Search the Community

Shanks departs 1974 - Bill Shankly resigned as Manager after fifteen years in charge, leaving reds fans bemused and shocked. He had led us to three League titles, UEFA Cup, two FA Cups and the Second Division championship. His final significant act as boss was to sign Arsenal forward Ray Kennedy for a club record fee of £180,000, announced the very same day. Razor went on to net 72 times in 393 reds games, helping us to claim six League titles, three European Cups, UEFA Cup, UEFA Super Cup, League Cup and three FA Charity Shields before joining John Toshack’s Swansea City in January 1982. Yossi signs on 2007 - Yossi Benayoun signed from West Ham United for £5m. He bagged 29 goals in 134 reds games, including hat-tricks against Beşiktaş JK, Havant & Waterlooville and Burnley, leaving for Chelsea for the same fee in July 2010. On the same day, second string winger Adam Hammill joined Southampton on loan. He made 28 appearances for the Saints that season, half of them from off the bench, without getting on the scoresheet. Meanwhile, ex-red Vladimír Šmicer signed for SK Slavia Praha. He helped his new club won their first title in twelve years, with Vlad once again suffering with injuries as he struck five times in 23 League games before retiring in May 2010. In comes Momo 2005 - Momo Sissoko signed from Valencia from £5.6m. He helped us to claim the FA Cup, UEFA Super Cup and FA Community Shield, playing 87 times, and scoring just once, despite suffering two serious injuries while at Anfield. He had previously been signed by Rafael Benítez while he was in Spain, from Auxerre, and left Anfield for Juventus in a £8.2m deal in January 2008. On the same day, Grégory Vignal signed for Portsmouth after just twenty senior reds games. He played seventeen times for Pompey, before moving on to Racing Club de Lens in May 2006. Loan moves out 2013 – Suso signed for Unión Deportiva Almería on loan. He scored three goals in 35 games, as well as providing nine assists. 2006 - Djibril Cissé joined Olympique de Marseille on loan. He had bagged 24 goals in 79 reds games following his club record signing for £14m two years earlier. He was recovering from a second leg break at the time, but recovered to notch sixteen times in 29 outings in his first campaign with L’OM, signing on permanently for £6.3m a year later. On the same day, Dietmar Hamann joined Manchester City from Bolton Wanderers for £300,000 after just one day at the Reebok Stadium! He played 71 times for City, getting on the scoresheet just once before joining Milton Keynes Dons as Player/Coach in May 2010. 2011 - Cissé moved to S.S. Lazio from Panathinaikos for €5.8m, having helped the Greek side to a League and Cup double while netting 51 times in 89 outings. Happy birthdays 1958 - Former reds forward Michael Robinson was born in Leicester. Joe Fagan brought the Irish international to Anfield in August 1983 from Brighton & Hove Albion for £250,000. In his first season at the club he won the League title and European Cup, bagging a total of thirteen goals in 52 games before moving to Queens Park Rangers for £100,000 in December 1984. 1979 - Midfielder Danny Williams was born in Wrexham. He never broke through to the first team at Anfield and signed for his hometown club on a free transfer in March 1999. 1880 - Forward Fred Buck was born in Newcastle-under-Lyme. He only scored once in thirteen reds games after arriving from West Bromwich Albion in May 1903, moving on to Plymouth Argyle the following March. Debutants galore 2008 - Keeper Diego Cavalieri, right-back Philipp Degen, centre-half Martin Kelly and forward Dani Pacheco all played their first reds games, as Yossi Benayoun bagged the only goal of our opening pre-season friendly at Tranmere Rovers. 2017 – Midfielder Pedro Chirivella struck his first reds goal as we thumped Tranmere Rovers 4-0 in our opening pre-season friendly at Prenton Park, with Marko Grujić also scoring as James Milner and Ben Woodburn both converted penalties. Keeper Kamil Grabara and forward Dominic Solanke both made their first senior appearances. On the world stage 2014 – Future red Gini Wijnaldum struck for the Netherlands as they beat host nation Brazil 3-0 in the World Cup Third Place Play-off in Brasilia, with ex-red Dirk Kuyt also featuring. 2007 - Young reds left-back Emiliano Insúa played for Argentina Under-20’s as they beat Poland 3-1 in Toronto to reach the Quarter-finals of the World Championship Finals. More arrivals 2002 - Bruno Cheyrou was confirmed as a reds player after receiving international clearance, joining from Lille OSC Métropole for £3.7m. He struck five times in 48 reds games before moving to Stade Rennais in June 2006, after previous loan spells with Olympique de Marseille and Girondins de Bordeaux. 2009 – Reserves left-back Chris Mavinga signed from Paris Saint-Germain. He failed to make the first team, being sold to Stade Rennais for £1m in July 2011. Mixed Euro fortunes 2012 - Suso was on the winning side as Spain Under-19’s beat France on penalties to reach the European Championships Final in Estonia. On the same day, Jack Robinson featured as England lost out to Greece at the same stage. 2016 – Future red Dominic Solanke scored for England Under-19’s as they beat France 2-1 in a group game in Germany. Sheyi Ojo and Jordan Rossiter both also featured. Bowyer on his way 2002 - It was announced that a fee had been agreed with Leeds United for the controversial capture of midfielder Lee Bowyer. He was expected to sign on at Anfield the following week, although the deal fell through after Gérard Houllier grew uncomfortable with the player’s attitude and level of commitment to Liverpool. Red learnings 2000 - Liverpool’s ground-breaking Study Support centre in the Kop stand was officially opened by Professor Michael Barber, Head of the Government’s Standards & Effectiveness Unit for Education. The Centre’s goal is to provide youngsters with opportunities to improve skills in literacy, numeracy, ICT and independent learning, as well as improving their self-esteem and confidence. 2010 – The club announced the appointment of five new staff to the Sports Science and Sports Medicine department. Phil’s sad day 2006 - The funeral of former player, Coach and Manager Phil Taylor’s wife Maisey was held at Thornton crematorium. Also on the move 2019 – Peter Crouch announced his retirement from playing. He had arrived at Anfield for £7m in July 2005, striking 42 times in 134 reds games, despite not notching in his first nineteen outings, helping us to claim the FA Cup and FA Community Shield, but was sold to Portsmouth for a fee of up to £11m in July 2008. 2017 – Ex-reds midfielder Gary Mackay-Steven joined Aberdeen from Celtic, netting sixteen goals in 72 games before moving to New York City on a free transfer in June 2019. 2015 – Right-back Glen Johnson signed for Stoke City, having been released at the end of the previous season. On the same day, ex-reserves midfielder Jordan Lussey moved to Bolton Wanderers. 2006 - Mike Marsh joined the coaching staff at Southport, one of his former clubs. 2004 - Ex-reserves keeper Ian Dunbavin joined Halifax Town on a free transfer from Shrewsbury Town. He turned out 56 times for the Shaymen before joining Accrington Stanley in the summer of 2006. 1996 – Current Chief Scout Barry Hunter joined Reading from Wrexham for £400,000 after six goals in 120 games for the Dragons. Young reds on trial 2002 - Three of the club’s Under-19’s were invited for trials at Third Division Torquay United. Brian McIlroy, Neil Prince and David Chambers had all recently been released from Melwood. Prince was the only one to be taken on, signing on permanently the following month.

Ton up for Stan 2002 - Ex-red Steve Staunton won his hundredth international cap, skippering the Republic of Ireland in their 1-1 World Cup Finals draw with Germany in Ibaraki, with future red Robbie Keane on target. Dietmar Hamann, future red Steve Finnan and ex-red Christian Ziege all also played. Meanwhile, Abel Xavier sat out Portugal’s shock 3-2 defeat by the USA in Suwon, for whom ex-red Brad Friedel was between the sticks. Steve Staunton has turned out for the Republic of Ireland twice more on this day in history. 1994 - He took part in their first meeting with the Czech Republic since the break-up of Czechoslovakia. The Czechs won 3-1, with future reds Phil Babb and Jason McAteer playing alongside ex-red John Aldridge. Stig Inge Bjørnebye also represented his country in a friendly that day. 2001 - He featured in a 2-0 World Cup qualifying win in Estonia. Future reds Joe Cole, Jermaine Pennant and Christian Poulsen were both in Under-21’s action that day. 2010 – Poulsen played for the senior Danish side as they lost a friendly 1-0 in South Africa. Daniel Agger, Dirk Kuyt, Martin Škrtel and future reds Milan Jovanović and Xherdan Shaqiri all also turned out in friendlies that day. Double trebles 1946 - Forward Willie Fagan and winger Bob Priday both scored hat-tricks as we thumped Ulster United 11-1 at the Maple Leaf Stadium in Toronto on our North American tour. Jack Balmer also netted twice, with Berry Nieuwenhuys, Cyril Done and Phil Taylor also on target. Willkommen 1998 - South African striker Sean Dundee signed from Karlsruher SC for £1.8m. He had claimed to be “as fast as Michael Owen”, a fanciful boast that was shown up in his five first-team games before he returned to Germany to join VfB Stuttgart after just one year at Anfield. New management 2018 – Pep Lijnders re-joined the coaching staff after half a season away as Manager of N.E.C.. 2001 - Reds boss Rafael Benítez joined Valencia. He led them to two La Liga titles and the UEFA Cup in his three years at the Mestalla, before arriving at Anfield three years later. 2009 – Brendan Rodgers was appointed Manager of Reading. However, disappointing results led to him leaving by mutual consent that December. He had led them to just six victories in 23 games in charge. 2006 - Former First Team Coach Paco Herrera was introduced to the press as Director of Football at R.C.D. Espanyol. He helped them to mid-table in La Liga and the UEFA Cup Final in his first season. On the same day, ex-reserves midfielder Jim Magilton was appointed Manager of Ipswich Town. He was in charge for three seasons, failing to take them to the play-offs or automatic promotion. Sammy the skipper 1981 - Sammy Lee captained England Under-21’s for the first time, while winning his third cap, as they won a European Championships qualifier in Hungary 2-1. First caps 1999 - Sami Hyypiä won his first cap as a reds player, making his 27th appearance in total in Finland’s 4-2 European Championships qualifying home defeat by Turkey, with future red Jari Litmanen also playing. Meanwhile, Abel Xavier won his tenth cap for Portugal, and last one while with PSV Eindhoven, in their 1-0 win over Slovakia in Lisbon. On the same day, Dinamo Zagreb’s Igor Bišcan made his senior international debut as a substitute in Croatia’s 1-1 draw with FYR Macedonia in Skopje. Meanwhile, Patrik Berger netted in the Czech Republic’s 2-0 win in Estonia, also a European Championships qualifier. Future red Vladimír Šmicer also played. Other future reds in international action that day were Craig Bellamy, Paul Jones and Fernando Morientes, as well as ex-red Dean Saunders. 2007 – Roma’s Alexander Doni made his senior international bow as Brazil were held to a goalless draw by Turkey in a friendly in Dortmund, with future reds loanee Nuri Şahin also featuring. 2015 - Krisztián Németh won his first cap as a Sporting Kansas City player as Hungary thumped Lithuania 4-0 in Jerusalem. On the same day, future reds Danny Ings and Gini Wijnaldum, and ex-red Charlie Adam all also played for their countries. 2017 – Ex-reds Christian Benteke and Péter Gulácsi featured for their countries in friendlies, with future red Dominic Solanke netting for England Under-20’s as they beat Mexico 1-0 in their World Cup Quarter-final in South Korea, with Ovie Ejaria also in action. Final caps 1963 - Jimmy Melia won his second and final cap, netting in England’s 8-1 friendly trouncing of Switzerland in Basel. 1974 - Alec Lindsay made his fourth and final senior appearance in England’s 2-2 friendly draw with Yugoslavia in Belgrade. Kevin Keegan was on target, while Emlyn Hughes captained a side that also included Ray Clemence. 1985 - Joey Jones won his final cap as a Chelsea player, and 66th in total, as Wales lost 4-2 to Norway in a friendly in Bergen. 1991 - Dean Saunders made his final appearance for Wales as a Derby County player as they beat Germany 1-0 in a European Championships qualifier in Cardiff, thanks to an Ian Rush goal. Future red Jari Litmanen also played for his country that day. 2005 - El-Hadji Diouf won his final cap as a reds player as Senegal held Congo to a goalless draw in a World Cup qualifier in Brazzaville. 2016 – Naby Keïta won his last cap as a Red Bull Salzburg player as Guinea lost an African Cup of Nations qualifier 1-0 in Eswatini, with future reds loanee Nuri Şahin also playing for his country that day. 2009 – Şahin featured again as Turkey lost 1-0 in a friendly in France, with ex-red Nicolas Anelka on the winning side. Luis on target 2013 – Luis Suárez came off the bench to strike the only goal of Uruguay’s friendly meeting with France in Montevideo, with Sebastián Coates also in action. Jordan Henderson skippered an England Under-21’s side on the same day that also included Jack Robinson, Jonjo Shelvey and future reds Steven Caulker and Nathaniel Clyne as they lost 1-0 to Fabio Borini’s Italy in a European Championships Finals group game in Tel-Aviv. 2014 – Coates also featured as Uruguay beat Slovenia 2-0 in Montevideo, with Ryan McLaughlin and Kolo Touré both also representing their countries. Tommy in trouble 2007 - Reds legend Tommy Smith suffered a heart attack. Fortunately, he has recovered fully. Winning a trophy 1983 - We won the Vita Cup, beating now-defunct Hong Kong side Bulova 2-0. Mark Lawrenson and Robert Savage were on target. Arsenal’s Pat Jennings and Alan Sunderland both guested for the opposition. Birth and death 1950 – Joe Fagan’s son Kit was born in Manchester. He made two senior reds outings before moving to Tranmere Rovers in July 1971, for whom he played 84 League games. 1952 - Forward Fred Buck died in Stafford. He only scored once in thirteen reds games after arriving from West Bromwich Albion in May 1903, moving on to Plymouth Argyle a year later. In the Toulon Tournament 2004 - Florent Sinama-Pongolle was on the scoresheet as France Under-21’s beat Colombia 2-0 in Aubagne. 1994 - Dominic Matteo and Jamie Redknapp both played as England beat Belgium 2-1 in the Semi-final in Berre. 1988 - Future red Nigel Clough nabbed a brace as England beat Mexico 2-1 in the Stade Mayol. Fellow future red Julian Dicks was dismissed while Michael Thomas also played. 1989 - Southampton’s Neil Ruddock made his debut at the same level as a substitute in England’s 3-2 defeat by Bulgaria in the same stadium. Future reds on target 2004 - Fernando Morientes netted in Spain’s 4-0 friendly defeat of Andorra in Getafe, with fellow future reds Xabi Alonso and Fernando Torres also featuring. Meanwhile, Robbie Keane bagged the only goal of the Republic of Ireland’s friendly against the Netherlands, with Steve Finnan also in the side. Jamie Carragher, Jerzy Dudek, Steven Gerrard, Michael Owen, future reds Joe Cole and Christian Poulsen and ex-red Emile Heskey all also played for their countries that day. 2012 – Gini Wijnaldum netted his last goal for the Dutch Under-21’s while with PSV Eindhoven as they thrashed Bulgaria 5-0 in a European Championships qualifier in Maastricht, with future reds loanee Nuri Şahin also in international action. 2011 – Future red Daniel Sturridge scored his last goal for England Under-21’s as they beat Norway 2-0 in a friendly in Southampton. On the same day, future red Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain won his last cap for the Under-19’s as England drew 1-1 with Spain in a European Championships qualifier in Switzerland, with Conor Coady, Tom Ince, Michael Ngoo, Jack Robinson, Andre Wisdom and future red Fabio Borini all also in action. 2007 – Jose Enrique struck the only goal of the game as Spain Under-21’s beat Georgia in a European Championships Finals game in Tbilisi. Future red James Milner also featured at this level that day. 1999 – Reds reserves forward Haukur Ingi Guðnason scored his only Under-21’s goal as Iceland beat Armenia 2-0 in a European Championships qualifier. Falling at the last hurdle 2019 – Xherdan Shaqiri played as Switzerland lost 3-1 to host nation Portugal in their UEFA Nations League Semi-final. Mr & Mrs Barclay 1878 – The club’s first Manager, William Barclay, married Emily Jane King at Bleasdale Church in Lancashire. He worked as a Secretary-c**-Manager for the first four years of the club’s existence, having previously been Vice Chairman of Everton. On the move 2013 – It was announced that keeper Adrián would sign for West Ham United from Real Betis Balompié on 1st July of that year. He turned out on 150 occasions for the Irons, before joining the reds in August 2019.