Cohen was heavily criticised in the Israeli press for playing on the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur. 1997 - We also drew on the south coast, with Karl-Heinz Riedle nabbing our goal before Kevin Davies equalised with the first of his four strikes past us. A milestone day at Old Trafford 2004 - We lost 2-1 at Manchester United, as we benefited from a John O’Shea own goal, sandwiched between a Mikael Silvestre brace for the home side. Steven Gerrard broke a bone in his foot in front of 67,857, the largest crowd to watch the reds in the Premier League to that point. This was our 2,000th away League match, and 4,000th League game overall, as United reached 200 League goals against us, with keeper Jerzy Dudek playing his hundredth reds game, and Ryan Giggs appearing for the 600th time for United. 1893 - We had previously visited United, playing Newton Heath as they were then known in a friendly at Bank Street. Patrick Gordon, Hugh McQueen and Malcolm McVean all struck as we won 3-0. Centenary defeat 1988 - We lost 2-1 at Arsenal in the Mercantile Credit Centenary Trophy, staged to celebrate a hundred years of the Football League. Perry Groves opened the scoring in the first half with Steve Staunton bagging a late equaliser with his first reds goal, but Brian Marwood struck the winner. Charlie Boyd sat on our bench for one of only two times, on his nineteenth birthday. Derby joy 1913 - Billy Lacey struck a brace as we beat Everton 2-1 at Goodison Park in a First Division meeting, to secure our first win of the season in our fourth fixture. Full-back Sam Speakman made the first of his 26 reds appearances in this game. 2016 – Centre-half Ragnar Klavan opened the scoring with his first reds goal as we won 3-0 at Derby County in a League Cup Third Round match, as midfielder Ovie Ejaria and keeper Loris Karius made their debuts. Philippe Coutinho and Divock Origi both scored after the break. Bill begins 1924 – Defender Bill Cockburn played the first of his 67 reds games as we held Bury to a goalless draw at Gigg Lane in a top-flight meeting. Mixed fortunes against the Villains We have faced Aston Villa three times in the top flight on this day in history, winning twice. 1975 - John Toshack, Kevin Keegan and Jimmy Case all netted in the final half hour as we won 3-0 at home. 1919 - Dick Forshaw bagged the only goal of the game at Villa Park to hand us victory, which was the first of his 124 reds strikes. 1930 - Gordon Hodgson struck a brace as we lost 4-2 in the Midlands. Eric Houghton scored the first of his six goals against the reds, with George Brown netting one of his nine, Billy Walker one of his five past us, and Tom Waring nabbing the first of his six. Three times against the Potters 2008 - We were held to a goalless draw by Stoke City at Anfield, with Steven Gerrard having a legitimate second-minute free-kick strike ruled out. 1969 - We saw off the Potters 3-1 at home, with Emlyn Hughes on target in his hundredth League game for the reds. Roger Hunt and Ian Callaghan also struck in our tenth consecutive League defeat of Stoke in what was Bill Shankly’s 500th game in charge of the reds. 1902 - Leigh Roose struck through the wrong net in the second minute as were held to a 1-1 top-flight draw by Stoke in L4. Beattie beaten 1983 - Andy Beattie died, aged seventy. He guested for the reds at full-back during the Second World War, and later spent some time on our backroom staff. He managed a host of clubs as well as the Scotland national side, working with Bill Shankly at Huddersfield Town, having played alongside him at Preston North End. Young Englanders 1983 - Future red Paul Walsh grabbed a brace as England Under-21’s beat their Danish counterparts 4-1 in a European Championships qualifier at Carrow Road. Ex-red Dave Watson and future red Mark Walters both made their debuts in this game, while fellow future red Mark Wright also played. 2003 - Michael Foley-Sheridan and David Raven both played for their countries at Under-19’s level in European Championships qualifiers, with the latter making his debut for England at this level. The Republic of Ireland trounced San Marino 10-1 in Serravalle, while England beat Liechtenstein 2-0 in Moscow. 2010 – Samed Yeşil scored his first goal for Germany Under-17’s as they drew a friendly 2-2 with Italy in Elversberg with fellow future red Emre Can also featuring. 1950 – Centre-half Laurie Hughes played for an England World Cup XI against the FA Canadian Touring Team in the FA Charity Shield at Stamford Bridge, with England winning 4-2. Reds aiming to go to Italy 1978 - Phil Neal scored his third goal in four England games as they won 4-3 in a European Championships qualifier in Denmark. Emlyn Hughes skippered a side that also included Ray Clemence and ex-red Kevin Keegan, who netted twice. On the same day, Steve Heighway and future red Mark Lawrenson both played in the first ever senior international between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, at Lansdowne Road. Meanwhile, Kenny Dalglish and Graeme Souness both appeared for Scotland in their 3-2 win in Austria, as they too opened their campaign to qualify for the finals in Italy. Nice one Cyril 1941 - Cyril Done scored a hat-trick as we beat Manchester City 4-2 in a Wartime League game at Anfield, with Dickie Dorsett netting the other. Twice against the Trotters 1897 – Forward Dan Cunliffe bagged a brace with John McCartney also on target as we beat Bolton Wanderers 3-1 in a friendly at Anfield. 1947 - The Trotters returned for a First Division fixture, with the game this time ending goalless. Jameo saves 1995 - David James saved a penalty from Michael Gray as we beat Sunderland 2-0 in a League Cup Second Round first leg match at Anfield, thanks to goals from Steve McManaman and substitute Michael Thomas. Fabs at the Olympics 2000 – Future red Fábio Aurélio played for Brazil as they beat Japan 1-0 in an Olympics match in Brisbane. Only cap 1989 – Future reds goalkeeping coach José Ochotorena won his only cap in Spain’s 1-0 friendly defeat of Poland in A Coruña. On the move 2013 – Argentine ex-reserves midfielder Gerardo Bruna signed for Spanish Segunda División B side S.D. Huesca, netting once in seventeen outings during his one season there. 2016 – Former Assistant Manager Pako Ayestarán was sacked as Head Coach of Valencia, having only been in charge for three months. 2021 – Centre-half Terence Miles turned pro with the reds, having arrived at Under-7’s level and is the nephew of former Academy forward John Miles. On the same day, Harry Kewell was sacked as Manager of National League side Barnet, having lost five and drawn two of his seven games in charge. Other reds game 1952 – We beat Middlesbrough 4-1 at Anfield, with Jimmy Payne, Jack Smith, Bryan Williams and Kevin Baron all on target. Also in international action 2018 - Future red Mateusz Musiałowski played for Poland Under-16’s in their 3-1 defeat of the Czech Republic. 2006 – Future red Astrit Ajdarević appeared for Sweden Under-17’s as they drew 1-1 with Liechtenstein in a European Championships qualifier in Greece. 2001 - Future reds Javier Mascherano and Fernando Torres faced each other in the Under-17’s World Championship Finals in Trinidad, with Argentina beating Spain 4-2. 1977 – Joey Jones and John Toshack both featured as Wales drew a friendly 0-0 in Kuwait.