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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.

Champagne Charlie 1953 - Graeme Souness was born in Edinburgh. He won five League titles, three European Cups, four League Cups and three FA Charity Shields after signing from Middlesbrough for £352,000 in January 1978. He moved to Sampdoria for £650,000 in June 1984 after 55 goals in 359 games. He returned to Anfield as Manager in April 1991, although his time as reds boss was considerably less successful, with just one FA Cup triumph before his departure in January 1994. 1990 - Keeper Péter Gulácsi was born in Budapest. He joined on loan from MTK Hungária in August 2007, signing on permanently in September 2008. The young Hungarian made it into our bench 51 times, but failed to feature for the first team before joining Red Bull Salzburg in June 2013. 1994 – Another young custodian, Tyrell Belford, was born in Nuneaton. He arrived from Coventry City in the summer of 2009, aged just fifteen. He signed on professionally in July 2011, but moved to Swindon Town on a free transfer two years later after falling behind Gulácsi and Danny Ward in the pecking order. The first sighting of Saint Michael 1997 - Michael Owen netted on his reds debut, becoming our youngest ever scorer aged seventeen years and 144 days. He had come on as a substitute for Patrik Berger less than twenty minutes previously in our 2-1 defeat by Wimbledon at Selhurst Park, nabbing our consolation after a Jason Euell goal and one of Dean Holdsworth’s four strikes past the reds. 2006 - He became a father for the second time, to his first son, named James Michael. Missing out on the League 1991 - Our 2-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest handed the League title to Arsenal, their second in three seasons. Nigel Clough scored the opener with Jan Mølby netting our equaliser from the spot, while David Burrows was playing his hundredth game for the reds. Ian Woan bagged the winner. This game was postponed from the previous December. 1998 - We hosted the Gunners at Anfield after they had already clinched the League title, their first since that 1991 triumph. We thumped them 4-0, with Paul Ince bagging a brace, and Michael Owen and Øyvind Leonhardsen also on the scoresheet. Owen also had a penalty saved by Arsenal keeper Alex Manninger after Matthew Upson had fouled Steve McManaman. Red beginnings and ends 1898 - Centre-half Alex Raisbeck signed from Stoke City for £350. He played 341 times in eleven years, netting nineteen times and becoming our first skipper to lift the League title in 1901. He won a further League title five years later, as well as a Second Division championship, returning to the club in 1939 as a scout until his death ten years later. 1996 - At the other end of the reds spectrum, Phil Neal’s son Ashley played his final reserves game. 1939 – Right-back Tommy Cooper played his 160th and final reds game as we lost 2-0 at Manchester United in front of just 12,073 spectators. Johnny Hanlon bagged a brace as we ended the season in eleventh. Reaching a super cup final 1986 - Kevin Macdonald and Craig Johnston netted as we came from behind to beat Norwich City 3-1 at Anfield in the Semi-final second leg of the Screen Sport Super Cup, with Gary Brooke on target for the visitors. Jan Mølby added a penalty as we went through 4-2 on aggregate. The reds were presented with the League title prior to this game. The Final against Everton was held over until the following season - which we won, of course. Big wins We have twice won top-flight fixtures 4-1 on this day in history. 1922 - We beat West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns, with a Harry Beadles brace, his final reds strikes, and goals from Dick Forshaw and Jock McNab. Stan Davies struck one of his four goals past us. 1933 - Sheffield Wednesday lost at Anfield, centre-half Tom ‘Tiny’ Bradshaw put through his own net with Gordon Hodgson and Dave Wright both striking twice, as we finished the season in thirteenth position. Ton up Jameo 1995 – Keeper David James reached a century of reds games in our 2-0 defeat at Aston Villa, with Dwight Yorke netting two of his eight strikes against us. Most recently 2018 – We lost at Chelsea as Olivier Giroud headed in the only goal, one of his seven past us to date, as we stuttered towards a top-four finish in the League. Other birthdays 1971 - Former reserve keeper Jørgen Nielsen was born in Nykøbing Falster. The Dane never played a senior reds game, but he did sit on the bench 55 times following his £400,000 capture from Hvidovre in August 1997. 1969 - Another former reserve, midfielder Jim Magilton, was born in Belfast. He later had a successful career with Oxford United, Southampton and Ipswich Town before moving into management. Nando the champion 2001 – Future red Fernando Torres converted a penalty to hand Spain Under-16’s the European Championships, as they beat France 1-0 in the Final in the Stadium of Light in Sunderland, with Anthony Le Tallec and Florent Sinama-Pongolle both on the losing side. Firsts for Scotland 1959 - Motherwell’s Ian St. John won his first full international cap as Scotland beat West Germany 3-2 at Hampden Park. The Scots were managed by Andy Beattie, who had guested with the reds during the war, and later joined the backroom staff at Anfield after a successful management career. 1966 – Kenny Dalglish made his first international appearance, bagging a brace as the Under-15’s won 4-3 in Northern Ireland. New ground approved 2008 – The revised design for the club’s new stadium in Stanley Park was granted planning permission by Liverpool City Council. However, work never fully got underway and these plans have now been scrapped. Management ins and outs 1999 - Jan Mølby was appointed Manager of Kidderminster Harriers. He led them to the Conference title in his first season, and then mid-table Third Division safety in the next two years. 2004 - Steve McMahon resigned as Blackpool boss, with fellow ex-red Mark Seagraves dismissed as Assistant Manager on the same day. McMahon had guided the Seasiders to 102 wins in his 350 games in charge, leading them back out of the basement in his first full season, and mid-table security in his following three seasons. Reds on target 2003 – Future red Alberto Aquilani struck for Italy Under-19’s as they beat Northern Ireland 2-0 in a European Championships qualifier in Andria. 2009 – Christopher Buchtmann scored and was booked as Germany Under-17’s beat Turkey 3-1 in a European Championships Finals match in Erfurt, while future red Jonjo Shelvey featured as England drew 1-1 with the Netherlands in Gera. 2011 – Future red Samed Yeşil netted as Germany Under-17’s drew 1-1 with the Czech Republic in a European Championships Finals game in Serbia. Adam Morgan, Brad Smith and Raheem Sterling all featured as England lost 2-0 to Denmark in the same competition that day. 2019 – Ki-Jana Hoever played for the Dutch Under-17’s as they beat England 5-2 in a European Championships Finals group game in Dublin. Signing on 2017 – Scottish centre-back George Johnston signed professional terms with the reds. He is currently playing for the Under-23’s. 2011 – Midfielder Jay Spearing signed a new contract. He played 55 senior reds games without notching, moving on to Bolton Wanderers in August 2013 after a season-long loan there. 1992 - Future reds winger Mark Kennedy signed as a professional for Millwall. He went on to net twelve times in 54 games for the Lions, before moving to Anfield three years later. For John 1975 - We played in a testimonial match for Plymouth Argyle legend John Hore, with Brian Hall, Emlyn Hughes and Terry McDermott netting as we won 4-3 at Home Park, and Ray Clemence converting a penalty!

On the way to our first European Cup 1977 - We drew closer to our first European Cup triumph. Having overcome Saint-Étienne in the previous round, we won our Semi-final first leg 3-1 at Zürich, with two goals from Phil Neal, including a spot-kick, and a Steve Heighway strike after we had gone behind to an early penalty from Peter Risi. Jordan’s ton up 2014 – Jordan Henderson reached a century of reds games as we won 2-1 at West Ham United. Steven Gerrard converted two spot kicks with ex-red Andy Carroll proving an awkward opponent. Guy Demel struck for the Hammers. Twice against the Sky Blues This has been a very busy day over the years, with a total of 26 matches played, fourteen of which we have won. However, our two most recent games on this day have both resulted in League defeats to Coventry City. 1997 - Robbie Fowler opened the scoring as we lost 2-1 at Anfield to effectively put us out of the title race. Noel Whelan equalised, with Dion Dublin bagging the injury time winner, the first of his seven strikes past us. 1996 - We lost 1-0 at Highfield Road, with Steve Harkness suffering a broken leg. City’s Whelan was again on target. Mixed fortunes against the Mancs 1968 - Ron Yeats and Roger Hunt netted as we won 2-1 at Old Trafford, with George Best scoring his seventh and last goal for the home side against us. 1931 - Alan Scott bagged our consolation as we were thumped 4-1. Ex-reds centre-forward netted the last two of his four goals against the reds, with Hugh McLenahan and Harry Rowley also on the scoresheet. Sailing in 1878 – Inside-forward John ‘Sailor’ Hunter was born in Johnstone, Renfrewshire. The Scottish international signed from Abercorn in 1899 and bagged twelve goals in 45 reds games before returning north of the border in a combined £300 deal with winger Tom Robertson in May 1902 to join Heart Of Midlothian. Hunter later became Motherwell’s longest ever serving Manager, taking charge of them for over a thousand games. Cyril’s treble 1942 - Cyril Done bagged a hat-trick as we beat Burnley 4-1 in a Wartime League game at Anfield that also counted towards the War League Cup, with Phil Taylor also on the scoresheet. 1896 - We hosted the Clarets in a testimonial match for reds defender Joe McQue on an Easter Monday. Tom Bradshaw struck twice with Fred Geary also on target as we won 4-2, with Clarke netting in his first reds game. 1928 - Our third meeting with Burnley was a top-flight encounter at Turf Moor, when Jimmy Walsh and Tom Reid scored as we drew 2-2. Ted off the mark 1932 – Forward Ted Hancock netted his first reds goal as we beat Chelsea 2-1 at Anfield, with Gordon Hodgson also on target. In comes Rab 1898 – Right-half Rab Howell signed from Sheffield United for £200. He went on to become the only true Romany to play for England, playing 67 reds games without scoring before joining Preston North End in June 1901. Ton up 1974 – Midfielder Peter Cormack played his hundredth reds game as we beat Queens Park Rangers 2-1 at Anfield, thanks to an Alec Lindsay penalty and an own goal from Terry Mancini. Cooper bows out 1940 - Right-back and former reds skipper Tommy Cooper played his final game for us in a Wartime League game at Anfield against his hometown team, Stoke City. He was killed on military duty just two months later. 1946 - We visited the Victoria Ground for another Wartime League match, with Cyril Done netting the only goal of the game. 1953 – South African half-back Hugh Gerhardi played his sixth and final reds game as we were thumped 4-0 in a top-flight match at Cardiff City. Wilf Grant and Ken Chisholm each netted the first two of their four goals against the reds. Chasing the Foxes twice We have twice beaten Leicester City 1-0 on this day over the years. 1976 - Kevin Keegan was on target at Anfield. 1985 - Ronnie Whelan netted at Filbert Street. International beginnings and end 1963 - Gerry Byrne and Jimmy Melia both won the first of their two England caps as they beat Ian St. John’s Scotland 2-1 in the British International Championships at Wembley. 1907 - Alex Raisbeck won his eighth and final cap as he skippered Scotland in their 1-1 draw in the same fixture at St. James’ Park. Sam Hardy kept goal for England that day. Three times against the Rams We have entertained Derby County three times on this day in history, winning twice and losing on the other occasion. 1907 - Joe Hewitt struck a brace as we won 2-0. 1935 - Berry Nieuwenhuys netted our consolation in a 3-1 defeat. Sammy Crooks struck one of his six goals past us, with Jack Bowers and Dickie Bird also on target as centre-forward Fred Howe made his reds bow. 1960 - Our most recent meeting was a Second Division fixture, when Roger Hunt, Alan A’Court, Johnny Wheeler and Dave Hickson bagged the goals in a 4-1 victory in a game that was originally postponed two months earlier. Beating the Owls We have twice defeated Sheffield Wednesday in top-flight matches at Anfield on this day in history. 1966 - Willie Stevenson grabbed the only goal of a game postponed from four days earlier. 1929 - Henry Race, James Clark and Gordon Hodgson all struck as we won 3-2. Ellis Rimmer and Jack Allen each netted one of their five goals against the reds. Meeting the Villains We have twice lost First Division matches to Aston Villa on this day in history. 1912 - Sam Gilligan grabbed our consolation in a 2-1 home defeat in what was keeper Sam Hardy’s 240th and final reds game prior to joining Villa, while Robbie Robinson also turned out for the 271st and last time. Harry Hampton bagged one of his fifteen goals past us, with Clem Stephenson scoring the first of his five against the reds. 1926 - We went down 3-0 at Villa Park. Fred Norris bagged a brace, with Reg Chester grabbing the first of four goals past us. Souey under the knife 1992 - Graeme Souness underwent a successful triple heart by-pass operation. Vitor off 2010 – Brazilian reserves forward Vitor Flora was sold to Goiás Esporte Clube. He had arrived in the summer of 2008, netting twice in nine second string outings in his first campaign in England, before he made just one appearance from the bench in the following season. International goalscorers 1891 – Future red Edgar Chadwick scored in the second of three consecutive internationals as England beat Scotland 2-1 in the British International Championships at Ewood Park. Fellow future red Fred Geary won his second and final cap for the home side in this fixture. 1996 – Future reds forward Haukur Ingi Guðnason netted for Iceland Under-19’s in their 3-1 defeat of Hungary in the Italy Tournament.