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Last-gasp heartache 1989 - Having already claimed the FA Cup in the aftermath of the Hillsborough disaster, we only had to avoid defeat at home to Arsenal by two clear goals or more to clinch our second double in four seasons. The Gunners took the lead in the second half when Alan Smith was judged to have headed in from an indirect free-kick, one of his nine goals against the reds. We held on until stoppage time, when Michael Thomas burst through to grab the decisive, heart-breaking second and take the title back to Highbury for the first time since 1971. Bruce Grobbelaar was playing his 300th League game for the club. A Busby birthday 1909 - Right-half Sir Matt Busby was born on this day in Orbiston, Lanarkshire. He joined the reds from Manchester City for £8,000 in March 1936, making 122 appearances for us, many as captain, notching three times. He was appointed as coach and Assistant Manager to George Kay at Anfield in May 1944, but he was released by the club the following February after disagreements with the board, taking over as Manager of Manchester United a few days later. 1991 – Reserves left-back Chris Mavinga was born in Meaux, France. He signed from Paris St. Germain in July 2009 but was sold to Stade Rennais for £1m two years later, having failed to break through to the first team. Final despair 2018 – We lost 3-1 to Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League Final in Kiev, as keeper Loris Karius had a personal nightmare, with Mohamed Salah being forced off with injury after just half an hour. Karim Benzema scored the most recent of his four goals past us shortly after half time, but Sadio Mané levelled just four minutes later. However, Gareth Bale then struck twice to secure the trophy for the Spanish side for a record thirteenth time. Emre Can came off the bench to make his 167th and last appearance for the reds. A Philly dozen 1946 - We trounced a Philadelphia Select of American League side 12-0 in a friendly in the Yellow Jacket Stadium. Cyril Done struck four times, with Jack Balmer bagging a hat-trick and Phil Taylor and Willie Fagan both netting braces, and Bob Priday rounding out the scoring. Opening a new stadium 1978 - We played a game to commemorate the opening of the new Al Nasr Stadium in the United Arab Emirates, beating Al Nasr Club 5-0. Our scorers were fairly unusual, with substitute Colin Irwin and Ray Kennedy both bagging braces, and Alan Hansen also on target. 1980 - We returned to the Middle East to beat a Bahrain XI 2-1 on the Three Fives Gulf Football Tour. This time, Howard Gayle and Graeme Souness got on the scoresheet. Signing on 2014 - Brendan Rodgers signed a new contract, having just led the reds to within a whisker of the League title. However, the team regressed and he was sacked in October 2015. 2015 - Centre-half Kolo Touré signed a new contract, notching just once in 71 reds games before moving on to join Rodgers at Celtic in July 2016 after this deal expired. Charnock on target 1994 - Reserves midfielder Phil Charnock scored his first senior reds goal in our 3-0 defeat of Cape Town Spurs in the United Bank International Soccer Festival in South Africa, with Bruce Grobbelaar appearing for the reds for the final time. Robbie Fowler netted the other two. The players were introduced to South African President Nelson Mandela prior to the game. Select thumpings 1948 - We beat a New England Select side 6-0 at Fall River, with Willie Fagan and Albert Stubbins both nabbing braces to add to goals from Jack Balmer and Bob Priday. 1914 - We defeated a Denmark Select XI 7-1 in Copenhagen. Fred again 1935 – Fred Howe scored in our 4-2 friendly win at CD Tenerife, so netting in all three of our tour games. Alf Hanson bagged a brace with Tosh Johnson also on target. Welsh first and last 1949 - Ray Lambert won his fifth and final cap for Wales as they lost 4-0 to Switzerland in a friendly in Bern. 1957 – Future reds centre-forward Des Palmer made the first of his three senior appearances for the Welsh in their 2-0 World Cup qualifying defeat in Czechoslovakia. 2014 – Future red Divock Origi won his first senior cap as Belgium thumped Luxembourg 5-1 in a friendly in Genk. On the same day, Jordon Ibe, Lloyd Jones, Brad Smith and future red Lazar Marković all also represented their countries. 2008 – Future reds loanee Victor Moses won his first cap for England Under-19’s in their 2-0 European Championships qualifying defeat of Poland in Borisov, with future red Andy Carroll also featuring. Feyenoord’s Gini Wijnaldum also featured at the same level that day. Wark on target 1979 - Future red John Wark netted in Scotland’s 3-1 defeat of England in the British International Championships at Wembley. Ray Clemence and Everton’s George Wood were in the opposing goals, while the sides were skippered by ex-red Kevin Keegan and his Anfield replacement Kenny Dalglish. Phil Neal, Graeme Souness and Phil Thompson all also played. 1984 - John Wark and future red John Barnes played in the last ever British International Championships game, with Scotland and England drawing 1-1 at Hampden Park. God on the scoresheet 2002 - Ex-red Robbie Fowler scored in England’s 2-2 pre-World Cup friendly draw with Cameroon in Japan. Michael Owen was captain, with Emile Heskey, future red Joe Cole and ex-reds David James and Rigobert Song also playing. Meanwhile, future red Djibril Cissé came on as a substitute in France’s 3-2 defeat of South Korea in Suwon and F.C. København’s Christian Poulsen played as Denmark beat Tunisia 2-1 in Wakayama. 1996 - Fowler also played for England, alongside Steve McManaman and future red Paul Ince, as they beat a Hong Kong Garden Select side 1-0 in an unofficial warm-up game at the Happy Valley Stadium before Euro ‘96. Tosh on target 1971 - John Toshack bagged the only goal of the game as Wales beat Finland in a European Championships qualifier in Helsinki. 2012 – Tosh managed FYR Macedonia as they held Portugal to a goalless friendly draw in Leiria. Ex-red Raúl Meireles featured for the home side. In charge 2010 - Christian Ziege was appointed Manager of DSC Arminia Bielefeld, although he was sacked just six months later. On the same day, Dirk Kuyt, future reds Dejan Lovren, Nuri Şahin and Luis Suárez and ex-reds Nicolas Anelka and Alou Diarra all turned out for their countries. 2012 – Roy Hodgson took charge of England for the first time, winning a friendly 1-0 in Norway. Martin Kelly and future red Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain both made their senior bows, with Jordan Henderson winning his first cap as a reds player. Steven Gerrard skippered a side that also included Andy Carroll, Stewart Downing, winning his last cap while with the reds, and future red James Milner, while ex-red John Arne Riise was on the losing side. Scoring against Albania 1992 - Ex-red John Aldridge netted for the Republic of Ireland as they beat Albania 2-0 in a World Cup qualifier at Lansdowne Road. Ray Houghton and ex-reds Kevin Sheedy and Steve Staunton also played. 1993 - Staunton was on target as the Irish won the return 2-1 in Tirana. Fellow ex-reds Aldridge and Houghton also played. 1985 - Ex-red Michael Robinson featured as Spain held Ireland to a friendly goalless draw in the only senior international ever to be played at the Flower Lodge in Cork. Milan also on target 2006 - Ex-red Milan Baroš struck for the Czech Republic as they beat Saudi Arabia 2-0 in a friendly in Austria. Daniel Agger and future red Nuri Şahin also represented their countries that day. 2008 – Baroš played in the Czech Republic’s 2-0 friendly defeat of Lithuania in Prague. 2012 – He converted a spot-kick in a 2-1 defeat of ex-red Yossi Benayoun’s Israel in Austria. Daniel Agger, Dirk Kuyt and ex-reds Xabi Alonso, Robbie Keane, Christian Poulsen and Daniel Sjölund also played for their countries that day. Pither off 1928 - Left-winger George Pither left Anfield to sign for Crewe Alexandra, after one goal in twelve reds games stepping in for the established Fred Hopkin. A young Geoff 1957 - Future reds left-half Geoff Twentyman became Carlisle United’s youngest ever debutant, aged seventeen years and 127 days, as they drew 2-2 at New Brighton in Division Three North. European Cup despair Two future reds have lost UEFA Champions League Finals on this day in recent years. 2004 - Fernando Morientes played as AS Monaco lost 2-0 to Jose Mourinho’s Porto in Gelsenkirchen. 1999 - Markus Babbel suffered heartache as Bayern München cruelly lost 2-1 to Manchester United in Barcelona. Bells toll twice 2007 - Craig Bellamy struck a brace as Wales were held to a 2-2 friendly draw in Wrexham by New Zealand, his last two goals in his first spell as a reds player. On the same day, ex-red Darren Potter won his second senior cap playing for Steve Staunton’s Republic of Ireland in their 1-1 friendly draw with Bolivia in Boston, USA. Pepe the papa again 2011 – Keeper Pepe Reina became a father for the third time, to Luca. Ed up 2012 – Former Chief Scout Eduardo Macía was promoted by Fiorentina to Technical Director.

Red endings 1978 - Tommy Smith played his 638th and final reds game as we beat Arsenal at Anfield in the League. David Fairclough grabbed the only goal of the game as we secured the points to ensure our sixteenth consecutive season of European football. 1928 - Left-winger George Pither played his twelfth and final reds game as we were held to a 1-1 draw at Anfield by Leicester City. Tom Reid netted our goal, with Arthur Chandler bagging one of his six past us. 1998 - Rob Jones made the last of his 243 reds appearances in our 4-1 defeat at Chelsea. Karlheinz Riedle nabbed our consolation that day. Mark Hughes bagged the last two of his nine goals past us, with future reds coach Steve Clarke and Tore André Flo also netting. 1953 - We also faced the Blues in the top flight, with Rob’s grandfather Bill Jones and Louis Bimpson on target in our 2-0 home win. This was our last game of the season, as we finished in seventeenth position. First FA Cup Final 1914 - We played in our first FA Cup Final, but lost to Burnley in the last ever Final staged at Crystal Palace. Tom Miller had a strike disallowed for offside for the reds before ex-Evertonian Bertie Freeman volleyed the only goal of the game, one of his nine against us. King George V that day became the first reigning monarch to attend an FA Cup Final. Reaching European finals 1973 - We suffered our first ever defeat in the UEFA Cup, 2-1 at holders Tottenham Hotspur in our sixth meeting of the season. However, Steve Heighway’s strike took us through to the Final on the away goals rule despite Martin Peters’ brace, two of his fourteen strikes against the reds. 1984 - An Ian Rush brace booked our place in a fourth European Cup Final, as we won 2-1 at Dinamo Bucureşti, to go through 3-1 on aggregate. Rush reached forty goals for the season in a match played in a fiery atmosphere after Graeme Souness had broken Lica Movilă’s jaw in the first leg at Anfield. Maxi off the mark 2010 – Maxi Rodríguez bagged his first reds goal as we won 4-0 at Burnley, following seven away fixtures without victory. Steven Gerrard bagged a brace early in the second half to open the scoring, with David N’Gog also netting in injury time. Edging towards Athens 2007 – Future red Joe Cole bagged the only goal of our Champions League Semi-final first leg defeat at Chelsea, as the Blues were unable to get past Pepe Reina a second time, despite an under-par reds performance. Jamie Carragher played his 89th European game, equalling Ian Callaghan’s club record. This was the first time we had faced the same team in European competition three consecutive seasons, as well as being the third round in a row in which Bolo Zenden had come up against a former employer, following ties with Barcelona and PSV Eindhoven. Dirk’s ton up 2009 – Dirk Kuyt played his hundredth League game for the reds as we won at Hull City. Xabi Alonso bagged his nineteenth and final reds goal to open the scoring just before the break, pouncing on his own rebounded free kick. Caleb Folan was sent off for the home side before Kuyt headed in. Geovanni pulled one back with Kuyt then making it 3-1. Happy dot birthday 2001 - The official club website liverpoolfc.tv was launched. It remains the most popular football club website in the world. Howard’s way 1981 - Winger Howard Gayle scored his only reds goal, on his full debut, as we held Tottenham Hotspur to a 1-1 draw at White Hart Lane, with Glenn Hoddle netting one of his four goals past us for the home side. Another trophy 1931 – We won the Lancashire Senior Cup for the fourth time after beating Manchester United 4-0 at Anfield, with Dave Wright bagging a brace and Gordon Hodgson and Archie McPherson also netting. 1938 – We lost 3-1 at Old Trafford in the same competition, with goalscorer Ted Harston having to go off injured, leaving us down to ten men for more than seventy minutes. Kop farewell 1994 - Ashley Neal struck from the penalty spot in our 3-2 reserves defeat by Nottingham Forest at Anfield. This was the final reds goal scored in front of the standing Kop, two weeks after Julian Dicks’ famed spot-kick at the same end of the ground, and six days before Jeremy Goss’s historic strike. A derby win 1987 - Blues old boy Steve McMahon put us ahead against Everton at Anfield. Kevin Sheedy equalised with a free-kick past Mike Hooper, before flicking the V’s to the Kop. Ian Rush added two more to equal Dixie Dean’s derby scoring record of nineteen, as we won 3-1. However, our neighbours still went on to reclaim the League title. The Storer ends 1908 - Ex-reds keeper Harry Storer died of consumption aged just 37. He signed from Woolwich Arsenal in December 1895 for £75, taking over from the versatile Matt McQueen between our sticks. He made a total of 121 reds appearances before retiring in 1901. First and last caps 1970 - Peter Thompson won his sixteenth and final cap as England held Scotland to a goalless draw in the British International Championships at Hampden Park. Clubmate Emlyn Hughes also played. 1964 - Roy Evans won his first cap for England Schoolboys, playing in their 1-1 draw with West Germany at Wembley Stadium. Boing boing boing We have faced West Bromwich Albion three times on this day. 1896 - We beat them 2-0 in a Test Match at Anfield, thanks to goals from George Bradshaw and George Allan, helping to take us back into the top flight. Half-back Barney Battles made his fifth and final appearance in his first spell at Anfield in this game. 1964 - Roger Hunt struck twice as we drew at The Hawthorns in a First Division fixture. John Kaye scores the first of his four goals against the reds, with Clive Clark netting the first of his seven past us. 2015 - Fabio Borini made his 38th and last reds appearance as we were held to a goalless draw at The Hawthorns. All-star reds 2019 – Trent Alexander-Arnold, Sadio Mané, Andy Robertson, Virgil van Dijk and ex-red Raheem Sterling were al named in the PFA Team of the Year, with van Dijk going on to be named the Player of the Year the following day. 2004 - Steven Gerrard was named in the PFA Team of the Year, coming third in the Player Of The Year vote behind eventual winner Thierry Henry after a terrific season for the reds. 2010 – Future red James Milner was voted the PFA Young Player of the Year after scoring twelve times in 49 games for Aston Villa that season. He was also named in the Team of the Year. Milan for the Czechs 2001 - Future red Milan Baroš made his senior international debut, scoring in their 1-1 friendly draw with Belgium in Prague. Patrik Berger also played, while Igor Bišcan, future red Jerzy Dudek and ex-red Øyvind Leonhardsen all also played for their countries that day. Meanwhile, Abel Xavier won his final cap as an Everton player, and seventeenth to date, as Portugal were thumped 4-0 by France in a friendly at the Stade de France. Gary Mac for Scotland 1990 - Future red Gary McAllister made his debut for Scotland as they lost 1-0 to East Germany in a friendly at Hampden Park. Gary Gillespie also featured. On the same day, Dean Saunders struck twice for Wales as they lost 4-2 to Glen Hysén’s Sweden in Stockholm. These were his first goals as a Derby County player. Meanwhile, Steve McMahon and future red Mark Wright both came off the bench in England’s 4-2 defeat of Czechoslovakia in another friendly at Wembley. 2012 – Ex-red Gary Mackay-Steven scored his first goal for Scotland Under-21’s as they lost 4-1 to Italy in a friendly at Easter Road, with Danny Wilson also featuring. Future red Mohamed Salah turned out for Egypt Under-23’s on the same day. Stan for the Irish 1990 - Steve Staunton scored the only goal of the Republic of Ireland’s friendly encounter with the USSR at Lansdowne Road. It was his first goal for his country, and the only one in his first spell as a red. Ex-reds reserve Kevin Sheedy also played. 2001 - Staunton won his 87th cap, and first one in his second spell as an Aston Villa player, as the Irish beat Andorra 3-1 in a World Cup qualifier at the same venue. Mark Kennedy was winning his last cap as a Manchester City player, while future red Steve Finnan also featured. Also on the mark 1995 - Ex-red Ronnie Rosenthal struck as Israel lost 4-3 to Poland in a World Cup qualifier in Zabrze. Future red Fernando Morientes was also in international action that day. 2013 – Ex-reds winger Mark González scored as Chile held Brazil to a 2-2 friendly draw in Belo Horizonte. 2001 – Future red Florent Sinama-Pongolle grabbed a hat-trick, including a penalty, as France Under-16’s beat Croatia 3-0 in a European Championships Finals group game in Harrogate. Honoured 1921 - Long-serving keeper Elisha Scott captained a Central League eleven in their 2-0 win over a Football Combination side. 2013 – Midfielder Jay Spearing was named Player of the Season by the Bolton Wanderers Supporters’ Association, after a successful loan campaign with the Trotters following which he made the move permanent. Babb starts out 1989 - Phil Babb signed as a professional for Millwall. He never made a senior appearance for his first club, moving on to Bradford City in August 1990 on a free transfer. Thomas the skipper 1989 - Future red Michael Thomas captained England Under-21’s as they beat Albania 2-0 in a European Championships qualifier at Portman Road. David Burrows also played.