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Happy birthdays 1960 - Craig Johnston was born in Johannesburg in South Africa. The Aussie battler arrived from Middlesbrough for a club record £650,000 fee in April 1981 and grabbed forty goals, including one in the 1986 FA Cup Final, in 271 reds games. He won the European Cup, five League titles, the FA Cup and two League Cups in his time at Anfield. 1973 - Jamie Redknapp was born in Barton-on-Sea, Hampshire. He struck 41 times in his 308 first-team appearances after signing from Bournemouth in June 1990. Although he only won one winners’ medal in his time at Anfield, the Coca Cola Cup in 1995, he was a popular member of the squad, and was club captain during the historic treble season of 2000/01, going up to lift the FA Cup at the Millennium Stadium with Robbie Fowler. He retired from the game in June 2005 after brief spells with Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton and is now a regular on Sky Sports. 2001 – Forward Bobby Duncan was born in Whiston. He joined from Manchester City in August 2018. 1927 - Keeper Russell Crossley was born in Hebden Bridge in Yorkshire. He joined the reds from Army football twenty years later, but made just 73 appearances in his seven seasons at Anfield. 1906 - Outside-right Danny McRorie was born in Glasgow. He bagged six goals in 35 reds games after signing from Morton in November 1930. He moved on to Rochdale in October 1933. First red at the World Cup 1950 - Defender Laurie Hughes made his England debut against Chile in Rio de Janeiro, becoming the first red to appear in the World Cup Finals. England won the game 2-0, with goals from Blackpool’s Stan Mortensen and Wilf Mannion of Middlesbrough. To the World Cup Final 2002 - Dietmar Hamann won his 45th cap as Germany beat South Korea 1-0 to reach the World Cup Final. He therefore became the first red since ‘Sir’ Roger Hunt in 1966 to qualify for the biggest football game of them all. He was our keeper... 2013 – Our Belgian keeper Simon Mignolet signed from Sunderland for £9m. He kept 65 clean sheets in 204 senior outings, making a string of top-class saves as we finished second in the League in his first campaign. However, his subsequent five seasons were more mixed and he moved on to Club Brugge for an initial reported £6.4m last August. Also at the World Cup 2006 - Jamie Carragher, Steven Gerrard and future reds Joe Cole and Stewart Downing all played in England’s 1-0 defeat of Ecuador in Stuttgart to reach the Quarter-finals of the World Cup. Meanwhile, future red Dirk Kuyt was on the losing side as Portugal beat the Netherlands 1-0 in Nuremberg. 2010 – Fernando Torres and ex-red Xabi Alonso faced ex-red Mark González as Spain beat Chile 2-1 in Pretoria to both qualify for the knock-out phase. Meanwhile, future red Raúl Meireles played for Portugal as their goalless draw with Brazil in Durban ensured both sides progressed, with future red Xherdan Shaqiri in action as Switzerland’s goalless draw with Honduras ensured both teams went home early. 2014 – Mamadou Sakho and ex-red Javier Mascherano both featured in group games in Brazil, with future red Xherdan Shaqiri bagging a treble as Switzerland beat Honduras 3-0 in Manaus. 2018 – Mohamed Salah scored as Egypt lost 2-1 to Saudi Arabia in Volgograd as they finished bottom of their group. On the same day, ex-red Iago Aspas came off the bench to net in Spain’s 2-2 draw with Morocco in Kaliningrad to help them progress as group winners. Luis Suárez also struck as Uruguay beat the host nation Russia 3-0 in Samara, with fellow ex-red Sebastián Coates also in action as they finished on top of their group. 2005 - Future red Ryan Babel scored in the penalty shoot-out that the Netherlands Under-20’s won 10-9 in their World Championships Finals Quarter-final in Kerkrade, after their match against Nigeria finished 1-1. Meanwhile, future red Gabriel Paletta featured in Argentina’s 3-1 defeat of Spain at the same stage in Enschede. Departures 1934 - Legendary keeper Elisha Scott left Anfield to become Player/Manager for Belfast Celtic, after 22 years with the club. He had arrived at Liverpool after being rejected by Everton for being too small and went on to play 468 times for the reds, winning the League title in 1922 and 1923. During those two seasons he only conceded 61 goals in 81 games. He was one of the first players to inspire a Kop chant – the simple “Lisha, Lisha”. 1940 - England international right-back Tommy Cooper was killed in a road accident while with the military police. He had played 160 times for the reds after signing from Derby County for £7,500 in December 1934, as well as becoming club captain. An inquiry into his death led to the ruling that all Army despatch riders had to wear crash helmets. In comes Dioufy 2002 - El-Hadji Diouf officially signed from Racing Club de Lens for £10m. He scored just six times in eighty reds appearances before joining Bolton Wanderers in June 2005 for £4.5m, after a season-long loan spell. Other World Cup successes 1990 - Ray Houghton, Steve Staunton and ex-reds John Aldridge and Kevin Sheedy all played as the Republic of Ireland’s Second Round game against Romania ended goalless after extra time. Houghton and Sheedy both registered in the subsequent penalty shoot-out, as the Irish made it through to the Quarter-finals. 1982 - Both Phil Neal and Phil Thompson played as England beat Kuwait 1-0 in Bilbao, to progress to the second stage of the Finals in Spain. 1998 - Future reds Dietmar Hamann and Christian Ziege both featured in Germany’s 2-0 defeat of Iran in Montpellier as they topped their group. On the same day, Brad Friedel kept goal as the USA lost 1-0 to Yugoslavia in Nantes, to finish bottom of the same section. 1995 - Friedel also played for his country in a goalless US Cup draw with Colombia in Piscataway. 2011 – Jack Dunn and Brad Smith both played for England Under-17’s as they beat Uruguay 2-0 in a World Championship Finals group game in Mexico. On the same day, future red Xherdan Shaqiri played as Switzerland Under-21’s lost the European Championships Final 2-0 to Spain in Denmark. 2017 – Emre Can played in a Confederations Cup group game in Russia as Germany beat Cameroon 3-1. 2019 – Ex-red Toni Silva played for Guinea-Bissau in their 2-0 Africa Cup of Nations Finals defeat to Cameroon in Egypt. Sander for Holland 2000 - Sander Westerveld won his fifth full international cap as the Netherlands thrashed Yugoslavia 6-1 in Rotterdam to reach the Euro 2000 Semi-final with future red Bolo Zenden also in action. He came on for Edwin van der Sar with 25 minutes remaining, but was unable to preserve the Dutch clean sheet. On the same day, future red Nicolas Anelka came off the bench as France beat Spain 2-1 in Brugge to also reach the Semi-final. 2016 – Joe Allen played as Wales beat Northern Ireland 1-0 in Paris to reach the Quarter-finals. On the same day, Xherdan Shaqiri bagged his first goal as a Stoke City player, also scoring in the penalty shoot-out as Switzerland lost to Poland in St. Étienne. Peter’s bow 1966 – Future red Peter Cormack made his debut for Scotland in their 1-1 friendly draw with Brazil at Hampden Park. Managerial ins and outs 1984 - 1950’s centre-half Keith Burkinshaw resigned as Manager of Tottenham Hotspur after eight years in charge, during which time he had led them to two FA Cups and the UEFA Cup, as well as signing two World champions in Osvaldo Ardiles and Ricky Villa. He left in the aftermath of Spurs’ stock market flotation. 2007 - Paul Ince was named as MK Dons boss, having resigned from Macclesfield Town a day before. He led them to the Football League Trophy and League Two title before being poached by Blackburn Rovers after one year in Milton Keynes, later returning for another season in 2009/10. 1997 - John Toshack was appointed Manager of Turkish side Beşiktaş JK. He remained there for twenty months before returning to Real Madrid. 2006 – Academy Manager Alex Inglethorpe resigned as Manager of Exeter City to join Tottenham Hotspur’s coaching staff, having been in charge since October 2004. On the move 2001 - Craig Bellamy signed for Newcastle United from Coventry City for £6m, after eight goals in 39 games for the Sky Blues. He struck 43 times in 128 outings for the Geordies before joining Celtic on loan in January 2005. 1999 - Ex-reserves forward Mike Newell joined Conference side Doncaster Rovers from Crewe Alexandra on a free transfer. He bagged three goals in seventeen games for Rovers, before joining Blackpool in February 2000. 2002 - Yossi Benayoun signed for Real Racing Club de Santander from Maccabi Haifa. He struck 21 times in 101 League outings for the Spanish side before moving to West Ham United for £2.5m in July 2005. 2008 – Ex-reds reserves midfielder David Mannix signed for Chester City on free transfer from Accrington Stanley. He struck twice in fourteen games as the Blues were relegated out of the Football League. 2012 - Danny Murphy signed for Blackburn Rovers, having been released by Fulham at the end of the previous season. He notched twice in 35 appearances for the Ewood Park outfit, before retiring from playing after one campaign. 2015 – Ex-reds midfielder Momo Sissoko signed for Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua, netting once in fifteen outings before being released the following February. 2018 – Ex-reds midfielder John Welsh joined Grimsby Town from Preston North End on a free transfer after three goals in 176 outings for the Lilywhites. Youngster honoured 2001 - Reds starlet David Raven was one of four youngsters chosen to join the PFA/Adidas Platinum group, an initiative aimed at nurturing the best young talent in the country. Previous beneficiaries of this scheme had included future red Jermaine Pennant.

Euro comeback 2019 – We entertained Barcelona in the second leg of our UEFA Champions League Semi-final, having lost the first meeting 3-0 and being without Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah due to injury. Divock Origi gave us an early lead, but we suffered another setback when left-back Andy Robertson had to be withdrawn at half time. However, substitute Gini Wijnaldum bagged a brace in a two-minute flurry before Origi completed a 4-0 rout from Trent Alexander-Arnold’s quickly taken corner. Forward Daniel Sturridge came on to make his 160th and last appearance for the club. Rush scored one, Rush scored two, Rush scored three and Rush scored four 1984 - Ian Rush bagged four goals, including a penalty, in our 5-0 demolition of Coventry City at Anfield. Alan Hansen netted the other goal. On our way to Wembley, but without the 96 1989 - We played our rearranged FA Cup Semi-final with Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford. The 3-1 victory was our first FA Cup Semi-final win without the need for a replay, setting up an emotional all-Merseyside final in the immediate aftermath of the Hillsborough disaster. John Aldridge netted a brace, either side of the last of Neil Webb’s five goals past us, with our other score coming from a Brian Laws own goal. Eleven in a row 2006 - Our final League game of the season resulted in a 3-1 victory at Portsmouth as we won our eleventh consecutive match. Robbie Fowler was on target before Peter Crouch grabbed our hundredth goal of the campaign, and a club record 21st from a substitute, and Djibril Cissé struck his sixth goal in nine outings. The only downside was an injury to Xabi Alonso that affected his involvement in the FA Cup Final a week later. This win took us to 82 points, our then highest tally in a 38-game season. Happy birthday Ed 1974 – Former joint Chief Scout Eduardo Macía was born in Valencia. He arrived from his hometown club in June 2006, explaining his role as “I work with Frankie McParland to look for players all over the world. We are always watching videos, going to games and talking to our scouts. It’s a very busy job but Liverpool is a fantastic club and I’m delighted to be here.” He left the club in December 2010, moving on to roles with Olympiacos and Fiorentina. Red endings 2000 - David Thompson played his 56th and final reds game, coming on as a substitute as Southampton held us to a goalless draw at Anfield in the Premiership. 1938 – Outside-left Alf Hanson appeared for the 177th and last time as we lost 2-0 at Stoke City in the top flight to end the season in eleventh. 1921 - Forward Peter McKinney made his third and final reds appearance in our 3-0 home defeat of Arsenal, with Harry Chambers, Dick Forshaw and Walter Wadsworth all scoring inside the first quarter of an hour. Four once more 1988 - We thumped Sheffield Wednesday 5-1, making this the twelfth game of the season that we had netted at least four goals. Craig Johnston and Peter Beardsley both struck twice with John Barnes also on target, with Beardsley and Ronnie Whelan both hitting the post. The Aussie’s last-minute strike was his fortieth and final reds goal. Jan Mølby moved to centre-half at half time as Alan Hansen was taken off as a precaution after straining a thigh. David Hirst netted the first of his four strikes against the reds, with four of the six goals in the game coming in the final three minutes. This remains our joint record victory over the Owls, although it was matched the following April. Second string champs 2008 – The reserves beat Aston Villa 3-0 in the play-off final at Anfield to become Barclays Premier Reserve League champions, thanks to goals from Krisztián Németh, Jordy Brouwer and Lucas Leiva. Pepe the champion 1999 - Pepe Reina played as Spain Under-16’s clinched the European Championships by beating Poland 4-1 in the Final in Olomouc in the Czech Republic. 2015 – Trent Alexander-Arnold and Herbie Kane both played for England Under-17’s in their 1-0 European Championships group stage defeat of Italy in Bulgaria. Off to a good start 1927 - Centre-forward Willie Devlin scored on his reds debut in our 3-3 draw at West Ham United, with Gordon Hodgson adding a brace in our final game of the season as we finished in ninth, as Tommy Lucas had a penalty saved. Devlin only played a further eighteen games, scoring fifteen goals in total before returning north of the border, to Heart Of Midlothian. Most recently 2017 – James Milner had a penalty saved as Southampton held us to a dire goalless draw at Anfield. Totally trottered 1932 - We were obliterated by Bolton Wanderers as they trounced us 8-1 at Burnden Park with Jack Milsom scoring four of his seven goals against the reds, one of five times we have conceded at least eight goals in the League. Danny McRorie netted our consolation early in the game as we ended the season on a sour note, finishing tenth. Ex-reds outside-right Dick Edmed was amongst the scorers, having joined the Trotters earlier that month. Ray Westwood struck two of his nine goals past us, with Frederick Wilson also on target. Obscure new signings 1909 - Right-back James Dunlop, brother of left-back Billy, signed for the reds. 1940 - Kenneth Seddon signed as an amateur. He was the son of Assistant Trainer Jimmy Seddon. Neither man played a first-team reds game. Managerial moves 2013 - Dean Saunders was sacked as Manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers after only four months in charge, during which he could not prevent them from being relegated from the Championship. 2012 – Ex-reds centre-half Mauricio Pellegrino was named as Manager of Valencia, staying in the post for only seven months before being sacked. 1998 - Kevin Keegan was appointed Fulham boss. He was only in charge for one season, guiding the Cottagers to the Second Division title. 1991 - Ex-reds wing-half Bobby Campbell resigned as Manager of Chelsea. He had been in charge for three years, leading them to the Second Division title in his first full season. Oggy’s end 2000 - Steve Ogrizovic was released as a player by Coventry City, after 601 first-team games. He is now goalkeeping coach for the Sky Blues. Youngsters in action 1958 - Tommy Younger captained Scotland for the first time while winning his 21st cap in their 1-1 friendly draw with Hungary at Hampden Park. 2013 – Future reds loanee Victor Moses bagged a brace for England Under-17’s as they beat the Netherlands 4-2 in a European Championships Finals group game in Belgium. Keeper Caoimhin Kelleher played as the Irish Under-17’s held the Netherlands to a goalless draw in a European Championships Finals group game in Bulgaria. A testimonial thriller 1981 - We lost by the odd goal in thirteen in a testimonial match for Swans defender Wyndham Evans at Swansea City. Disappointment against the Villains 1983 - We were held to a 1-1 draw at Anfield by Aston Villa, with Craig Johnston on the scoresheet after Nigel Spink had saved a penalty from Phil Neal. The referee ordered it to be re-taken, but he then saved his second kick as well! Gary Shaw was on target from the spot for the visitors. 1994 - Robbie Fowler netted as we lost another top-flight encounter 2-1 at Villa Park, the last match in front of the standing Holte End and our final game of the season as we finished in eighth, with Julian Dicks playing his 28th and final reds game and Don Hutchison turning out for the sixtieth and last time. Dwight Yorke bagged the first two of his eight goals past us. Meanwhile, travelling fans were glued to their radios as Everton somehow stayed up following their relegation decider with Wimbledon. Phil drives off 2003 - Defender Phil Brazier signed for Northwich Victoria on a free transfer from Vauxhall Motors. He had skippered us to victory in the FA Youth Cup in 1996. He played 36 times for them in the Conference before moving into management with Marine.

Happy birthday God 1975 - Robbie Fowler was born in Toxteth. He scored 171 goals in 330 reds appearances in his first spell at Anfield, winning UEFA Cup, FA Cup, UEFA Super Cup and two League Cups. He re-signed on a short-term contract in January 2006, striking a further twelve times in 39 games to become our fifth top all-time goalscorer, before moving on to Cardiff City in July 2007. 1995 - He was presented with the first of two consecutive PFA Young Player of the Year awards on his twentieth birthday. 2006 - Robbie scored on his 31st birthday, grabbing the only goal of our Premiership defeat of Bolton Wanderers at Anfield on the stroke of half time, our hundredth League goal under Rafael Benítez. 1965 - Former Assistant Manager Colin Pascoe was born in Port Talbot. He followed Brendan Rodgers to Anfield from Swansea City in the summer of 2012, being sacked in June 2015, just four months before his boss. 1904 - England international full-back and reds skipper Tom Cooper was born in Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent. He signed from Derby County for £7,500 in December 1934 but never scored in his 160 reds games and died on military duty in June 1940. 1994 – Former left-back Brad Smith was born in Penrith, Australia. He struck once in eleven senior games before moving on to Bournemouth for £6m in July 2016. On the way to Wembley 1988 - We beat Nottingham Forest 2-1 at Hillsborough in the FA Cup Semi-final, thanks to a John Aldridge brace that included a penalty as well as a strike that was later voted as the BBC’s Goal of the Season, with future red Nigel Clough bagging Forest’s consolation. This was our 4,000th first-class fixture. 1955 - We also faced Forest, losing a Second Division match 3-1 at the City Ground, with Billy Liddell netting and centre-half Alex South playing his seventh and final reds game. James Barrett bagged the first two of his four goals against the reds, with Jackie French also on target past us. Final goals 1994 - Full-back Julian Dicks scored a penalty to win our League fixture with Ipswich Town. This was our last first-team goal in front of the standing Kop, and his third and final reds goal. The game kicked off at 11:30am to avoid clashing with the Grand National. 1983 – David Fairclough grabbed his 55th and final reds goal, coming off the bench in our 3-0 defeat of Swansea City at Anfield. Ian Rush and Sammy Lee had already scored. Current Assistant Manager Colin Pascoe made his full debut for the Swans in this game. Out of the Champions League 2002 - Michael Owen missed several good chances while playing his 200th reds game as we went crashing out of the Champions League at the Quarter-final stage. The game in the BayArena swung one way and then another, as we eventually lost 4-2 to Bayer 04 Leverkusen on the night, and 4-3 on aggregate. Our goals came from Abel Xavier and Jari Litmanen. Michael Ballack bagged a brace for the home side, with Dimitar Berbatov bagging the first of his five goals against the reds and Lúcio also on target. A debut to be sure 1995 - Young Irish winger Mark Kennedy made his reds debut in our 1-0 home League defeat by Leeds United as Brian Deane struck one of his eight goals past us. Disaster at Goodison 1909 - Everton thumped five goals past Sam Hardy in the Liverpool goal without reply, in a First Division encounter. This remains our worst defeat at Goodison Park. Bertie Freeman scored the first two of his nine goals against us, with Tim Coleman nabbing one of his five and Bob Turner and Wattie White also netting. Trebles galore 1917 - Fred Pagnam and Donald Mackinlay both bagged trebles as we thumped Southport Central 7-0 in a Wartime League match at Ash Lane. Arthur Goddard nabbed the other. 1901 - Sam Raybould struck three as we won 4-3 at Cumberland in a friendly, with Jack Cox also on the scoresheet. 2004 - Thierry Henry scored three of his nine strikes against the reds as we lost 4-2 at Arsenal despite twice leading, through Sami Hyypiä and Michael Owen. Robert Pires scored the home side’s other goal, one of his four past us. 1932 - We also faced the Gunners, with Ted Hancock bagging his second and final reds goal and Danny McRorie also on target in a 2-1 victory, with Jack Lambert scoring one of his seven goals against the reds. Three times against City 2005 - We lost 1-0 at the City Of Manchester Stadium in our 500th Premier League match, falling to a late Kiki Musampa goal. We have also twice hosted Manchester City in top-flight matches on this day in history. 1949 - We lost 1-0. 1977 - Kevin Keegan and Steve Heighway were on target in a 2-1 Easter Saturday win to move us three points ahead of the visitors. Brian Kidd netted for City, one of his six goals against the reds. Mixed fortunes against Spurs 2000 - We defeated Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 at Anfield, thanks to goals from Patrik Berger and Michael Owen. 1965 - We went down 3-0 at White Hart Lane in another top-flight meeting. Alf’s half ton 1938 – Outside-left Alf Hanson bagged his fiftieth reds goal in our 4-2 top-flight victory over Blackpool at Anfield. Phil Taylor and Berry Nieuwenhuys also netted, with Willie Fagan converting a penalty. International debuts 1938 - Preston North End’s Bill Shankly made his Scotland debut as they lost 1-0 to England at Wembley in the British International Championships, which was the first international to be screened live on BBC television. His clubmate, full-back Andy Beattie also played. Beattie went on to guest for the reds during the war, before linking up with Shanks again at Huddersfield Town, as well as joining our backroom staff later in life. 1960 – Andy Beattie managed Scotland, picking future red Ian St. John for their 1-1 British International Championships draw with England at Hampden Park. 1921 - Reds centre-forward Robert Matthews won his first official cap for Wales as they beat Ireland 2-1 in Swansea in the same competition, with clubmates Elisha Scott and Billy Lacey on the losing side. International endings 1904 - Future reds forward Ronald ‘Wee’ Orr won his second and final cap for Scotland as they lost 1-0 to England in the British International Championships at Celtic Park. Future clubmate Alex Raisbeck was his skipper that day. 1921 - Ex-red Tom Miller won his third and last Scotland cap as they beat England 3-0 at Hampden Park in the same competition. Reds forward Harry ‘Smiler’ Chambers played for the away side. Pepe signs on 2010 - Pepe Reina signed a new contract until 2016. He kept an impressive 177 clean sheets in 394 reds outings, moving on to Bayern München for £2m in August 2014 after a season on loan at SSC Napoli. Barmby starts out 1991 - Nick Barmby signed as a professional for Tottenham Hotspur. He went on to bag 28 goals in 110 Spurs games before moving to Middlesbrough for £5.25m in August 1995. Other internationals in action 2002 - Roy Hodgson was appointed Manager of United Arab Emirates, remaining in charge until January 2004. 1989 - Future red Ronnie Rosenthal netted in Israel’s 2-2 World Cup qualifying draw with New Zealand in Auckland. 1932 – Future reds left-back Ernie Blenkinsop captained England for the second of four occasions in their 3-0 defeat of Scotland in the British International Championships at Wembley, with future reds forward Tosh Johnson also on the winning side. David’s farewell 2011 - David Fairclough’s wife Jan died, following a brain haemorrhage.