22nd December

Scoring yet again
2021 – we drew 3-3 with Leicester City in our League Cup Quarter-final at Anfield, before triumphing 5-4 on penalties as we scored for a new club record 34 consecutive games in all competitions. Jamie Vardy struck his ninth and tenth goals past us before Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain pulled a goal back. James Maddison restored the Foxes’ two-goal advantage before the break, with substitute Diogo Jota on target in the second half. Takumi Minamino bagged the stoppage-time leveller, but missed his spot kick, with Caoimhín Kelleher saving twice in the shoot-out before Jota converted the winning kick as we went on to claim the trophy at Wembley for the ninth time later that season.

2022 – We lost a League Cup Fourth Round tie 3-2 at Manchester City. Erling Haaland opened the scoring before Fábio Carvalho equalised, his third and final goal for the club. Riyad Mahrez put the home side back in front, but Mohamed Salah levelled inside a minute. However, Nathan Aké nodded in the winner.

Also recently
2007 - We thumped Portsmouth 4-1 in a Premiership fixture at Anfield to end their six-game winning streak away from home. We took the lead through Yossi Benayoun and a Sylvain Distain own goal before Benjani pulled one back shortly after the break, one of his four goals past us. Fernando Torres then added a brace to make the points safe. This was our 300th home Premier League game, and Pompey’s 500th top-flight defeat.
2012 – We beat Fulham 4-0 in L4 as Stewart Downing finally provided his first League goal and assist for the reds. Martin Škrtel and Steven Gerrard netted in the first half, with Downing and Luis Suárez on target after the break.
2017 – We shared six goals with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. Philippe Coutinho headed the reds into a half-time lead, with Mohamed Salah extending this after the break as we dominated the match. However, Alexis Sánchez, Granit Xhaka and Mesut Özil all struck in a five-minute spell to put the Gunners in front. Roberto Firmino then scored to secure a share of the spoils.

Derby disappointment
2002 - We were held to a goalless draw in the Anfield derby to end a run of four consecutive League defeats. The Blues’ pre-match boasts that “Rooney’s gonna get ya” did not bear fruit, while Steven Gerrard was lucky to escape a red card for his two-footed challenge on Gary Naysmith. Sami Hyypiä skippered the reds for the 88th time in the Premiership, a new club record.

Happy birthdays
1926 - Full-back Steve Parr was born in Bamber Bridge, Lancashire. He made twenty appearances without notching after signing on a free transfer from Farrington Villa in May 1948. Seven years later, he joined Exeter City, ending his playing career with Rochdale.
1975 – Midfielder Ian Frodsham was born in Liverpool. He joined as an Under-11, turning professional when he was seventeen but died from a spinal tumour in January 1995, aged just nineteen. An indoor arena at the Academy in Kirkby was named in his honour, as well as an award for the young player of the year.

A few empty seats
1983 - We played in front of the lowest Anfield crowd of the season of just 11,638 as we beat Birmingham City 3-0 in a League Cup Fourth Round replay, on our way to retaining the trophy yet again. Steve Nicol put us ahead, before Ian Rush bagged a second-half brace, including his first reds penalty. The players then rushed off and got changed into fancy dress on the team bus to go to their Christmas party at Tommy Smith’s club!

Seeing off the Mancs
1973 - We beat Manchester United 2-0 at Anfield thanks to a penalty from Kevin Keegan and then a goal from Steve Heighway.
1928 - We beat their neighbours City 3-2 at Maine Road, courtesy of a brace from Gordon Hodgson and a Henry Race strike. Tommy Johnson bagged one of his eight goals against the reds, with Arthur Bacon also on target.

European joy
1970 - We beat Hibernian 2-0 at Anfield in the second leg of our Fairs Cup Third Round tie, to progress to a Quarter Final meeting with Bayern München 3-0 on aggregate. Steve Heighway and Phil Boersma netted the goals.

Away wins
Apart from at Maine Road, we have won two other away games on this day in history.
1934 - Vic Wright struck a brace as we beat Sunderland at Roker Park, with Alf Hanson also on target as we came back from 2-1 down at half time to win 3-2. Pat Gallacher struck one of his six goals against the reds, with James Connor netting the last of his five past us.
1979 - We beat Derby County 3-1 at the Baseball Ground, with our opening score coming from a Roger Davies own goal before Terry McDermott converted a spot-kick, with David Johnson completing the scoring. Davies had struck the opener for the home side with a first-minute penalty, the first of his five goals against the reds.

More Anfield wins
We have won three more home games on this day.
1956 - Billy Liddell played his 400th League game for the reds, converting a penalty as we beat Bury 2-0 in our Second Division encounter, with Jimmy Melia also netting as Ronnie Moran reached a century of reds outings.
1962 - Kevin Lewis, Ian St. John and Ronnie Moran all struck as Blackburn Rovers lost 3-1 as we secured a seventh straight top-flight victory for the first time in more than half a century.
1990 - Ronnie Rosenthal nabbed a brace with Ray Houghton also on target while making his hundredth League appearance for the reds as we beat Southampton 3-2. Ex-red Jimmy Case and future red Neil Ruddock both featured for the visitors, for whom Rod Wallace struck the final two of his five goals against us.

Scandinavians off on loan
1995 - Jan Mølby joined Norwich City on loan. He played five times for the Canaries, netting once.
1999 - Frode Kippe signed temporarily for Stoke City. He played twenty times in four months at the Britannia Stadium, returning the following year for a further loan spell.

Keetley’s bow
1923 - Joe Keetley made the first of his nine senior reds appearances as we lost 2-0 at Cardiff City, exactly seven days after we had been beaten by the same score at Anfield. This was our third straight defeat, and eighth consecutive match without a victory. Len Davies struck two of his seven goals past us.

Death of a red
1999 - Ex-reds left-back Jack MacDonald, who became a 1950’s legend at Tranmere Rovers, died at 78 years of age. He had never made a senior appearance for us.

Glasgow victory
1981 - We took part in a Special Challenge Match against Rangers to mark the opening of the new Govan Stand at their Ibrox Stadium. Kenny Dalglish and Ronnie Whelan got on the scoresheet to hand us a 2-0 win.

Other reds games
1951 – Billy Liddell netted as Chelsea held us to a 1-1 draw at Anfield.
1906 – We lost 1-0 at Sheffield United, with keeper Sam Hardy saving a penalty from Arthur Brown.
1900 – We shared a goalless draw with top of the table Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.

Management moves
2008 - Steve Staunton was sacked as Assistant Manager of Leeds United, a day after his boss Gary McAllister.
2014 - Sami Hyypiä resigned as Manager of Brighton & Hove Albion, having only led them to six victories in 26 games in charge.

In international action
1993 – Future red Christian Ziege played as Germany shared a goalless friendly in Mexico.