Search the Community

African magic 2000 - A truly momentous day for Rigobert Song, who captained Cameroon to the African Cup of Nations, scoring the decisive penalty in the shoot-out in the Final against host nation Nigeria in Lagos after the game had ended 2-2 after extra-time. This was happening at the same time as we won at Highbury in the League for the final time, hanging on after Titi Camara’s strike to beat Arsenal 1-0. 2004 - Future red Momo Sissoko played for Mali as they lost their Third-place Play-off 2-1 to Nigeria in the same competition in Tunisia. New boss 1923 - Matt McQueen was appointed Manager after David Ashworth’s departure for Oldham Athletic two months earlier. He helped the reds to retain the League title at the end of that season, taking charge of the team on 229 occasions in all. He had played for the club in its first eight years of existence, making 103 appearances in every position on the park and scoring seven times, then joining the club’s board towards the end of the First World War. Red milestones 2023 – Fabinho played his 200th reds game as we beat Everton 2-0 at Anfield with Cody Gakpo bagging his first goal for the club as Jürgen Klopp secured his 250th victory as boss. Mohamed Salah scored before the break, with Gakpo netting early in the second half. Happy birthday Mamadou 1990 – Centre-half Mamadou Sakho was born in Paris. He signed from Paris Saint-Germain for £15m in September 2013, netting three times in eighty games before falling out with boss Jürgen Klopp and being sent off to Crystal Palace on loan in February 2017, making the move permanent for an initial £24m six months later. 1870 – Half-back Tom Cleghorn was born in Edinburgh. He signed from Blackburn Rovers in March 1896, scoring once in seventy games before moving to Portsmouth in August 1899. He helped Pompey to claim both the Southern Football League First Division and Western Football League First Division titles in 1901/02. Carra dismissed 1999 - We lost 1-0 to Charlton Athletic, our first match at The Valley since 1961. Jamie Carragher was sent off for a supposed elbow, while John Barnes made his debut for the Addicks, as a substitute. Keith Jones was on target to net the first Charlton goal in this fixture since 1960. 1954 - We also lost to Charlton, being beaten 3-2 at Anfield. Ex-Addick Johnny Evans and inside-forward Eric Anderson struck for the reds, while keeper Russell Crossley played his 73rd and final reds game. Eddie Firmani bagged a brace, with Syd O’Linn also on target. Fred’s treble 1915 - Fred Pagnam grabbed a hat-trick as we shared six goals with Chelsea in a League game at Anfield. Donald McKinlay put through his own net, with Harold Halse scoring the last of his four goals against the reds and Bobby Thomson also netting for the Blues as Elisha Scott saved a late penalty from Robert Abrams. 1982 - We also faced the Blues, losing an FA Cup Fifth Round tie 2-0 to the then-Second Division outfit at Stamford Bridge. Peter Rhoades-Brown and Colin Lee struck the goals. Super sub’s ton up 1979 – David Fairclough reached a century of reds games in our League meeting with Birmingham City, originally postponed from a month earlier. Graeme Souness struck the only goal at Anfield. Also recently 2022 – Fabinho bagged the only goal of our trip to bottom-of-the-table Burnley from a corner. Luther at last 1988 - Luther Blissett finally breached the reds’ defence in a League game at Watford to score the first goal against us in all competitions for 994 minutes, a then club record. We still won comfortably in a mud bath, 4-1, with Peter Beardsley bagging a brace to take his tally to eight in as many games, to add to goals from John Aldridge and ex-Hornet John Barnes. Mixed FA Cup fortunes We have won three of our four FA Cup ties on this day over the years, with the other tie being our defeat at Chelsea in 1982. 1971 - A Chris Lawler goal saw off Southampton in the Fifth Round at Anfield, as we headed towards Wembley. 1993 - We visited The Dell in a League game, losing 2-1 with Don Hutchison netting for the reds. 1932 - Outside-left Gordon Gunson scored to defeat Grimsby Town at Anfield, in another Fifth Round tie, just a week after we had been thumped 5-1 by them in a top-flight fixture at Blundell Park. We were then knocked out by Chelsea at Anfield in the next round. 1897 - Our first cup tie on this day was played at West Bromwich Albion’s Stoney Lane ground, with Malcolm McVean bagging his 43rd and final goal for the club and centre-half Robert Neill also scoring in our 2-1 win. Willie Donnelly made his eighth and final appearance in our goal, with inside-right Jimmy Ross playing for the 85th and last time. The reds prepared for this game by spending the week in Worcestershire, going straight there from our away match at Stoke City the previous Saturday. We lost out to Aston Villa that season after reaching our first ever Semi-final. Cyril’s treble 1943 - Cyril Done grabbed a hat-trick as we beat Tranmere Rovers 4-1 in a Wartime League game at Anfield. Michael Hulligan bagged our other goal. Firsts and last 2021 – Loanee centre-half Ozan Kabak made his reds bow as we lost 3-1 at Leicester City behind closed doors. Mohamed Salah opened the scoring after the break, but James Maddison and Harvey Barnes struck either side of one of Jamie Vardy’s ten goals against us in what was Jürgen Klopp’s 300th game in charge of the reds. 1904 – Right-half Bobby Robinson played the first of his 271 reds games as we were held to a goalless draw at Anfield by Stoke. Forward Joe Hewitt also debuted in this game, the first of his 164 appearances. 1909 - Left-half Jim Bradley struck his eighth and final reds goal in the first minute of our 4-1 thumping of Leicester Fosse at Anfield, with full-back Bob Crawford making his reds bow and outside-left Michael Griffin playing his fourth and final reds game. Arthur Goddard nabbed a brace, with Sam Bowyer also on target. 1890 – Frank Grayer was born in Southampton. He signed from his hometown club for £100 in July 1912 but only played one senior reds game, as right-back in our 2-1 home defeat to Manchester United in April 1914. He was so badly wounded during the First World War that he was unable to play football again. International debuts 2019 – Oakley Cannonier played for England Under-15’s for the only time as they lost a friendly 3-1 to Belgium at St. George’s Park. 2002 – Future red Sotirios Kyrgiakos won his first senior cap as Greece drew 2-2 with Sweden in a friendly in Thessaloniki. 1937 - Future reds right-back Billy Hood won his only international cap, playing for Ireland as they thumped England 5-1 in an amateur international in Belfast. 1909 - Ex-reds winger Arthur Berry won his only cap for England as they beat Ireland 4-0 in the British International Championships at Valley Parade. Reds keeper Sam Hardy also played for the home side, while future red Billy Lacey made his debut for Ireland in the same game. Friendly scoring for their countries 2002 - Dietmar Hamann netted in Germany’s 7-1 defeat of Israel in Kaiserslautern. Substitute Vladimír Šmicer was on target on the same day as the Czech Republic won 4-3 in Cyprus, with Milan Baroš also playing. Real Madrid’s Fernando Morientes struck as Spain drew 1-1 with Portugal in Barcelona. Meanwhile, future red Djibril Cissé bagged a brace as France Under-21’s thumped their Belgian counterparts 5-1 in Boulogne. This was the third consecutive international in which he had found the net. Another future red, Craig Bellamy, scored as Wales held Argentina to a 1-1 draw in a friendly in Cardiff. Also playing for their countries that day were Steven Gerrard, Emile Heskey, David Raven, John Arne Riise and Mark Smyth, as well as ex-reds Brad Friedel, David James, Jim Magilton and Øyvind Leonhardsen, and future reds Yossi Benayoun, Joe Cole, Ádám Hajdú and Paul Jones. Final caps 1926 - Ted Parry won his fifth and final cap for Wales as they lost 3-0 to Northern Ireland in the British International Championships in Belfast. Ex-red Billy Matthews also won his final Welsh cap in this game, and only one while playing for Bradford Park Avenue, while David McMullan and Elisha Scott both played for the home side. 2002 - Ex-red Mark Kennedy won his 34th and final cap for the Republic of Ireland as they beat Russia 2-0 in a friendly at Lansdowne Road, with future red Robbie Keane on target. Steve Staunton, future red Steve Finnan and ex-red Jason McAteer all also played. Other reds games 1965 – We beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1 at Anfield, thanks to goals from Roger Hunt and Chris Lawler. 1963 – We thumped Aston Villa 4-0 in L4 with Roger Hunt and Ian St. John both scoring twice. 1960 – Dave Hickson netted as we drew 1-1 at Plymouth Argyle in a Second Division meeting 1937 – Middlesbrough won 2-0 at Anfield with Mickey Fenton bagging the first two of his nine goals against us. 1929 – We lost 3-2 to Manchester United at home with ex-red Tommy Reid scoring the first two of his four goals against us, with Harry Thomas also netting for the visitors. Gordon Hodgson was on target for the reds as Bob Done converted a penalty, with all five goals coming before the break. 1926 – We defeated Burnley 3-2 in L4, going three goals ahead through Harry Chambers and a Dick Forshaw brace before Louis Page netted the first of his seven goals against the reds. Jack Bruton then struck the first of his four past us. More youngsters in action 2010 – Conor Coady captained England Under-17’s as they drew 1-1 with France in the Algarve Tournament, with Jack Robinson and Andre Wisdom also playing. 2013 – Future red Dominic Solanke featured as England Under-16’s lost 4-3 to Germany in Cologne. 2017 – Reserves keeper Vítezslav Jaroš appeared for the Czech Republic Under-16’s as they lost a friendly 5-3 in Israel. 2018 – Bobby Duncan played for England Under-17’s in their 2-0 defeat of the Netherlands in the Algarve Tournament with ex-Academy Manager Steve Cooper in charge. Razor heads south 1989 - Neil Ruddock signed for Southampton from Millwall for £250,000. He struck thirteen times in 138 games while at The Dell before rejoining Tottenham Hotspur for £750,000 in July 1992.

The birth of the Kop 1906 - Work was begun on what became the most famous football terrace in the world, shortly after our second League title win. The Kop started life as a tinder bank, with Liverpool Echo journalist Ernest Edwards being responsible for comparing it to the Spion Kop, site of a famous battle in the Boer War. The name stuck! Strikers in and out 2017 – Forward Mohamed Salah agreed to sign from Roma for an initial €42m. He has scored a stunning 186 goals in 305 games across his first six campaigns, helping us to claim the Premier League title, UEFA Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup and FA Community Shield. 1973 – Forward Alan Waddle signed from Halifax Town for £40,000. He only made 22 appearances in his four years at Anfield, netting just once, at Goodison Park in December 1973, as his route to the first team was usually blocked by Kevin Keegan and John Toshack, although he was on the bench for the European Cup Final in 1977. He moved on to Leicester City that September. His cousin Chris went on to great things with Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, Olympique de Marseille and England. 2022 - Sadio Mané was sold to Bayern München for an initial €32m, having struck 120 times in 269 outings and won the Premier League title, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, FA Cup and League Cup since arriving from Southampton for an initial £30m in June 2016. On the same day, left-back Adam Lewis joined Newport County on loan and keeper Jakub Ojrzynski moved temporarily to Radomiak Radom. Happy birthdays 1993 – German keeper Loris Karius was born in Biberach an der Riss. He signed for £4.7m from 1. FSV Mainz 05 in July 2016, taking over the number one shirt. He made 49 first-team appearances, keeping 22 clean sheets but making several high-profile errors, with his contract expiring in the summer of 2022. 1993 – Recent third-choice keeper Danny Ward was born in Wrexham. He signed from his hometown club for an initial £100,000 in January 2012, making three senior appearances as well as sitting on the first-team bench on 53 occasions before moving to Leicester City for £12.5m in July 2018. 1898 - Centre-forward Albert Whitehurst was born in Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent. He signed from Rochdale in May 1928, having struck 116 goals in 168 outings in the Third Division North. He scored twice in eight reds games, moving on to Bradford City in February 1929. Bellers on his way 2006 - Craig Bellamy signed from Blackburn Rovers for £6m. His one season in his first spell in L4 was only a partial success, as he grabbed nine goals in 42 games, with his finest moment coming in the Camp Nou as he scored a crucial goal in our 2-1 victory to help us progress towards Athens. He moved on to West Ham United for £7.5m in July 2007, the Hammers’ record fee paid. However, he rejoined the reds in a free transfer from Manchester City in August 2011 for another season. 2013 – Luis Alberto signed from Sevilla for £6.8m, for whom he had only played nine first-team games, although he had spent the previous campaign on loan with Barcelona B. He only played twelve times in his first season, with only two of these appearances being from the start, as he struggled to break through to the first team. He spent two seasons on loan back in Spain, before joining S.S. Lazio for €4m in August 2016. 1934 – Forward Jack ‘Nipper’ Roberts moved on to Wigan Athletic. He only made one first team appearance after signing from Southport in May 1933. He was an all-round sportsman, even playing baseball for England. He became famous when he escaped from a prisoner-of-war camp in Italy, walking 400 miles to freedom despite a broken neck! 1898 – Keeper Willie Donnelly re-signed for Clyde, having played just eight senior reds games since arriving from the same club in May 1896. World Cup strikes 1998 - Michael Owen scored his first World Cup goal to draw England level against Romania in Toulouse. He later hit a post after England had gone behind again, but could not prevent them losing 2-1. Fellow red Paul Ince also played. 2014 – Future red Divock Origi scored his first senior goal in Belgium’s 1-0 defeat of Russia in a group game in Rio de Janeiro. Raul Meireles won his 76th and last cap for Portugal in their 2-2 draw with the USA in Manaus, while fellow ex-red Carl Medjani featured for Algeria as they beat South Korea 4-2 in Porto Alegre. 2018 – Xherdan Shaqiri netted as Switzerland beat Serbia 2-1 in a group game in Russia, his last goal for his country before joining the reds. On the same day, ex-red Philippe Coutinho scored in his third consecutive international as Brazil bet Costa Rica 2-0. Roberto Firmino, future red Alisson Becker and ex-red Victor Moses also featured in the World Cup that day, with future red Ozan Kabak playing for Turkey Under-18’s. Scotch heartbreak 1982 - Scotland were eliminated from the World Cup Finals in Spain after failing to win their last group game in Malaga, despite leading for 45 minutes. Skipper Graeme Souness scored a late equaliser in their 2-2 draw with the USSR. Alan Hansen and future red John Wark also featured. 1974 - Future red Kenny Dalglish played in Scotland’s 1-1 draw with Yugoslavia in Frankfurt as they were eliminated on goal difference. 1973 - He also appeared for his country as they beat Switzerland 1-0 in a friendly in Berne. Le capitaine 2010 – Ex-red Alou Diarra captained France for the first time as they lost 2-1 to host nation South Africa in their final game at the World Cup Finals, with fellow ex-red Djibril Cissé winning his last cap while with Panathinaikos. Future red Luis Suárez netted the only goal of Uruguay’s meeting with Mexico in Rustenburg, while Sotirios Kyrgiakos skippered Greece for part of their 2-0 defeat by Argentina in Polokwane, with his clubmate Maxi Rodríguez lining up against him. Also at the World Cup 2002 - Salif Diao and El-Hadji Diouf were disappointed as Senegal lost 1-0 to Turkey in their World Cup Quarter-final in Osaka thanks to a golden goal. These were their final caps before joining the reds. Meanwhile, Dietmar Hamann missed training after damaging knee ligaments during Germany’s Quarter-final win over the USA two days earlier. He was now the reds’ sole representative at the World Cup, although future red Fernando Morientes featured in Spain’s penalty shoot-out defeat by South Korea, after the match ended goalless. 1986 - Future reds John Barnes and Peter Beardsley both appeared in England’s 2-1 defeat by Argentina in the World Cup Quarter-final at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, a game famous for Diego Maradona’s ‘hand of God’. 1994 – Roy Hodgson took charge of Switzerland as they beat Romania 4-1 in a group game in Detroit. 1997 - Gérard Houllier and Christian Damiano took charge of France Under-20’s as they beat South Africa 4-2 in a World Championships Finals group game in Malaysia. 2006 - Harry Kewell netted a crucial goal as Australia held Croatia to a 2-2 draw in Stuttgart to reach the Second Round. This game saw referee Graham Poll give three yellow cards to Croatia’s Josip Šimunić, while two other players were dismissed. Milan Baroš played on the same day as the Czech Republic lost 2-0 to Italy in Hamburg, as they too had a player sent off. 2008 – Kewell skippered Australia while winning his final cap as a reds player as they lost 1-0 to China in a World Cup qualifier in Sydney. Reds progressing on penalties 1992 – Future red Torben Piechnik was in the Denmark side that reached the Euro ’92 Final by beating the Netherlands 5-4 in a penalty shoot-out after the game in Gothenburg ended 2-2. 1996 - Robbie Fowler, Steve McManaman and future red Nick Barmby all played as England were held to a goalless draw by Spain at Wembley, before reaching the Semi-final 4-2 on penalties. 2008 – Fernando Torres and future red Alberto Aquilani played as Spain beat Italy 4-2 in a penalty shoot-out after their European Championship Finals Quarter-final ended goalless in Vienna. Arsenal’s Kolo Touré played for Ivory Coast as they thumped Botswana 4-0 in a World Cup qualifier in Abidjan on the same day. 2013 – Ex-red Aquilani represented his country again as they lost 4-2 to host nation Brazil in a Confederations Cup group game, with future red Mario Balotelli also in action. 2017 – Emre Can featured as Germany were held to a 1-1 draw by Chile in the Confederations Cup in Russia. On the move 1926 – Outside-right Archie Rawlings left the reds to join Walsall, having struck ten times in 67 reds games since signing from Preston North End in March 1924, where he had won one England cap. 1984 - Steve Ogrizovic left Shrewsbury Town for Coventry City for £72,500. He went on to play over six hundred times for the Sky Blues, making his final appearance at the grand old age of 42. 2011 – Midfielder Lee Peltier signed for Leicester City from Huddersfield Town, after three strikes in 103 outings for the Terriers. 2015 – Centre-half Danny Wilson re-joined Rangers from Heart Of Midlothian on a free transfer. Off to foreign climes 1995 - Future red Paul Ince signed for Internazionale from Manchester United for £7m after six seasons at Old Trafford. He bagged thirteen goals in 73 games in his two seasons at the San Siro, helping them to win the UEFA Cup in 1997. 2002 - Ex-red Rigobert Song joined Racing Club de Lens from West Ham United for £1m. He had only played 27 times for the Hammers since moving from Anfield in November 2000. Ince in charge 2008 - Paul Ince was appointed Manager of Blackburn Rovers. He led them to just six victories in his 21 fixtures before being sacked the following December. Other international goalscorers 2021 – Ex-red Raheem Sterling netted the only goal of England’s European Championship Finals group encounter with the Czech Republic at Wembley, with Jordan Henderson also featuring. On the same day, Andy Robertson captained Steve Clarke’s Scotland as they lost 3-1 to Croatia at Hampden Park with ex-red Dejan Lovren also in action. 2019 – Roberto Firmino scored as Brazil thumped Peru 5-0 in a Copa América group game in São Paulo. Alisson Becker, Kamil Grabara, Naby Keïta, future red Arthur Melo and ex-red Philippe Coutinho all also played in internationals that day. 2005 - Ryan Babel scored for Netherlands Under-20’s as they beat Chile 3-0 to reach the Quarter-finals of the World Championships Finals in his homeland. Meanwhile, fellow future red Gabriel Paletta appeared as Argentina beat Colombia 2-1 at the same stage. 2003 - Djibril Cissé netted in France’s 5-0 thumping of New Zealand in the Confederations Cup at the Stade de France. This was his third and final international goal as an Auxerre player. Meanwhile, future red Kolo Touré played for the Ivory Coast in their 2-1 defeat in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in South Africa. 1983 – Future reds centre-half Glenn Hysén scored as Sweden drew 3-3 with Brazil in Gothenburg. Anfield in action 1996 - Anfield hosted a Euro ’96 Quarter-final, with France and the Netherlands playing out a sterile goalless draw before the Dutch crashed out 5-4 on penalties, with Clarence Seedorf missing the decisive kick. Also in Euro action 2016 – Christian Benteke won his last cap as a reds player, with Divock Origi also featuring as Belgium beat Sweden 1-0 in Nice, with ex-red Krisztián Németh playing in Hungary’s 3-3 draw with Portugal in Décines. 2004 – Future red Christian Poulsen played in Denmark’s 2-2 draw with Sweden in Porto. 2011 – Future red Thiago Alcântara played for Spain Under-21’s in their 2-1 extra time defeat of Belarus in a European Championships Finals group game in Denmark. Bowing out 2012 – Ex-red Milan Baroš announced his retirement from international football after winning his 93rd cap the night before as the Czech Republic were knocked out of the European Championship Finals at the Quarter-final stage. Also in international action 2022 - Luke Chambers and Jarell Quansah both featured for England Under-19’s as they thumped Serbia 4-0 in a European Championships Finals group game in Slovakia. 1997 – Future red Rigobert Song played for Cameroon as they drew 2-2 with Gabon in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Yaoundé. 1993 – Future red Brad Friedel featured in the USA’s 3-3 draw with Venezuela in a Copa América group game in Ecuador.

Nic’s debut 2001 - Nicolas Anelka made his red bow as we won 2-1 at Aston Villa with goals from Jari Litmanen, gifted to him by Peter Schmeichel, and Vladimír Šmicer. Jari also struck a spot-kick against the post. Bowyer off again 2005 - We equalled a club record of eight consecutive League wins with our 2-0 defeat of Newcastle United, our 250th victory in the Premier League, a sequence that eventually rose to ten. Josemi came off the bench late on to make his 35th and final reds appearance, with Michael Owen making his first return to Anfield as an ex-red while Lee Bowyer was sent off for the visitors for the second successive season. Steven Gerrard and Peter Crouch were both on target in the first half. This was also our eighth consecutive clean sheet in the League, the best run since 1922/23. Off the mark 2018 – Fabinho scored his first reds goal as we thumped Newcastle United 4-0 at Anfield, extending our lead at the top of the table to six points. Dejan Lovren opened the scoring with Mohamed Salah converting a penalty shortly after the break. Xherdan Shaqiri also struck before Fabinho completed the scoring. This was Jürgen Klopp’s hundredth victory as reds boss, in his 181st game in charge. 2019 – We trounced Leicester City 4-0 at the King Power Stadium with Roberto Firmino bagging a brace. James Milner converted a penalty with Trent Alexander-Arnold also on target to leave us thirteen points clear at the top of the table. 2022 – We won 3-1 at Aston Villa as Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk gave us a two-goal half-time lead. Ollie Watkins headed in the most recent of his five goals past us after the break before midfielder Stefan Bajčetić bagged his first reds goal. Reds trebles 1963 - Roger Hunt netted four as we thumped Stoke City 6-1 at Anfield to give Bill Shankly his hundredth victory as reds boss, in his 188th game in charge. Ian St. John and Alf Arrowsmith also scored in one of eight meetings with the Potters on this day in history. The scores were level at 1-1 at half-time, with five of our goals coming at the Anfield Road end in the second period. John Ritchie struck the first of his five goals against the reds. 1928 - Gordon Hodgson scored a hat-trick in his hundredth League game as we trounced Burnley 8-0 at Anfield. Jimmy Clark and Dick Edmed both bagged braces with Bill Salisbury netting the other. The score could have been far greater as Bob Done missed a penalty, we had three goals dubiously ruled out for offside, hit the crossbar three times and the posts twice each. Burnley had beaten us 3-2 at their ground the previous afternoon. 1969 - We also thumped the Clarets, winning 5-1 at Turf Moor, one of five other occasions we have met them on Boxing Day. Ian Ross bagged his first reds goal with winger Peter Thompson netting for the fiftieth time. Bobby Graham, Chris Lawler, Peter Thompson and Ian Callaghan were all also on target. Tommy Lawrence saved a penalty from Burnley’s Brian O’Neil who then followed up to score from the rebound. 1896 – Keeper Willie Donnelly made his reds bow as we lost 4-1 at Burnley, despite Frank Becton scoring inside five minutes in our first ever Boxing Day fixture. Billy Bowes bagged a hat-trick, the first of his four goals past us, with Will Toman also on target. Hosting the Trotters 2008 – Robbie Keane bagged a second-half brace as we beat Bolton Wanderers 3-0, with Albert Riera having opened the scoring before the break. These were to be the Irishman’s final reds strikes. When Steven Gerrard came off he became the first Liverpool payer to be substituted a hundred times. 2003 - We won 3-1 with all three of our goals being headers, coming from Sami Hyypiä and substitutes Florent Sinama-Pongolle and Vladimír Šmicer. Henrik Pedersen struck a late consolation. On the same day, Roy Hodgson managed the United Arab Emirates lost 2-0 to Saudi Arabia in a Gulf Cup of Nations game in Kuwait. 1906 - We also hosted the Trotters when we lost 2-0. Jackie Owen and David Stokes netted, with Wattie White missing a penalty for the visitors. Also against the Potters We have faced Stoke City on seven more occasions on this day in history. 1905 – We lost 2-1 at the Victoria Ground, when they were still known just as Stoke. Joe Hewitt struck our goal. 1936 – We lost 1-1 in the Potteries, with Vic Wright on target, his 33rd and last goal for the reds. 1938 – We lost 3-1 at the Victoria Ground, with Willie Fagan scoring our goal. Tommy Sale netted the last two of his five goals against the reds, with Frank Baker also on the scoresheet. 1946 – Outside-right Berry Nieuwenhuys nabbed his 79th and last reds goal with Albert Stubbins also scoring as we won 2-0 at Anfield. 1955 – Billy Liddell converted a penalty, with John Evans also netting as we were held to a 2-2 Second Division draw in L4. Harry Oscroft struck one of his six goals against the reds, with Johnny King bagging one of his five past us. 1970 – Our home encounter ended goalless. 1975 – We drew 1-1 at Stoke, with John Toshack on target. Happy birthdays 1878 - Centre-back Alex Raisbeck was born in Wallacestone, near Polmont in Stirlingshire. He signed from Stoke for £350 in May 1898 and struck nineteen times in 341 games in eleven years with the reds, 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, and returned to the club as scout in 1939 until his death ten years later. 1903 - South African goalkeeper Arthur Riley was born in Boksburg in the Transvaal. He became our first ever foreign signing in August 1925, making 338 reds appearances before taking over from his father as the club’s head groundsman. 1920 – Scottish left-winger Tommy McLeod was born in Musselburgh. He joined the reds from the Army in October 1945, but only made seven senior appearances before joining Chesterfield in June 1951. 1880 - Defender Phil Bratley was born in Rawmarsh, Yorkshire. He only played thirteen first-team games after signing from Barnsley in 1914. He returned to Rotherham County, one of his former clubs, the following year, but was killed in action during the First World War. 2005 – Right-winger Ranel Young was born in Huddersfield. He joined the Academy as an Under-12 from his hometown club, signing professional terms in May 2023. Double debutants 1953 - Full-back Frank Lock and forward John Evans both made their debuts in a goalless draw with West Bromwich Albion at Anfield. They had both signed from Charlton Athletic the previous day. 1950 – Inside-forward Jack Haigh debuted as Jack Balmer bagged the only goal of our Anfield encounter with Blackpool. 1951 - We also faced the Seasiders, going down 2-0 at Bloomfield Road with Stan Mortensen bagging both goals, two of his eleven against us, as right-back Bill Shepherd played his 58th and last reds game. 1957 - Forward Bobby Murdoch made his reds bow as we beat Grimsby Town 3-2 at Anfield, with Billy Liddell scoring twice, including a penalty, and Tony McNamara also on target in this Second Division fixture. This was the last time we played a double-header against the same side on successive days over Christmas, having lost 3-1 at Blundell Park the day before. 1930 – Wing-half Robert Ireland played his only reds game in our 1-1 draw with Grimsby, with Tim Coleman netting the first of his nine strikes past us and Archie McPherson scoring for the reds. Two hundred up 1990 – Gary Gillespie played his 200th reds game as we were held to a 1-1 draw at Queens Park Rangers, with John Barnes on target and Mark Falco netting for the R’s. 1991 – We drew 0-0 at Loftus Road. 1960 – Inside-forward Jimmy Harrower reached a century of reds appearances in our 2-1 defeat of Rotherham United in the Second Division at Anfield. Roger Hunt and Kevin Lewis scored our goals. 1958 – We won another Second Division encounter 1-0 at Millmoor with Jimmy Melia on target. 1961 – We lost 1-0 in the Second Division at Millmoor, with Don Weston netting one of his four goals against the reds in the last minute. Ron Yeats captained the side for the first time as regular skipper Dick White was injured. Beating the Mancs 1978 – We won 3-0 at Manchester United thanks to a Ray Kennedy header and goals from Jimmy Case and David Fairclough to hand Bob Paisley his first win at Old Trafford as boss. 1979 – Alan Hansen and David Johnson netted as we beat United 2-0 at Anfield, with Graeme Souness reach a century of reds appearances. 1986 – Norman Whiteside struck the only goal of United’s visit to L4, one of his four against the reds. 1980 – We held them to a goalless draw at Old Trafford, remaining top of the table. 1919 – Another Old Trafford trip ended goalless. 1914 – Fred Pagnam scored as United held us to a 1-1 draw at Anfield. Beating the Rams 2007 - We beat Derby County 2-1 at Pride Park thanks to a very late Steven Gerrard goal after Fernando Torres had given us the lead in the first half. 1988 - We also visited the Rams, with Ian Rush grabbing the only goal of the game at the Baseball Ground. Outpaced by Rovers We have faced Blackburn Rovers four times in top-flight fixtures on Boxing Day. 1903 - Insdie-forward Fred Buck netted his only reds goal as we lost 2-1 at Anfield, with Fred Pentland bagging a brace for the visitors. 2002 - Andy Cole equalised after John Arne Riise’s deflected shot, to score his seventh Premiership goal at Anfield and one of his eleven past the reds in total as we were held to a 1-1 draw in L4. Emile Heskey was playing his hundredth League game for the reds. 2006 - We lost 1-0 at Ewood Park with Benni McCarthy on target, despite dominating for long periods. 2011 - Charlie Adam scored an own goal on the stroke of half-time for Blackburn Rovers at Anfield, with Maxi Rodríguez heading in shortly after the break, with the game ending 1-1. Winning in the Black Country We have won three times at West Bromwich Albion on this day in history. 2004 – We triumphed 5-0 when John Arne Riise struck twice, with Florent Sinama-Pongolle, Steven Gerrard and Luis García also on target. Milan Baroš had a penalty saved, with Cosmin Contra being sent off for the Baggies. 1898 - Hugh Morgan netted the only goal of the game at Stoney Lane. 1983 - Steve Nicol and Graeme Souness struck as we won 2-1 at the Hawthorns. 1900 - We also visited Stoney Lane, losing a friendly 5-2, with Rab Howell and Sam Raybould grabbing our goals. An Anfield milestone 1924 - We played our 500th home League game with Harry Chambers netting the only goal of the game against Notts County. Down to twelfth 1981 - We slipped to twelfth in the League after losing 3-1 at home to Manchester City, with Ronnie Whelan on the scoresheet. Rookie keeper Bruce Grobbelaar was responsible for two of the goals, while Kenny Dalglish was employed ‘in the hole’ behind Ian Rush and Craig Johnston for the first time. Kevin Reeves netted his fourth and final goal against us, with Asa Hartford also on target and Kevin Bond converting a penalty. Phil Thompson lost the captaincy to Graeme Souness following this defeat as we went on to stage the mother of all comebacks to clinch our thirteenth League title. We have faced City four more times on Boxing Day. 1913 – We lost 1-0 away, with Fred Howard nabbing one of his nine goals against the reds in the first minute. 1974 – We won 4-1 at Anfield, when Brian Hall grabbed a brace with Steve Heighway and John Toshack striking the other goals, and Colin Bell netting for the visitors. 1985 – We again lost 1-0 away with Alan Hansen playing his 300th League game for the club. 2013 – We lost 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium despite Philippe Coutinho putting us in front. Vincent Kompany and Álvaro Negredo both replied before the break, with keeper Simon Mignolet at fault for the second. Boxing Day gloom 2012 – We lost 3-1 at Stoke City, with Joe Cole coming off the bench to make his 42nd and final reds appearance. Steven Gerrard opened the scoring from the spot, but Jon Walters and Kenwyne Jones put the home side ahead before a quarter of an hour had elapsed. Walters added his second after the break, another of his seven goals past us. 2000 - We lost our first Boxing Day game since 1986 as Christian Karembeu struck the only goal of the game on an icy pitch at Middlesbrough. 1934 - We also met Boro, with Syd Roberts and Berry Nieuwenhuys on target in a 2-2 draw at Anfield. Tim Coleman and George Camsell each struck one of their nine goals past us. 1998 - We won at the Riverside Stadium when Vegard Heggem’s wonder goal, his first ever reds strike, rounded off a 3-1 win after Michael Owen’s slight touch on a Jamie Carragher shot opened the scoring. Brian Deane equalised with one of eight goals against the reds before Jamie Redknapp put us back in front after Mark Schwarzer was penalised for picking up a back pass. David James was playing his 200th League game for us. Also recently 2009 - Stephen Ward was sent off at Anfield for two bookable offences, with Pepe Reina riling the Wolverhampton Wanderers fans by running most of the length of the pitch to remonstrate with the referee. We won 2-0, with Steven Gerrard and Yossi Benayoun both netting in the second half. 2014 – Keeper Brad Jones played his 27th and last reds game as a Raheem Sterling strike was enough to secure victory at Burnley. He went off injured after only a quarter of an hour. Future red Danny Ings hit a post for the home side. 2017 – We trounced Swansea City 5-0 at Anfield, with Philippe Coutinho and Simon Mignolet both reaching 200 reds games. Coutinho opened the scoring with his 54th and last goal for the club. Roberto Firmino netted twice after the break, with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain also on target. Also against the Foxes 2015 – We won our 4,000th top-flight League game with Christian Benteke bagging the only goal of the game against Leicester City at Anfield. 1996 – We were held to a 1-1 draw at Anfield by Leicester City to remain top of the table, with Stan Collymore equalising after Steve Claridge had given the visitors the lead. 1994 – We won 2-1 at Filbert Street. David James saved a penalty from Steve Thompson before Robbie Fowler converted from the spot. Ian Rush also netted before Simon Grayson was sent off for the home side. Iwan Roberts bagged a late consolation. 1984 – The Foxes won 2-1 in L4, thanks to one of Gary Lineker’s six goals past us and one of Alan Smith’s nine. Phil Neal scored our goal from the spot in what was his 600th game for the club, while Ronnie Whelan reached a century of League outings. Reds farewells 1973 – Roy Evans played his eleventh and final senior reds game as we lost 2-1 at Burnley. Kevin Keegan missed a penalty after an hour, with Peter Cormack netting our goal late on. 1968 – We were held to a 1-1 draw by the Clarets at Anfield. Chris Lawler scored as we remained on top of the table. 1952 – Billy Liddell scored from the spot as we drew another meeting 1-1 in L4. 1932 - Outside-left Gordon Gunson struck his 26th and final reds goal in our 3-0 defeat of Chelsea at Anfield, with centre-half Tom ‘Tiny’ Bradshaw and centre-forward Harold Barton also netting. 1949 – George Kay took charge of his 300th reds game as we drew 1-1 at Stamford Bridge to stay on top of the table, thanks to a late Willie Fagan goal. 1966 – Willie Stevenson and Roger Hunt netted as we beat the Blues 2-1 in L4, before Bobby Tambling bagged one of his eight goals against the reds. Christmas derby despair We have made the short trip across Stanley Park to face the Blues three times on this day in history, without winning. 1894 – Harry Bradshaw bagged our consolation as we lost a friendly 2-1. 1939 - Matt Busby was on target as we again were beaten 2-1 in a friendly. 1944 - Billy Liddell bagged a brace as we drew 2-2 in the Wartime League. Keetley’s first 1923 - Joe Keetley netted the first of just two reds goals as we lost 2-1 at Newcastle United, with Tommy McDonald bagging a brace. We have also faced the Geordies in the top flight on four more occasions on this day in history. 1912 - Tom Miller was on target twice as we won 2-1 at home, with George Wilson netting the last of his five goals against the reds. 1921 - Harry Chambers bagged the only goal of the game late on at Anfield. 1925 - We lost 3-0 at St. James’ Park as Hughie Gallacher struck one of his eight goals past us, with Jimmy Clark and Tommy Urwin also on target. 1999 - Michael Owen nabbed a brace as we drew 2-2 in the North East. Alan Shearer netted one of his eight goals against the reds, with Duncan Ferguson bagging one of his five past us. Another defeat for Shanks 1959 - Bill Shankly took charge of his first away game for the reds as we lost 3-0 on a slippery pitch at Charlton Athletic, with Jim Fryatt bagging a brace and Sam Lawrie also netting. This was our tenth League defeat of the season. Things soon changed, however, as we lost just three of our remaining nineteen fixtures to finish third, eight points off a promotion spot. Wearside yuletide cheer 1901 - Sunderland won for the third consecutive League season at Anfield, this time by 1-0 in Tom Watson’s 200th game in charge. 1910 - They also left L4 with both points with Arthur Goddard netting a penalty in our 2-1 defeat, as Tim Coleman nabbed two of his nine goals against the reds. 1964 - However, we won 3-2 at Roker Park, with Willie Stevenson netting a brace and Gordon Milne also on target. Great Scott 1922 - Oldham Athletic’s League visit to Anfield was played as a benefit game for legendary keeper Elisha Scott. Donald McKinlay and Dick Johnson were on target in a 2-1 win as we welcomed back David Ashworth who had been reds boss until just six days earlier and was now Oldham’s Manager. Sheffield encounters 1993 – We drew 0-0 at Sheffield United. 1989 – Jan Mølby and Ian Rush netted as we beat Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 at Anfield to keep us at the top of the table. Dalian Atkinson nabbed one of his four goals against the reds as Ronnie Whelan appeared for the 400th time. 1972 – We won 3-0 at Bramall Lane with Phil Boersma, Chris Lawler and Steve Heighway all on target. 1931 – Archie McPherson struck as we drew 1-1 at Hillsborough, with George Stephenson nabbing the last of his four past us. 1929 – We beat the Blades 2-0 in L4, with Jimmy Smith and Archie McPherson on the scoresheet. Other reds games 1997 – We beat Leeds United 3-1 at Anfield. Michael Owen scored, with Robbie Fowler bagging a brace. 1987 – We won 3-0 at Oxford United thanks to goals from John Aldridge, John Barnes and Steve McMahon. 1977 – Steve Heighway netted as we drew 1-1 at top-of-the-table Nottingham Forest. 1967 – Roger Hunt scored as we were held to a 1-1 draw at Coventry City, with Ian St. John dismissed. 1956 – We thumped Leyton Orient 4-0 in a Second Division fixture at Brisbane Road. Alan A’Court, Alan Arnell and Louis Bimpson all struck in the first half, with Billy Liddell netting after the break. 1935 – Fred Howe struck twice as we won 2-1 at Arsenal, with Joe Hulme nabbing one of his ten goals against the reds. 1933 – We lost 1-0 at Portsmouth as Cliff Parker nabbed the first of his five goals past us. 1908 – Ronald Orr was on target as Nottingham Forest left L4 with a point. 1904 – We beat Barnsley 2-1 in a Second Division encounter at Anfield thanks to goals from Sam Raybould and Bobby Robinson. On the move 2001 - Ex-reds loanee keeper Mark Prudhoe signed for Bradford City. He played eight times for the Bantams before joining Southend United as Player/Coach. 2012 – Future reds Assistant Manager Sean O'Driscoll was sacked as Nottingham Forest boss after just five months in charge, having led them to ten victories in 26 games. Birth and death 2006 – Future red Charlie Adam became a father to Jack. 2010 – Utility player Bill Jones died at the Countess of Chester Hospital. He signed from Hayfield St. Matthews in September 1938 and scored seventeen times in 277 games for us, with his appearances including the 1950 FA Cup Final when he was preferred to Bob Paisley. Bill won two significant medals in the 1940’s - first he was awarded a Military Medal for his part in the crossing of the Rhine in the Second World War, and then he won a League title medal in 1947 on his return to Anfield. His grandson Rob later represented the reds in defence on 243 occasions in the 1990’s.