Search the Community

Happy birthdays all round 1945 - Tommy Smith was born in Liverpool. The ‘Anfield Iron’ signed on as a professional on his seventeenth birthday, and went on to win four League titles, two FA Cups, two UEFA Cups, European Cup, UEFA Super Cup and two FA Charity Shields in his time with Liverpool, netting 48 times in 638 games. 1991 – Right-back Nathaniel Clyne was born in Stockwell, south London. He signed from Southampton for £12.5m in July 2015, so far notching twice in 103 reds games. 1976 - Fernando Morientes was born in Cáceres in Spain. He struck twelve times in 61 reds appearances following his £6.3m arrival from Real Madrid in January 2005, but moved on to Valencia in July 2006 after failing to fully convince in a reds shirt. He had helped us to claim the FA Cup and UEFA Super Cup in his time at Anfield. 1968 - Former second-string defender Alex Watson was born in Liverpool. He signed professional terms in May 1985 but made just nine first-team appearances, including being on the winning side in the FA Charity Shield in 1988, before joining Bournemouth for £150,000 in January 1991. Arrivederci Juve 2005 - We beat Serie A champions-elect Juventus 2-1 at Anfield in the first leg of our Champions League Quarter-final clash. Sami Hyypiä struck a delightful volley from a corner before Luis García’s wonder strike put us two ahead at the break. Scott Carson let in a goal from Fabio Cannavaro to give the Italians hope, although we held firm in the Stadio delle Alpi to reach the Semi-finals for the first time in twenty years. The club honoured the memory of the 39 victims of Heysel with a number of commemorative gestures in the lead-up to the match, including a fans match at the Academy and a Kop mosaic, while a banner carrying the theme ‘In Memoria e Amicizia’ was carried by Phil Neal and Michel Platini, the captains from back in 1985, from the Kop to the away end prior to kick-off. The end of Rushie’s record 1987 - A legendary goal streak was broken at Wembley. Ian Rush opened the scoring in our Littlewoods Cup Final against Arsenal. Unfortunately, Charlie Nicholas struck twice to take the trophy to Highbury. This was the 145th match in which Ian Rush had scored, but the first of those that we lost. Future red Michael Thomas came off the bench for the victors. 2005 - Rushie resigned as Manager of Chester City. He said, “The club's decision yesterday to terminate the contract of my assistant Mark Aizlewood without my knowledge was the last straw.” We’re on our way to Wembley We have twice played FA Cup Semi-finals on this day. 1986 - We beat Southampton 2-0 at White Hart Lane after extra time, thanks to a brace from Ian Rush. Future red Mark Wright broke his leg during the match. 1992 - Our tie with Portsmouth at Highbury also ended goalless after ninety minutes, before Pompey went ahead through the young Darren Anderton in extra time, with the reds down to ten men due to an injury to Steve McManaman. Ronnie Whelan chose the perfect time to score his only goal of the season after Alan Knight had pushed a John Barnes free-kick onto the post to take the tie to a replay, which we went on to win. En route to another final 2001 - We came back from the Camp Nou with a goalless draw in our UEFA Cup Semi-final first leg meeting with Barcelona, to set us on our way to a third UEFA Cup triumph. The Spanish giants had only twice previously failed to score at home that season. Future reds keeper Pepe Reina was in the home goal, while Bolo Zenden made an appearance for the home side from the bench. The game kicked off at the unusual time of 8:15pm due to a big storyline on EastEnders on BBC One! Derby joy 1978 - David Johnson bagged the only goal of the game at Goodison Park to become the first player to net for both sides in the derby, having also struck the only goal of the game at Goodison in November 1971. 1901 - We also beat the Blues, with Charles Satterthwaite and Sam Raybould netting in a 2-1 friendly win at Anfield. Gerry’s farewell 1969 - Gerry Byrne played his 333rd and final reds game as Roger Hunt struck the only goal of our home League meeting with Wolverhampton Wanderers. Off the mark 2019 – We won 3-1 at Southampton as we came from behind to return to the top of the table. Shane Long opened the scoring with the most recent of his four goals past us, with Naby Keïta equalising with his first reds goal before the break. Mohamed Salah scored his fiftieth League goal for the reds to put us in front late on, with Jordan Henderson also on target. Red debutants 2008 – Damien Plessis debuted in our 1-1 League draw at Arsenal, just three days after a similar result there in the Champions League. Peter Crouch gave us the lead before Nicklas Bendtner equalised. 1920 - Forward Dick Johnson made his reds bow as we were held to a 2-2 draw at Anfield by Oldham Athletic. Harry Chambers netted both our goals as well as missing a penalty, with keeper Ken Campbell playing for the 142nd and final time before joining Partick Thistle. Joe Walters struck the last of his five goals against the reds, with Billy Halligan also on target. Thumped at Old Trafford 2003 - We lost 4-0 at Manchester United following Sami Hyypiä’s fourth-minute dismissal after he tussled with Ruud van Nistelrooy in the box. The Dutchman converted two penalties, with Ryan Giggs also on target with one of his five goals past us before a last-minute goal from Ole Gunnar Solskjær. 1980 - We also lost at Old Trafford, with Kenny Dalglish opening the scoring in a 2-1 defeat. United capitalised when winger Steve Coppell took advantage of Alan Kennedy pulling up with a damaged hamstring to cross for Mickey Thomas to equalise, before Jimmy Greenhoff’s header gave the home side the victory, the last of his five goals against the reds. Stig in the dumps 1995 - Stig Inge Bjørnebye broke his leg as we beat Southampton 3-1 at Anfield. Ian Rush bagged a brace, to add to a Robbie Fowler penalty after we had fallen behind to a goal from Richard Hall. Bruce Grobbelaar and former reds reserve Jim Magilton both featured for the visitors. A win at last 1912 - We beat Sunderland 2-1 at Anfield to record our first victory in twelve matches as we ended the season in seventeenth place. Half-back Harry Lowe struck his first reds goal with Sam Gilligan also on the scoresheet. Reds awards 2002 - This was a day of awards. Gérard Houllier and Phil Thompson were jointly awarded the Manager of the Month prize for March while Steven Gerrard was nominated for the PFA Young Player Of The Year award, which he had won the previous year. Hardy’s first as a Villain 1913 - Keeper Sam Hardy won his first cap as an Aston Villa player, and fifteenth in total, as England beat Scotland 1-0 in a British International Championships game at Stamford Bridge. A Victory defeat for Ephraim 1919 - Right-back Ephraim Longworth played for the Football League in a Victory match, which a Scottish League team won 3-2 at Ibrox. On the same day, inside-forward Harry Lewis struck for the sixth consecutive game, as we beat Southport Vulcan 4-2 at Anfield in a Lancashire Section Subsidiary Competition fixture, as the Lancashire Senior Cup was then known. Tom Miller and Harold and Walter Wadsworth also scored. For Ibrox 1902 - Winger Jack Cox played for England, with Alex Raisbeck, and future reds keeper Ned Doig and inside-right George Livingstone all turning out for Scots in a British International Championships game at Ibrox Park that ended 1-1. However, 25 people died and 517 were injured when the back of the new West Tribune Stand collapsed due to heavy rainfall the previous night during the second half. Play continued but the match was later declared void by the two FA’s. England beaten on pens 2010 – England Under-16’s lost the Final of the Montaigu Tournament 3-1 to Portugal in a penalty shoot-out, after the game ended 1-1. Matty Regan won his fourth and final cap at this level, with Raheem Sterling playing his seventh and last game. In charge 2013 – Ex-reds centre-half and first-team coach Mauricio Pellegrino was appointed Manager of Estudiantes de La Plata in his native Argentina. Sami clogs off the mark 1997 - Sami Hyypiä scored his first goal in the Dutch Premier League. Unfortunately, Willem II lost 3-1 at SC Heerenveen. 2008 – Sami signed a new contract with the reds until the summer of 2009.

Debutants 1963 - Full-back Chris Lawler made his reds bow in a 2-2 draw at home to West Bromwich Albion, with Roger Hunt adding to a Ronnie Moran penalty. This was our third consecutive 2-2 League draw. 1935 - Keeper Stanley Kane made his reds debut in our 2-1 derby win at Anfield. Gordon Hodgson netted both our goals, including one from the spot. Dixie Dean also converted a penalty, one of his nineteen derby strikes. 1909 - Forward Bill Hunter made his only senior appearance in our 2-0 top-flight defeat at Preston North End. Herbert Danson struck one of his four goals past us, with Percy Smith also on the scoresheet. 1999 - Future red Djibril Cissé made his senior club debut, coming off the bench in Auxerre’s 1-0 home defeat by Paris Saint-Germain. Bernard Diomède was also in the Auxerre side that day. Cumpleaños feliz Nando 1984 - Fernando Torres was born in Madrid. He signed from Club Atlético de Madrid for a club record £20.2m in July 2007 and notched an astounding 81 times in 142 reds outings, becoming a firm favourite on the Kop before moving to Chelsea for £50m in January 2011. More derby joy 2005 - We beat Everton 2-1 at Anfield as we continued to chase our neighbours for a top-four finish. Steven Gerrard opened the scoring from a free-kick after Luis García was felled. The diminutive Spaniard then put us two ahead with an opportunist header at the break. Milan Baroš was dismissed for a reckless lunge on Alan Stubbs before Tim Cahill pulled a goal back, the first of his five goals past us. However, we held on to secure our 150th home Premiership win as we used three substitutions before the break for the first time, with Stephen Warnock, Didi Hamann and Fernando Morientes all going off injured. García spent the second half playing on despite having suffered an ankle injury at the end of the first period. Good and bad runs 1988 - Our 1-0 defeat at Goodison was one of only two League defeats that season, with this game ending a League record-equalling 29-match unbeaten run. Alex Watson sat on the reds bench while his brother Dave turned out for the Blues, for whom Wayne Clarke scored the decisive goal. 1993 - We won the other derby match on this day in history, with Ronnie Rosenthal stealing victory with the only goal of the game in the final minute, so becoming the final sub to score in front of the standing Kop. This was also his 22nd and final reds goal. 1954 - Less impressively, a 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Anfield was our fourteenth consecutive League match without a win, with Eric Anderson nabbing our goal. Milestone games 1976 - Bob Paisley secured his fiftieth win as reds boss as David Fairclough grabbed the only goal of our League match at Norwich City. This was in fact Bob’s hundredth game as Manager. 1964 – Ian Callaghan played his hundredth League game as we beat Bolton Wanderers 2-0 at Anfield thanks to goals from Alf Arrowsmith and Ian St. John. 1926 – Forward Dick Forshaw struck his hundredth League goal for the reds as we lost 2-1 at Huddersfield Town. Future red Bill Devlin netted, with Clem Stephenson grabbing one of his five goals past us. Facing the Mackems 2011 – Dirk Kuyt converted from the spot after Jay Spearing was fouled outside the box at the Stadium of Light, with John Mensah later being sent off for Sunderland. Luis Suárez added a stunning second from a very tight angle to secure a 2-0 victory. 1982 – We beat Sunderland in a League match at Anfield, with Ian Rush bagging the only goal of the game and David Johnson making his 213rd and final reds appearance, as a substitute for Craig Johnston. Most recently 2016 – We lost 3-2 at Southampton, with future red Sadio Mané bagging a brace. We had gone two goals up through Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge inside the first half of the first half, but were pegged back after the break, with Graziano Pellè also on target for the Saints, while Mané had a penalty saved by Simon Mignolet. Walsh misses out 1985 - Austria Wien were known as Austria Memphis due to a sponsorship deal when we faced them in the second leg of our European Cup Third Round tie. We had drawn the away leg 1-1 with Steve Nicol on target, and we won the return leg convincingly, as Paul Walsh nabbed a brace and Nicol netted again to give us 4-1 win on the night, with our other score coming from an Erich Obermayer own goal. Paul Walsh missed a penalty that would have handed him the match ball, but we were safely through to another European Semi-final. 1997 - Our other European game on this day also ended in victory. Robbie Fowler struck twice, including a penalty, as we beat Norwegian side Brann 3-0 at Anfield to reach the European Cup Winners’ Cup Semi-final 4-1 on aggregate. Robbie famously incurred the wrath of UEFA by lifting up his shirt to reveal a t-shirt in support of 500 recently-sacked dockers. Stan Collymore was also on target, while John Barnes made his 400th reds appearance. On our way to Wembley 1996 - Steve McManaman netted twice as we beat Leeds United 3-0 in an FA Cup Sixth Round replay at Anfield, with Robbie Fowler adding the third. 1897 - Unfortunately, we lost our first ever FA Cup Semi-final, going down 3-0 to reigning League champions and eventual Cup winners Aston Villa at Bramall Lane. Jimmy Cowan struck the last two of his four goals against the reds, with Charlie Athersmith also on the scoresheet. Martin O’Neill outwits Ged 2003 - We were knocked out of the UEFA Cup at Anfield, as Celtic won 2-0 in the second leg of our Quarter-final to progress 3-1 on aggregate as they headed towards the Final, with Alan Thompson and John Hartson on target. Danny Murphy was playing his 200th reds game. Lightning strikes twice on Teesside 1915 - Walter Tinsley scored a hat-trick for Middlesbrough against the reds for the second successive season as we lost 3-0 at Ayresome Park. Centre-half Walter Wadsworth made his reds bow in this game. At the wrong end 1959 - Jimmy Melia struck twice with Louis Bimpson also netting as Stoke City won 4-3 in the Second Division at Anfield. Dick White headed into his own net as Dennis Wilshaw scored the last two of his seven strikes past us, with Bill Asprey also scoring. International goalscorers 1897 - Future reds inside-right John Walker bagged his third and final international goal in only his second game for Scotland, as they drew 2-2 with Wales in the British International Championships in Wrexham. 1909 - Future red Billy Lacey scored his first goal for Ireland, and only one as an Everton player, in their 3-2 defeat by Wales in the British International Championships in Belfast. George Latham and Ernest Peake both played for the Welsh. 2019 – Ben Woodburn scored the only goal as Wales beat Trinidad & Tobago in a friendly in Wrexham, with future red Sepp van den Berg also on target for the Dutch Under-19’s as they beat Wales 2-1 in a European Championships qualifier in Hardenberg. Bobby Duncan, Ki-Jana Hoever, Curtis Jones and ex-red Danny Ward were also in international action that day. Harry’s birthday 1886 - Half-back Harry Lowe was born in Whitwell, Derbyshire. He notched twice in 136 games for the reds after signing from Gainsborough Trinity in May 1911. Unfortunately, he missed the 1914 FA Cup Final through injury, and he moved on to Nottingham Forest in March 1920. Beating the Seasiders We beat Blackpool twice at Anfield on this day in the 1940’s. 1943 - Jack Balmer was on target twice as we won 3-1 in a Wartime League match, with George Kaye grabbing the other. 1948 - Albert Stubbins netted a brace, including a penalty, as we won a top-flight meeting 2-0. Taming Wolves We have twice beaten Wolverhampton Wanderers in top-flight matches at Anfield on this day in history. 2004 - Sami Hyypiä headed the only goal of the game from a stoppage-time corner to hand us a crucial victory. Paul Jones was in the visitors’ goal, appearing at Anfield for the third time that season, all with different clubs, having already turned out for Southampton and the reds. 1979 - Terry McDermott and David Johnson were both on target with deflected strikes in a 2-0 victory, a game originally postponed from Christmas. Representing the League Right-back Ephraim Longworth, who later became reserve team manager before joining the ground staff, played for the Football League twice on this day, both times against the Scottish League at Celtic Park. 1915 - He was in the team that won 4-1. 1920 - The Football League won 4-0 at the same venue. 1968 - Roger Hunt scored for the Football League as they beat a Scottish League side 2-0 at Ayresome Park. Ex-reds on the move 1985 - Jimmy Case left Brighton & Hove Albion for Southampton in a £30,000 deal. He went on to play 271 times for the Saints, bagging fourteen goals. 2003 - Ex-reserves forward Paul Dalglish joined Third Division Sc***horpe United on loan from Blackpool. He made ten appearances for the Irons, netting three times. 2014 - Christian Ziege was appointed Manager of 3. Liga side Spielvereinigung Unterhaching back in his native Germany. Stevie the newcomer 2002 - Steven Gerrard was nominated for the World Newcomer Of The Year prize in the Laureus World Sports Awards, alongside three tennis players and Formula 1’s Juan Pablo Montoya, who eventually won the award. Bye bye Jon-boy 2001 - Forward Jon Newby was sold to Bury for £100,000, after only four substitute appearances for the reds. He notched just 24 times in 122 games in his first spell for the Shakers. Avi for Israel Avi Cohen twice represented his country on this day in history. 1977 - He played in their 3-1 World Cup qualifying defeat in South Korea. 1988 - He featured in a goalless Olympics qualifier with Australia in New Zealand, playing alongside future red Ronnie Rosenthal. For Geoff 2007 - Liverpool Old Boys met Crystal Palace in a charity match in aid of the Geoff Thomas Foundation. The re-match of the 1990 FA Cup Semi-final ended 1-1 at Selhurst Park, with Phil Babb on target.

Welcome to Brucie 1981 - Bruce Grobbelaar signed for £250,000 from Vancouver Whitecaps. Our eccentric keeper played 628 times for the reds, helping us to six League titles, one European Cup, three FA Cups, three League Cups, three FA Charity Shields and Screen Sport Super Cup. Four for Mo 2018 – Mohamed Salah struck four times as we thumped Watford 5-0 at Anfield, which included his first hat-trick for the club. Roberto Firmino was also on target. Didi’s belter 2004 - Dietmar Hamann’s goal at home to Portsmouth was later voted as Match Of The Day’s Goal of the Season. Michael Owen then added a brace as we won 3-0, with his first goal being our 500th under the sole charge of Gérard Houllier. El-Hadji Diouf played his 75th reds game, and fiftieth in the League. Carra’s Euro record 2011 - Jamie Carragher played his 46th game in the UEFA Cup or UEFA Europa League, a new club record for this tournament under its several guises. We were held to a goalless draw by Sporting Clube de Braga at Anfield, having already lost the first leg in Portugal, with Pepe Reina playing his 300th reds game. Sadio again 2019 - Sadio Mané scored in his third consecutive game as we won 2-1 at Fulham. Ex-red Ryan Babel equalised for the home side before James Milner converted a late penalty to secure the win and send us back to the top of the table. Feliz aniversario 1983 – Portuguese midfielder Raúl Meireles was born in Porto. He signed from his hometown club for £11.5m in August 2010, bagging five goals in 44 matches, with all these strikes coming in a six-game spell since Kenny Dalglish’s return as Manager. He left for Chelsea in a £12m deal a year after arriving in L4. A short Euro trip 2016 – We held Manchester United to a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford in the second leg of our UEFA Europa League Round of 16 tie, to progress 3-1 on aggregate. Anthony Martial put the home side ahead from the spot before Philippe Coutinho bagged a stunning equaliser just before half time. More European memories 1965 - Our first continental game on this day was a goalless European Cup Third Round second leg match with 1. FC Köln, after the original meeting two weeks earlier had been postponed due to snow. The tie had to go to a third game, as both legs had finished without score. We eventually went through on a coin toss! 1976 - We beat Dynamo Dresden 2-1 in the UEFA Cup Fourth Round second leg at Anfield after a goalless first leg draw in East Germany, on our way to winning the trophy for the second time. Jimmy Case opened the scoring after hitting the bar, with Kevin Keegan also netting. 1982 - We lost 2-0 in Bulgaria to CSKA Sofia in the European Cup Third Round, having only won the first leg 1-0 at Anfield, although Ian Rush’s header after just two minutes appeared to cross the line, and we had two strong penalty appeals turned down. With twelve minutes remaining, Bruce Grobbelaar was caught in two minds about coming out for a ball, and Stoycho Mladenov nodded into an empty net. The game then went into extra time, and a deflected Mladenov shot evaded a host of reds defenders on the line to put CSKA ahead on aggregate. There was still time for both Ronnie Whelan and Mark Lawrenson to hit the woodwork, and Lawrenson was also sent off for retaliation, our first dismissal in European competition. On the way to Wembley 1986 - We won 2-1 at Watford in an FA Cup Sixth Round replay. John Barnes put the Hornets ahead from a free-kick, before Jan Mølby equalised from the spot in the 86th minute. Ian Rush sent us through in extra time, keeping us on course for the double. Thumping Boro 1906 - We beat Middlesbrough 6-1 with forward John Carlin grabbing his two final reds goals, and our other goals coming from Jack Cox, Arthur Goddard, Joe Hewitt and Jack Parkinson. Debutants 1894 – Inside-right John Givens scored on his reds bow in a 1-1 Second Division draw at Lincoln City, our first ever game on this day in history. Future red John Chadburn struck for the Imps. 1934 - Left-back Ernie Blenkinsop and forward Vic Wright both made their reds debuts in our 4-1 League win at home to Birmingham City, a game that saw Gordon Hodgson score all our goals. Derby stalemate 1917 - We drew a Wartime League match at Goodison Park 2-2, with Thomas Bennett and Walter Wadsworth netting for the reds. Farewells 1902 – Club founder John Houlding died. 1956 – Winger Joe Dickson bagged his final two reds goals as we beat Swansea Town 4-1 at Anfield in a Second Division match. Billy Liddell and Eric Anderson also netted. Youngsters reach the Final 2006 - The reds reached the FA Youth Cup Final, beating Southampton in a penalty shoot-out after the tie had ended 4-4 after two legs. Happy birthdays 1956 - Frank McGarvey was born in Glasgow. He arrived from Celtic for £300,000 in May 1979 after bagging 113 goals in 245 League games for the Hoops. However, he never broke into the first-team at Anfield. 1983 - Former reserves midfielder Neil Prince was born. He also failed to make the grade at Anfield, leaving for Torquay United on a free transfer in August 2002. Aldo sacked 2001 - John Aldridge was sacked as Manager of Tranmere Rovers after nearly five years in charge. He kept them in mid-table in the First Division until his final season, as well as leading them to the Worthington Cup Final in 2000 and the FA Cup Quarter-finals that same season. Off on loan 1993 - Bruce Grobbelaar joined Stoke City on loan. He played four games for the Potters, who were on their way to the Second Division title, before briefly returning to our first team at the expense of David James. 1997 - Ex-reds reserves forward Mike Newell joined Bradford City on loan from fellow First Division side Birmingham City. He made seven appearances for the Bantams, without getting on the scoresheet. 2011 – Future red Fabio Borini joined Swansea City from Chelsea. He struck six times in twelve goals while in South Wales as the Swans gained promotion to the top flight. International firsts 1900 – Ex-red Dan Cunliffe won his only England cap in their 2-0 defeat of Ireland in the British International Championships at Lansdowne Road. 1913 - Ernest Peake netted his only Welsh goal as they lost 4-3 to England in Bristol. 1923 - Jock McNab won his only cap in Scotland’s 2-0 defeat of Wales at St. Mirren. Young future reds for England 1982 - Middlesbrough’s David Hodgson struck for England Under-21’s as they won 2-1 in Poland in a European Championship Finals Quarter-final. Steve McMahon, then playing across the park, also featured.