Search the Community

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.

Happy birthday Vlad 1973 - Vladimír Šmicer was born in Děčín in Czechoslovakia. He made 184 reds appearances following his £3.75m transfer from Racing Club de Lens, scoring nineteen times, including a crucial strike in Istanbul. He signed for us on his 26th birthday, although he did not officially become a Liverpool player until 1st July 1999, and left for Girondins de Bordeaux in June 2005, having helped us to claim the Champions League, UEFA Cup, FA Cup and two League Cups. 1965 - Nicky Tanner was born in Bristol. He signed from Bristol Rovers for £20,000 in August 1988 and made a total of 59 appearances for the reds under Graeme Souness, netting his only goal at Goodison Park in December 1991. Sami’s farewell 2009 - We beat Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 at Anfield in our final game of the season, with Xabi Alonso playing his 210th and final reds game and Sami Hyypiä making an emotional farewell after his 464th and last appearance for the club. Fernando Torres headed in the opener with his fiftieth reds goal, in just his 84th game. We extended our lead after Alan Hutton deflected in a Dirk Kuyt effort to register our 150th own goal, before ex-red Robbie Keane reduced the deficit with the most recent of his five goals past us. Yossi Benayoun rounded off the scoring before Sami made his entrance. Ged steps down 2004 - Gérard Houllier stepped down as reds boss. He had been in sole charge since November 1998, leading us to the UEFA Cup, FA Cup, two League Cups, UEFA Super Cup and FA Charity Shield. He said, “I'd rather have stayed as manager but I leave on good terms with everybody. I may have left Liverpool, but Liverpool will not leave me.” Crushed 2015 - We were humbled 6-1 in the final game of the season at Stoke City. Mame Biram Diouf bagged a brace before Jon Walters grabbed one of his seven goals past us. Ex-red Charlie Adam and Steven N’Zonzi then put the home side five up at the break. Steven Gerrard netted his 186th and last goal in his 710th and final reds game, but ex-red Peter Crouch then added his fourth and last goal against the reds. This was our biggest defeat since April 1963. Appointments galore 2011 – A raft of appointments at the club were announced, including Frank McParland as Director of Academy and Player Development, Pep Segura as Technical Director, Stuart Webber as Director of Recruitment, and Steve Cooper as Under-16’s Coach and Academy Manager. Rodolfo Borrell stepped up from Under-18’s Coach to Reserve Team Head Coach, with Mike Marsh taking over the Under-18’s. On the same day, Lucas Leiva was presented with the Standard Chartered Liverpool FC Player of the Season for 2010-11 award. En route to title number five 1947 - Our only other first-class game on this day to date brought a 2-1 victory at Arsenal in our penultimate game of the season, taking us back to the top of the table, despite being behind with only a quarter of an hour to go. Jack Balmer headed us level before a Bob Priday cross was turned into his own net by full-back Wally Barnes. We pipped Manchester United for the title that season by one point, to claim it for the fifth time. Boss George Kay was not present at the match as he was away watching transfer targets, so captain Balmer gave the team talk and the board of directors voted on tactical changes during the match! Emlyn for the last time 1980 - Ex-red Emlyn Hughes won his 62nd and final cap for England, coming off the bench as they beat Scotland 2-0 in a British International Championships match at Hampden Park. Phil Thompson skippered an England side that also included Ray Clemence, David Johnson and Terry McDermott, while Kenny Dalglish played for the Scots. Nice one Cyril 1941 - Cyril Done netted a treble as we thumped Chester 6-1 in a Wartime League game at Sealand Road. Douglas Cooke and Billy Liddell also scored, with our other strike coming from a Cole own goal. New York friendlies We have twice played friendlies in New York on this day in history. 1953 - We beat 1. FC Nürnberg 4-3 in the Triborough Stadium, with Kevin Baron, Mervyn Jones, Billy Liddell and Sammy Smyth all on target. 1964 - We lost 2-0 to Hamburger SV at the Yankee Stadium. This was our first defeat in 36 games played over five visits to North America since the war. Most recently 2017 – Forward Rhian Brewster played his first reds game as we beat Sydney 3-0 in a post-season friendly down under, with ex-reds Daniel Agger, Jamie Carragher, Steven Gerrard and Steve McManaman all also in action. Daniel Sturridge, Alberto Moreno and Roberto Firmino were all on target in the first half. Friendlies in Scandinavia We have played three matches in Scandinavia on this day in history, scoring a total of twelve goals, but conceding eleven. 1914 - Billy Lacey struck twice as we drew 3-3 with a København Select XI in Denmark, with Tom Miller also scoring. 1932 – We beat an Odense Select side 3-0 on our Danish tour. Edmund Hancock struck twice, with Gordon Gunson also on target. 1939 - We lost 5-4 to a Swedish Combination side, with our goals coming from Harman van den Berg, Willie Fagan, Jack Balmer and Phil Taylor. 1951 - Cyril Done bagged a brace as we beat a Göteborg Select team 5-3, while Kevin Baron, Billy Liddell and Jimmy Payne also got on the scoresheet. This was the third consecutive game on this Swedish tour that Done had scored in. Double debutants 2001 - Future reds Chris Kirkland and Jermaine Pennant both made their debuts for England Under-21’s, with Stephen Wright also appearing in their 3-0 friendly defeat of Mexico at Filbert Street. This was Kirkland’s only cap as a Coventry City player. Reds on target at Wembley for England 2010 - Glen Johnson grabbed his first senior international goal, with ex-red Peter Crouch also netting as England beat Mexico 3-1 in a friendly. Jamie Carragher, Steven Gerrard and future red James Milner all also featured. On the same day, Maxi Rodríguez won his first cap as a reds player, netting twice as Argentina thumped Canada 5-0 in a friendly in Buenos Aires, with Javier Mascherano skippering the side. Meanwhile Brad Jones won his last cap while with Middlesbrough as Australia beat New Zealand 2-1 in a friendly in Melbourne. 1975 - Future red David Johnson scored as England trounced Scotland 5-1 in the British International Championships. Ray Clemence, Kevin Keegan, future red Kenny Dalglish and ex-red Ted MacDougall all also played. 1978 - Phil Neal netted from the spot as England thumped Hungary 4-1 in a friendly. Emlyn Hughes captained the side, with ex-red Kevin Keegan also playing. Steve Heighway and future red Mark Lawrenson played for the Republic of Ireland on the same day as they drew their European Championships qualifier in Denmark 3-3. Double Dutch 2008 – Ryan Babel bagged his final international goal as a reds player with Dirk Kuyt also on target as the Netherlands beat Andriy Voronin’s Ukraine 3-0 in a friendly in Feyenoord. Meanwhile, Krisztián Németh struck the only goal as Hungary Under-19’s faced Portugal in a European Championships qualifier in Székesfehérvár, with keeper Péter Gulácsi also featuring. Damien Plessis and future reds Robbie Keane and Sotirios Kyrgiakos also played for their countries that day. 2013 – Future red Gini Wijnaldum scored for the Dutch Under-21’s as they beat Australia Under-20’s 3-1 in a friendly in Emmen. Signing on 2016 – Keeper Loris Karius signed from 1. FSV Mainz 05 for £4.7m, so far making 49 senior appearances for the reds. On the same day, former reds Assistant Manager Pako Ayestarán was appointed permanent Head Coach of Valencia, although he was sacked just four months later. 2006 - Ex-reds left-back Grégory Vignal signed for Racing Club de Lens, having been released by Portsmouth. He made 22 League appearances before moving back to England to join Birmingham City. 1948 – Right-half Roy Saunders signed on a free transfer from Hull City. He netted once in 146 reds appearances before joining Swansea Town in March 1959, as well as fathering future reds striker Dean. He died in January 2009. 2012 – Reserves forward David Amoo signed for Preston North End, netting once in 24 games before joining Tranmere Rovers in January 2013. On the same day, left-back Fábio Aurélio joined Grêmio back in his native Brazil, having been released for the second time. He had arrived at Anfield on a Bosman free transfer in July 2006, netting four goals in 134 games, helping us to claim the FA Community Shield in his very first senior appearance. 2017 - Amoo signed for Cambridge United having been released by Partick Thistle, netting twice in 27 games in his first season with the U’s. Other bosses coming and going 2001 - Kevin Keegan was appointed Manager of Manchester City, following his departure from the England job seven months earlier. He led them to the First Division title in his first season, then keeping them in the top flight before leaving in March 2005. 1997 - Graeme Souness resigned as Southampton boss. He had been in charge at The Dell for less than a year, during which time he had guided them to just one point clear of relegation, and famously signed Ali Dia, George Weah’s alleged cousin. Redders injured 1997 - Jamie Redknapp was stretchered off with an ankle injury as England beat South Africa 2-1 in a friendly at Old Trafford. This was not the only time he was injured while on international duty. Roger on target 1963 - Roger Hunt scored for the Football League side in a FA Centenary/Football League 75th anniversary match that ended 3-3 at Highbury. 1967 - He struck in England’s 2-0 friendly defeat of Spain at Wembley. Other international goalscorers 2014 – Jordon Ibe bagged a treble as England Under-19’s thumped Montenegro 6-1 in a European Championships qualifier in Walsall. Clubmate Lloyd Jones also featured, while Ryan Fulton played for Scotland in the same competition in Burton. 1939 - Future reds boss Don Welsh netted his only international goal while winning his third and final cap in England’s 2-0 friendly win in Romania. 1971 - Steve Heighway scored for the Republic of Ireland as they drew 1-1 with an FA XI at Lansdowne Road in a match to celebrate the FAI’s Golden Jubilee. This was his only goal for the senior Irish side. 2011 – Ex-red Robbie Keane bagged a brace, including a penalty, skippering the Republic of Ireland as they trounced Northern Ireland 5-0 in a Carling Nations Cup game in Dublin. 2012 - Future reds loanee Nuri Şahin netted for Turkey as they beat Georgia 3-1 in a friendly in Austria, his only goal as a Real Madrid player. 2006 – Şahin also played for Turkey as they drew a friendly 3-3 in Belgium. Backroom appointments 2012 – The appointments of Jen Chang as Corporate Relations and Communications Director and Chief Commercial Officer Billy Hogan were both announced. However, Chang left “by mutual consent” after just five months in the role. Chico the boss again 2002 - Steve Nicol was re-appointed interim head coach of New England Revolution, in the US Major League. He took them to the final of the MLS play-offs in his first full season, remaining in charge until October 2011. Skippers for the first time 1982 - Graeme Souness captained Scotland for the first time as they beat Wales 1-0 in the British International Championships at Hampden Park. Kenny Dalglish, Alan Hansen, Ian Rush and ex-red Joey Jones all also played that day. 1926 - Full-back Tom Lucas became only the second red to captain England as he won his third and final cap in their 5-3 friendly defeat of Belgium in Antwerp. Future reds forward Tosh Johnson scored on his international bow. 1958 - Reds midfielder Johnny Wheeler skippered an FA XI that won 5-0 in Nigeria. Howie for England 1984 - Ex-red Howard Gayle scored his only England Under-21’s goal while winning his third and final cap as they beat Spain 2-0 at Bramall Lane to clinch the European Championships 3-0 on aggregate. Fellow ex-red Dave Watson also played. 2010 – Conor Coady skippered England Under-17’s as they beat Turkey 2-1 in a European Championships Finals group game in Liechtenstein, with Andre Wisdom also featuring. First and last caps 2006 - Mark González won his first cap as a reds player, and fourteenth to date, as Chile beat Steve Staunton’s Republic of Ireland side 1-0 in a friendly at Lansdowne Road, with future red Robbie Keane also featuring. Meanwhile, Ramon Calliste made his final appearance for Wales Under-21’s while on our books as they thumped Estonia 5-1 in a European Championships qualifier. Daniel Agger and John Arne Riise were both also in international action that day. Carl the champion 2006 - Carl Medjani skippered France Under-20’s to victory in the Final of the Toulon tournament, with the game against the Netherlands ending goalless, but the French winning 5-3 on penalties. European Cup joy 1995 - Future red Jari Litmanen started as Ajax beat AC Milan 1-0 in Vienna to win the UEFA Champions League. 2000 - Ex-red Steve McManaman and future red Fernando Morientes both netted as Real Madrid beat Valencia 3-0 in the Stade de France to claim the trophy, with future reds Nicolas Anelka and Mauricio Pellegrino both also featuring.