27th April

An Anfield farewell
1996 - Ian Rush played his final reds game at Anfield, with Stan Collymore scoring the only goal of the game against Middlesbrough. He was applauded onto the pitch by a ‘guard of honour’ from both teams.

Heading to Istanbul
2005 - We held Chelsea to a goalless draw at Stamford Bridge in the first leg of our Champions League Semi-final. The evening was only slightly spoiled by Xabi Alonso’s unwarranted booking that would rule him out of the Anfield return. Steven Gerrard had an emergency dental operation on the morning of the game.

FA Cup semi-finals
We have twice played FA Cup Semi-finals on this day over the years.
1963 - We lost 1-0 to Leicester City at Hillsborough, with Mike Stringfellow heading in the winner, the first of his five goals against the reds, and Gordon Banks keeping the reds at bay. Winger Kevin Lewis made his 82nd and final reds appearance that day.
1977 - We beat Everton 3-0 at Maine Road in a replay, to keep on course for the treble. Our goals came from a Phil Neal penalty, Jimmy Case and Ray Kennedy that day. Both sides also had strong penalty claims turned down.

Title blow
2014 – We lost 2-0 to Chelsea at Anfield to deal our title chances a major blow. The visitors were time-wasting from the first minute as we felt the absence of the suspended Jordan Henderson. Steven Gerrard slipped at the end of the first half to allow Demba Ba a clear run on goal, and he slipped the ball past Simon Mignolet. We failed to break down the Blues’ blanket defence, with Willian nabbing a stoppage time second, the first of his four goals past us. Iago Aspas made his fifteenth and final reds appearance, from the bench with future red Mohamed Salah and ex-red Fernando Torres both featuring for the visitors.

On the same day, Luis Suárez was named PFA Player of the Year for a season in which he struck 31 times in total in 37 reds outings. He was also included in the Team of the Year, alongside Steven Gerrard, Daniel Sturridge and future red Adam Lallana. This was Gerrard’s eighth and last appearance in this list, a record in the Premier League era.

Happy birthdays
1990 - Defender Martin Kelly was born in Whiston. He made his senior bow as a sub in our Champions League win at PSV Eindhoven in December 2008, striking once in 62 reds games before joining Crystal Palace in August 2014 for a reported £2m.
1904 - Right-back Bob Done was born in Runcorn. He struck thirteen times in 155 reds games following his arrival from his hometown side in April 1926. He left for Reading for £150 in May 1935.
1873 – Wing-half Charlie Wilson was born in Sutton, St Helens. He signed from Stockport County on a free transfer in December 1897, bagging three goals in 91 reds games before becoming a Scout at Anfield in 1905, a role he held until the Second World War.

1959 – Academy Director Frank McParland was born in Liverpool. He started out in 1995 by assisting John Owens with the Under-14’s. When the Academy opened in 1999 he was handed a full-time role as head of the community coaching department. Gérard Houllier later gave him a scouting role before Rafael Benítez made him Joint Chief Scout, moving to Bolton Wanderers as General Manager in July 2007, although he only remained there three months. He returned to Melwood in May 2009, moving up to be Director of Academy and Player Development two years later. He left the club again in November 2013.
2007 – Keeper Kornel Miściur was born in Scarborough to Polish parents. He joined the Academy from Hull City in the summer of 2023, turning pro in October 2024.

Another title disappears from view
2002 - Michael Owen made his 150th League appearance as we lost 1-0 at Tottenham Hotspur, thanks to a Gus Poyet goal. It was our first defeat in fifteen League games and made winning the title a near impossibility. This was also Jari Litmanen’s 43rd and final game in a reds shirt.

Meanwhile, a Neil Mellor brace sent the Under-19’s into the Final of the National Play-offs, as we overcame Nottingham Forest 2-1, to set up a two-legged tie with Arsenal. These goals took the boy Mellor to 44 goals for the season. On the same day, future Anfield star Anthony Le Tallec was on target for Le Havre as the French outfit were promoted into the top division by beating Laval 4-1.

Thumping the Geordies
2013 - Daniel Sturridge and Jordan Henderson struck twice each, with Daniel Agger and Fabio Borini also on target as we won 6-0 at Newcastle United, with Mathieu Debuchy sent off for the home side late on.

In the best team
2008 - Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and ex-red David James were all named in the PFA Team of the Year.
2003 – Ex-reds keeper Brad Friedel was voted into the PFA Team of the Year, having kept fifteen clean sheets in the League for Blackburn Rovers.

Up and down
1895 - We lost a Test Match 1-0 to Bury at Ewood Park that relegated us after just one season in the top flight. Robert Neill made his reds bow in this game. He was possibly our shortest ever centre-half, standing at just five foot four inches. Also debuting were keeper John Whitehead and forward John Cleland, who played his only senior reds game while on loan from Edinburgh side St. Bernard’s, while outside-left John Drummond made his eighteenth and final appearance. Bury keeper Archie Montgomery was sent off late on for kicking out at Harry Bradshaw. This was William Barclay’s last game in charge of the side.
1896 – John McKenna managed the reds for the final time as we lost another Test Match, going down 2-0 at West Bromwich Albion’s Stoney Lane ground. However, previous results were enough to ensure our promotion.

Milestone games
1908 - We played our 500th League game, beating Bury 2-1 at Anfield in our final game of the season thanks to a Ronald Orr brace, with Billy Hibbert bagging one of his thirteen goals against the reds. We ended the season in eighth position.
1985 – Alan Hansen played his 400th reds game as we drew 0-0 at Ipswich Town.
2022 – Jordan Henderson featured in the UEFA Champions League for the fiftieth time as we beat Villarreal 2-0 in the first leg of our Semi-final at Anfield, on our way to reach the Final for the tenth time. The score was level at the break, with Pervis Estupiñán deflected a Henderson cross into his own goal before Sadio Mané double our lead.

Sam’s last
1912 – Forward Sam Gilligan bagged his sixteenth and final reds goal in the second minute of our 1-0 top-flight victory at Oldham Athletic.

Disaster in North London
1935 - Willie Evans scored a hat-trick for Tottenham Hotspur as they trounced us 5-1 at White Hart Lane. Berry Nieuwenhuys grabbed our consolation while forward Sam English played his fiftieth and final reds game. George Hunt struck one of his five goals past us, with Len Bolan also on the scoresheet.

Bill yet again
1903 - Left-half Bill Goldie played his 174th and final reds game, actually his 129th consecutive reds appearance, and 119th straight game in the League, as we won 2-0 at Wolverhampton Wanderers in our last game of the season, thanks to goals from Sam Raybould and Jack Cox. Left-back John Glover and inside-right George Livingstone both played their last reds games.

For Razor
1991 - A testimonial match for Ray Kennedy was staged at Highbury. A reds team beat Arsenal 3-1, with Jan Mølby, David Speedie and Peter Beardsley on the scoresheet.

A treble for Jimmy
1931 - Left-half Jimmy McDougall grabbed a hat-trick as we were beaten 8-4 by Yeovil & Petters United at their Huish Park Stadium in a friendly, with Cyril Done nabbing our other goal.

First and last times with the armband
1982 - Phil Thompson skippered England for the sixth and final time as they beat Wales 1-0 in the British International Championships in Cardiff. Joe Corrigan, ex-red Joey Jones, Terry McDermott, Phil Neal and Ian Rush all also featured.
1977 - Future red Kenny Dalglish captained Scotland for the first time as they beat Sweden 3-1 in a friendly at Hampden Park.

In and out
1936 – Keeper Stanley Kane was sold to Southend United. He had only made six senior appearances after signing on in July 1934, having left Birmingham.
1920 – Forward Peter McKinney signed from Consett Celtic. He struck once in three reds appearances, all in 1920/21, and later emigrated to the USA to join New York Giants.
1999 - Stephen Warnock signed as a professional. He played 67 reds games, notching once, before moving to Blackburn Rovers in January 2007 for £1.5m, although he moved on to Aston Villa in August 2009.

Twice against the Blades and Hammers
We have twice ended the season by playing Sheffield United in the top flight at Anfield on this day over the years.
1907 - We drew 2-2 with forward Sam Raybould on target in his 226th and final reds game. Bill McPherson also struck in our final game of the season as we finished fifteenth. Left-back Tom Rogers debuted in this fixture.
1914 - Tom Miller netted a brace as we won 2-1, just two days after losing our first ever FA Cup Final.

1957 - We beat West Ham United in a Second Division meeting, with Billy Liddell netting the only goal of the game from the spot in the final minute.
1974 - John Toshack struck at Upton Park as we drew a top-flight encounter 2-2, with Kevin Keegan on target at the death. Alec Lindsay had a penalty saved by Mervyn Day in the first half. Trevor Brooking and Frank Lampard both struck for the home side.

International debut once more
1927 - Ex-red Billy Lacey represented his third different country, playing in the Republic of Ireland’s second ever senior international, as they lost 2-1 to Italy ‘B’ in Dublin. This followed eighteen caps he had won for Ireland and another eight for Northern Ireland.

Beaten by Rovers
We have twice lost to Blackburn Rovers on this day in history.
1929 - Birthday boy Bob Done converted a penalty as we lost a top-flight meeting 2-1 at Ewood Park.
1893 - We lost an Anfield friendly 1-0.

Other reds games
1968 – We beat Fulham 4-1 at Anfield with Allan Clarke putting the visitors in front with one of his seven goals against the reds, despite appearing to be offside. Ian Callaghan and Roger Hunt ensure we led at half time, with Hunt and Tony Hateley on target after the break.
1901 – Jack Cox and Bill Goldie struck as we defeated Nottingham Forest 2-0 in L4.

Young England reds
2018 – Future red Harvey Elliott struck for England Under-15’s as they beat the Czech Republic 6-4 in a tournament game in Italy.
2016 – Bobby Duncan scored as England Under-15’s drew 1-1 with Russia in Italy.
2002 - Mark Smyth was on target as England Under-17’s beat Finland 3-2 in a European Championships Finals game in Denmark. Clubmate David Raven was skipper and David Mannix also played.

1993 – Future reds Academy coach Mike Sheron bagged a brace as England Under-21’s beat the Netherlands 3-0 in a European Championships qualifier at Fratton Park. Rob Jones also featured. On the same day, future red Bjørn Tore Kvarme played for Norway Under-21’s in their 5-1 thumping of Turkey in a European Championships qualifier.
1988 - Gary Ablett won his only Under-21’s cap as England drew 2-2 with France in the Semi-final of the European Championships at Highbury. Unfortunately, France won 6-4 on aggregate. Future red Michael Thomas also played. On the same day, Peter Beardsley, Gary Gillespie, Ray Houghton, Steve McMahon, Steve Nicol, ex-red Ian Rush and future reds Glenn Hysén, István Kozma, Dean Saunders and Rigobert Song all also played for their countries.

Splashing about
1894 - Outside-left Hugh McQueen nearly died when he dived off a springboard at Southport baths where the team were training, as he could not swim! He made 61 reds appearances in total after signing from Leith Athletic in October 1892, bagging eighteen goals and helping us to the Lancashire League and Second Division titles in successive seasons before joining Derby County in July 1895.

Potter for the Irish
2004 - Darren Potter made his debut for the Republic of Ireland’s Under-21’s as they drew 2-2 in a friendly in Poland. Ex-red Daniel Sjölund struck as the Finnish Under-21’s beat Bosnia & Herzegovina 3-1 away from home. Robbie Foy played for Scotland at the same level while Jimmy Ryan featured for the Irish Under-16’s on the same day, with future red Daniel Agger in action for Denmark Under-20’s and future red Ragnar Klavan playing for the senior Estonia side.

Other internationals
1983 – Glenn Hysén, Mark Lawrenson, Sammy Lee, Phil Neal, Ian Rush and Ronnie Whelan all played for their countries, with ex-red Joey Jones reaching half a century of caps for Wales in their 1-0 European Championships qualifying defeat of Bulgaria in Wrexham.
1991 - Future red Nigel Clough netted the only goal of the game as England B beat Iceland in a friendly at Vicarage Road. Fellow future red Paul Stewart also featured.
1998 – Future red Milan Baroš featured for the Czech Republic Under-17’s as they lost 2-1 to Italy in a tournament in Slovenia.

2001 – Future red Anthony Le Tallec scored twice for France Under-16’s in their 5-0 thumping of Finland in the European Championships Finals in Grimsby.
2015 - Future red Kamil Grabara saved two penalties in a shoot-out as Poland Under-16’s beat Turkey 7-6 after their friendly ended 1-1 in Israel. On the same day, ex-Academy Manager Steve Cooper took charge of England Under-16’s as they beat Saudi Arabia Under-15’s 2-0 at St. George’s Park.

2017 – Future red Dominik Szoboszlai captained Hungary Under-167’s in their goalless friendly draw with Turkey in Telki.
2019 – Isaac Mabaya featured for England Under-15’s in a 2-1 friendly defeat in Italy.
2022 – Carter Pinnington played as England Under-15’s lost a friendly 4-2 in Italy.