19th October

In comes Razor
1987 - Ray Houghton signed from Oxford United for £825,000. He went on to strike 38 times in 202 reds games, helping us to two League titles, two FA Cups and the FA Charity Shield in his five years at Anfield. He was sold to Aston Villa for £900,000 in July 1992, as Graeme Souness tried to reduce the number of non-Englishmen in the squad, to comply with UEFA regulations for European competition.

More ins and out
1894 - Centre-forward Hugh Henderson joined the reds from Third Lanark. He only made two appearances for the reds, both convincing defeats.
1962 – Scottish left-half Willie Stevenson signed from Rangers for £20,000. He missed just nine League games in his first four seasons, making a total of 241 appearances and netting eighteen times. He helped us to two League titles and our first FA Cup triumph in 1965 before moving on to Stoke City in December 1967.

1946 – Scottish left-winger George Paterson was sold to Swindon Town for their record fee, having struck once in three outings since arriving from the Hall Russell’s works team in May 1937. He later returned to Anfield in a coaching role under Bill Shankly.

A new competition
1960 - We played our first ever League Cup game, drawing 1-1 with Luton Town at Anfield in a Second Round tie. Wing-half Tommy Leishman scored our first goal in the competition, with David Brogan on target for the visitors.

European Cup adventures
We have lost just one of our five European games on this day in history, progressing to the next stage on each occasion.
1966 – We beat Romanians Petrolul Ploieşti 2-0 in a Preliminary Round replay in Brussels, when Ian St. John and Peter Thompson netted to take us through.
2004 - We were held to a goalless draw at home by Real Club Deportivo de La Coruña in the group stages of our glorious Champions League campaign.
2005 - Djibril Cissé grabbed the only goal of the game as we won at Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht in another group game.

1977 - Jimmy Case netted twice with Alan Hansen scoring his first reds goal as we started the defence of our crown by thumping Dynamo Dresden 5-1 at Anfield. Phil Neal converted a penalty, with Ray Kennedy also on target.
1982 - We had two goals disallowed for offside as we lost 1-0 at HJK Helsinki in the first leg of our Second Round tie, although we went on to win the return 5-0.
1983 - We were held to a goalless draw at Anfield by Athletic Bilbao at the same stage, although we won in Spain.

On target again
2021 – Mohamed Salah scored in a club record ninth consecutive game, netting twice, including once from the spot, to become our top ever goalscorer in the European Cup. Roberto Firmino played his 300th game for the club as we won our UEFA Champions League group encounter 3-2 at Club Atlético de Madrid, with Antoine Griezmann sent off for the home side, having already bagged a brace, with Naby Keïta also on target.

2014 – We scored in a club record eighteenth consecutive top-flight away game, eventually winning a topsy-turvy game 3-2 at Queens Park Rangers, despite the score being just 1-0 with three minutes of normal time remaining. We went ahead after Richard Dunne put through his own net before Leroy Fer twice struck the crossbar for the home side. Eduardo Vargas equalised before Philippe Coutinho put us back in front on ninety minutes. Vargas’s header was deflected in off Steven Gerrard in stoppage time, but future red Steven Caulker then diverted Raheem Sterling’s cross into his own net to hand us all three points.
1974 – We won 1-0 at Loftus Road with Brian Hall on the scoresheet early on as full-back Chris Lawler played his 400th League game for the reds.

First strikes
1985 - Craig Johnston’s goal at Old Trafford was the first that Manchester United had conceded at home that season, as we drew 1-1 with Paul McGrath on target for the home side.
2002 - Salif Diao scored his first League goal to give us a 1-0 win at Leeds United, in Gérard Houllier’s 150th League match in sole charge, which took us to the top of the table.
1912 - Centre-half Bob Ferguson scored his first reds goal as we beat Blackburn Rovers 4-1 at Anfield. Arthur Metcalf netted a brace, with Arthur Goddard slotting home a penalty while Walter Aitkenhead bagged one of his four goals past us.

Stevie’s century
2013 - Steven Gerrard scored his hundredth League goal as we drew 2-2 at Newcastle United, with Luis Suárez reaching a century of reds games. Yohan Cabaye opened the scoring for the home side from long range, with Gerrard equalising from the spot as Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa was sent off for a foul on Suárez. Paul Dummett volleyed in after the break, with Daniel Sturridge also on target.

Most recently
2022 - Darwin Núñez headed in his first Anfield goal in the first half, which was enough to secure victory over West Ham United at Anfield, with Alisson Becker later saving a Jarrod Bowen spot-kick.

Jack born
1928 - Centre-half Jack Heydon was born in Birkenhead. He made 67 appearances at right- and centre-back after signing on a free transfer from Everton in January 1949, where he had been an amateur. He stayed at Anfield until May 1953 when he joined Millwall, but later returned to Merseyside to play for Tranmere Rovers.
1932 – Right-back Don Campbell was born in Bootle. He joined the reds in November 1950, netting twice in 48 games before moving on to Crewe Alexandra in July 1958.
1983 – Keeper Andy Lonergan was born in Preston. He spent the 2019/20 with the reds but failed to feature in the first team.
2001 – Midfielder Leighton Clarkson was born in Blackburn. He has so far made three senior appearances in cup competitions, being rewarded with a new contract in July 2020.

Half a century high
1896 - We left Bramall Lane with a 1-1 draw after our fiftieth away League game. Tom ‘Tiny’ Bradshaw notched our goal.

Done a treble
1946 - Cyril Done scored a hat-trick in our 4-1 victory in a top-flight fixture at Huddersfield Town, with Jack Balmer bagging the other after he had had a penalty saved. Ray Minshull made his reds bow in goal in the absence of both Cyril Sidlow and Charlie Ashcroft. Right-half Phil Taylor reached a century of League outings for the reds.

Up against the Trotters
We have twice faced Bolton Wanderers on this day in history.
1935 - Our top-flight trip to Burnden Park ended goalless.
1918 - We won a Wartime League fixture at home 6-1, with Thomas Green netting twice and John Bamber, Arthur Metcalf, Harry Lewis and Harold Wadsworth all on target.

Into the Hall of Fame
2006 - Alan Hansen, Roger Hunt and Ian Rush were all inducted into the National Football Museum’s Hall of Fame. They joined Bill Shankly, Kenny Dalglish, John Barnes, Kevin Keegan and Bob Paisley on the list of legends, with Peter Beardsley and Graeme Souness among those subsequently being included.
2016 – Mark Lawrenson and Billy Liddell both joined the trio in the Hall of Fame.

Irish firsts
1988 - John Aldridge scored his first full international goal on his twentieth appearance, as the Republic of Ireland beat Tunisia 4-0 in a friendly at Lansdowne Road. In fact, this was his only Irish goal as a reds player. Steve Staunton made his first appearance in the same game, with ex-red Ken DeMange claiming his second and final cap and Ray Houghton also featuring. Ex-red Kevin Sheedy was also on the scoresheet. John Barnes, Peter Beardsley, Steve Nicol and future red Glenn Hysén all featured in World Cup qualifiers that day.

Double debutants
1946 - Ray Lambert and Cyril Sidlow both made their senior debuts for Wales as Scotland beat them 3-1 in the British International Championships at the Racecourse Ground. Billy Liddell won his second cap for the winning side.

Final caps
2021 – Josh Davison played his fifth and final game for England Under-17’s as they won a European Championships qualifier 1-0 in Belarus.
1994 - Brad Friedel won his last cap as a UCLA player, his 27th in total, as the USA lost 2-1 in a friendly in Saudi Arabia.
1988 - Dean Saunders scored from the spot while winning his final cap as an Oxford United player in Wales’ 2-2 World Cup qualifying draw with Finland in Swansea. Ian Rush also played, while future reds Assistant Manager Colin Pascoe won his first cap as a Sunderland player, with István Kozma also in action.

1986 - Future red Stig Inge Bjørnebye won his fourth and last Under-16’s cap for Norway in their 3-2 win in Denmark.
1957 – Future reds centre-forward Des Palmer won his third and last cap for Wales as they were thumped 4-0 by England in the British International Championships at Ninian Park.

Elisha twice
Keeper Elisha Scott twice represented Northern Ireland in Belfast against England in the British International Championships on this day in history.
1929 - He played in a 3-0 loss, up against future reds defender Ernie Blenkinsop.
1935 - He featured in a 3-1 defeat, by which time he was a Belfast Celtic player.

From back to front
1957 - Keeper Tommy Younger went off injured just before half time but returned as a centre-forward as we lost 2-1 at Derby County. Ronnie Moran took over in goal with the score at 1-0 with Billy Liddell slotting in at left-back. Tony Rowley struck our equaliser, but Moran finally conceded with seven minutes left. Dennis Woodhead netted the last of his four goals against us, with George Darwin also scoring.
1929 - We also visited the Baseball Ground when Jim Smith and Gordon Hodgson struck in our 2-2 First Division draw. Peter Ramage bagged the first of his five goals past the reds, with Harry Bedford grabbing one of his nine.

Rewarded
2012 – Young Spanish midfielder Suso signed a new contract, having been a pro at Anfield since November 2010. He notched once in 21 senior outings, moving on to AC Milan in January 2015.

Nominated
2008 - Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres were both named on a short-list for the Ballon d’Or by France Football magazine. The trophy was eventually claimed by Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo, with Torres finishing in third and Gerrard in tenth.

North of the border
1987 - The reds took part in a testimonial match for Dundee’s George McGeachie, winning 4-0. The goals came from a John Barnes brace, Ronnie Whelan and Ray Houghton, who was playing his first reds game.

Jan the Man at Aggborough again
2003 - Jan Mølby returned to Kidderminster Harriers as Director of Football. He remained in the role for a year before resigning due to poor results.

Other reds games
1991 – Steve McManaman and Ian Rush struck as we drew 2-2 at Chelsea.
1968 – We lost 2-1 at Tottenham Hotspur with Roger Hunt giving us the lead before Jimmy Greaves grabbed two of his twelve goals against the reds.
1963 – Gordon Milne bagged the only goal of West Bromwich Albion’s visit to Anfield.
1901 – We drew 2-2 at Notts County with John Hunter and Jack Cox on the scoresheet. Percy Humphreys scored the first two of his six past us. We had to play the last twenty minutes with just ten men after Maurice Parry had to be carried off with an ankle injury.
1895 – We lost a Second Division fixture 1-0 at Grimsby Town.

Also on the move
2015 – Ex-reds First Team Coach Paco Herrera was sacked as Manager of Unión Deportiva Las Palmas for the first time, after fifteen months in charge.
2001 - Jason McAteer joined Sunderland from Blackburn Rovers for £1m. He bagged five goals in 61 appearances for the Black Cats, before moving on to Tranmere Rovers in July 2004.
2000 - Ex-loanee keeper Mark Prudhoe was released by basement side Southend United after just six appearances.
1994 - Future reds first-team coach Kevin Keen joined Stoke City from Wolverhampton Wanderers for £300,000. He had netted nine times in 54 outings for Wolves.

Kennedy on the mark
1993 - Future red Mark Kennedy struck for the Republic of Ireland Under-18’s as they lost 2-1 in Sweden in a European Championships qualifier.

Also in international action
2021 – Future red Trent Kone-Doherty appeared for the Irish Under-16’s as they lost 2-1 to Wales in a friendly in Lucan.
2023 - Conall Murtagh played for Northern Ireland Under-17’s as they lost a European Championships qualifier 2-1 in Germany. He is now the reds’ Head of Physical Performance.