4th September

Thommo off the mark
1973 – Phil Thompson bagged his first reds goal in our 2-0 home defeat of Derby County, with Kevin Keegan adding a late penalty. Ray Clemence was playing his 200th reds game.
1979 – We thumped Tranmere Rovers 4-0 in a League Cup Second Round second leg at Anfield after the first game ended goalless. Phil Thompson struck his thirteenth and final goal for the club in his 300th outing before Kenny Dalglish bagged a brace. David Fairclough was also on target, with all the goals coming in the second half.

For Jamie
2010 – Jamie Carragher’s testimonial took place at Anfield in front of more than 35,000, with the reds beating an Everton side 4-1. Luis García opened the scoring with Carra converting a spot-kick for the reds shortly before half time. Joe Cole made the score 3-0 with his first reds strike but Jamie then scored from the spot for Everton! Nathan Eccleston also opened his account for the reds.

Babb strikes
1996 - Phil Babb notched his only reds strike, the only goal of the game against his former club Coventry City at Highfield Road, in what was Roy Evans’ hundredth League game in charge.
1976 - We also faced the Sky Blues, winning 3-1 at Anfield thanks to goals from Kevin Keegan, David Johnson and John Toshack. Mick Ferguson had shocked the home side by scoring in the first minute.

Happy birthdays
1891 - Forward Fred Pagnam was born in Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire. He signed from Blackpool in May 1914, and so could only bag thirty goals in 39 reds games before joining Arsenal in October 1919, with whom he kept up his remarkable strike-rate.
1930 – Right-half Roy Saunders was born in Salford. He signed from Hull City in May 1948 and netted once in 146 reds appearances before joining Swansea Town in March 1959 in part-exchange for forward Des Palmer, who never featured for our first team. He was the father of 1990’s reds striker Dean and died in January 2009.

1980 – Michael Beale was born in Bromley, London. He joined the Academy as an Under-15’s coach in 2003, eventually progressing to be in charge of the Under-21’s. He left for São Paulo in January 2017, returning to the reds later that year for a brief spell before joining Steven Gerrard at Rangers.
1988 - Midfielder Ryan Flynn was born in Falkirk. He was awarded with a full-time contract at Melwood in the summer of 2006 having impressed in the previous season’s victorious FA Youth Cup campaign, including notching a goal in the Final. He made a loan move to his hometown club permanent in September 2009.

The Bridge opens
1905 - The reds helped Chelsea to open Stamford Bridge, taking part in the first ever game played there. Unfortunately, we started as we meant to continue at the Bridge, losing 4-0 in a friendly encounter.
1909 - We visited there again, with outside-left John McDonald and inside-right Jimmy Stewart making their reds bows as we lost 2-1 in a season opener, with Joe Hewitt nabbing our consolation. George Hilsdon’s penalty was the last of his five goals against the reds, with Jimmy Windridge also netting.

An unhappy millennium
1971 - We lost 2-0 in a League game at Tottenham Hotspur in what was our 3,000th first-class fixture, with Martin Chivers nabbing one of his seven goals past us and Martin Peters scoring one of his fourteen.

Off the mark
1912 - John Tosswill scored his only goal for the club on his reds debut as we beat Oldham Athletic 2-0 at Anfield, with Tom Miller also netting. Centre-half Bob Ferguson also made his debut, following his signing from Third Lanark.
1926 – Winger Dick Edmed bagged the first of his 46 reds goals as we lost 2-1 at Derby County, with Jimmy Gill bagging one of his six goals past us and Harry Bedford scoring the first of his nine.

Starting off with a stalemate
1897 - We kicked off our season with a 2-2 draw against Stoke, with inside-forward Willie Walker scoring on his reds bow and Frank Becton also on the scoresheet. Forward Dan Cunliffe and right-winger Bobby Marshall also debuted as Billy Maxwell bagged the first of six goals against the reds, with Tom Hill also on target.
1933 - We also left the Victoria Ground with a share of the spoils, with Harold Taylor netting as we drew 1-1 with Stoke City, as they were known by then. Forward Jack ‘Nipper’ Roberts made his only senior reds outing in this game, while Harry Davies nabbed his fourth and final goal past us.

Disappointment against the Trotters and Terriers
1911 - We lost 2-1 at Bolton Wanderers in a top-flight meeting, with Jack Parkinson grabbing our consolation and John Bovill and half-back Harry Lowe both debuting. Alf Bentley struck one of his four goals against the reds, with Harold Hilton also scoring.
1915 - We returned to Burnden Park, drawing a Wartime League fixture 1-1, with Fred Pagnam netting.

We have also faced Huddersfield Town twice on this day in history.
1929 - We won a top-flight encounter 3-0 at Anfield, thanks to goals from Gordon Hodgson, James Clark and Henry Race.
1957 - We also played them in the Second Division with Tony Rowley on the scoresheet in a 2-1 defeat at Leeds Road. Stan Howard bagged a brace for the home side.

In and out
1937 - Left-back Ernie Blenkinsop played his 71st and final reds game as Charlton Athletic won 2-1 at Anfield, with Jack Balmer on target and George Tadman and future reds boss Don Welsh netting for the visitors. Centre-half Tom ‘Tiny’ Bradshaw was also making his final appearance for the club, turning out for the 291st time.
1912 – Full-back Sam Speakman signed from amateur side Colne but could only play 26 first-team games without scoring before joining South Liverpool in 1920.
1901 – Inside-forward Tommy Green signed from New Brighton Tower, notching once in seven outings before joining Swindon Town in April 1903.

A win at Highbury
1982 - David Hodgson’s first reds strike and a Phil Neal goal handed us a 2-0 win at Arsenal. The author was present at this game, seeing the reds win for the first time.

Three against
1920 - Tommy Browell scored a hat-trick for Manchester City in their 3-2 defeat of the reds at Hyde Road, three of his seven goals past us. Harry Chambers and Walter Wadsworth netted our goals.
1935 - We also lost to City, going down 2-0 at Anfield in another top-flight match with Eric Brook bagging one of his nine goals against the reds, and Fred Tilson grabbing one of his six.
1943 - Our third meeting on this day resulted in a 2-1 Wartime League defeat at Maine Road, with Alf Hanson on target.

A League Cup first
1968 - We won at home in the League Cup for the first time, at the fourth attempt, as Roger Hunt, Chris Lawler, Ian Callaghan and Peter Thompson all netted in our 4-0 defeat of Sheffield United.

International reds
1999 - Several reds turned out for their countries in Euro 2000 qualifiers. Michael Owen struck in England’s 6-0 demolition of Luxembourg, his first senior England goal at Wembley, with Steve McManaman on the scoresheet twice, his first goals for his country, in his first game as a Real Madrid player. Robbie Fowler also played, under the management of ex-red Kevin Keegan. Sami Hyypiä skippered Finland for the first time as they lost 2-1 to Germany in Helsinki, with Christian Ziege winning his first cap as a Middlesbrough player, and fellow future red Markus Babbel also playing. Nicolas Anelka won his first cap as a Real Madrid player in France’s goalless draw in the Ukraine.

Ex-red Øyvind Leonhardsen was on target in Norway’s 1-0 defeat of Greece in Oslo, with Vegard Heggem also in the side. Another ex-red, Don Hutchison, netted as Scotland won 2-1 in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Dean Saunders won his seventieth cap, and first while with Bradford City, grabbing his final goal for Wales in their 2-1 win in Belarus. Future reds loanee keeper Paul Jones also featured. Future reds Sporting Director Richard Hughes won his second and last cap for Scotland Under-21’s. as they won a European Championships qualifier 3-2 in Bosnia-Herzegovina, with future reds recruiter Mark Burchill scoring all three Scottish goals. Also in action that day were Patrik Berger, Steve Staunton and future reds Alex Manninger, Fernando Morientes and Bolo Zenden.

2010 - Péter Gulácsi saved a penalty for Hungary Under-21’s in their 1-0 home defeat to Wales. Future reds Joe Allen and Dejan Lovren, and ex-red Krisztián Németh also featured at this level that day. Meanwhile, future reds Kolo Touré and Andriy Voronin both played at senior level for their countries.
2020 – Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson both captained their countries in UEFA Nations League group games, with ex-reds coach Steve Clarke taking charge of Scotland as they were held 1-1 by Israel at Hampden Park. Rhian Brewster, Gini Wijnaldum and future red Federico Chiesa also featured in internationals that day as future red Ryan Gravenberch debuted for the Dutch Under-21’as they thrashed Belarus 7-0 in a European Championships qualifier.

Stevie on target for England
2016 – Adam Lallana bagged the only goal of England’s World Cup qualifying win in Slovakia, with ex-red Martin Škrtel winning his first cap as a Fenerbahçe Spor Kulübü player. He was sent off, while Jordan Henderson, Daniel Sturridge and ex-red Raheem Sterling all also featured, with future red Andy Robertson turning out for Scotland.
2017 – Jordan Henderson skippered England as they beat Slovakia 2-1 in a World Cup qualifier at Wembley, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and ex-red Raheem Sterling also featuring. Andy Robertson, future reds Naby Keïta and Kostas Tsimikas, and ex-reds loanee Victor Moses also represented their countries that day as future red Federico Chiesa nabbed his first goal for Italy Under-21’s as they beat Slovenia 4-1 in a friendly in Cittadella.

2004 - Steven Gerrard netted while winning his thirtieth England cap as they drew 2-2 in a World Cup qualifier in Austria. Jamie Carragher, future red Joe Cole and ex-reds David James and Michael Owen all also played with Alex Manninger winning his first cap as a Bologna player for the home side. Meanwhile, future red Robbie Keane converted a penalty as the Republic of Ireland beat Cyprus 3-0 in another qualifier, with Steve Finnan also in action. Jerzy Dudek, Sami Hyypiä, John Arne Riise, future reds Craig Bellamy, Yossi Benayoun, Ragnar Klavan, Javier Mascherano and Christian Poulsen, and ex-reds Paul Jones and Jari Litmanen all also featured for their countries on that day.

1994 – Future red Titi Camara struck the only goal of Guinea’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Botswana. On the same day, ex-red Ronnie Rosenthal featured for Israel in their 2-1 defeat of Poland in a European Championships qualifier in Tel-Aviv.
2015 – Sheyi Ojo scored his only goal while debuting for England Under-19’s in their 3-2 defeat of Germany in Bergisch Gladbach, with future red Dominic Solanke also on target on his debut with Jordan Rossiter also making his bow at this level. On the same day, Harry Wilson netted as Wales Under-21’s beat Luxembourg 3-1 in a European Championships qualifier, with Brad Smith appearing for Australia Under-23’s. Meanwhile, ex-red Robbie Keane bagged a brace, including one from the spot, in the Republic of Ireland’s 4-0 Euro 2016 qualifying win in Gibraltar.

Sebastián Coates won his first cap as a Sunderland player as Uruguay won a friendly 1-0 in Panama, while Emre Can made his senior bow as Germany beat Poland 3-1 in a Euro 2016 qualifier in Frankfurt. Future red Andy Robertson and ex-reds Daniel Agger and Krisztián Németh also featured in qualifiers that day.

International firsts and lasts
2021 - Gini Wijnaldum struck his first goal as a Paris Saint-Germain player while captaining the Netherlands thumped Montenegro 4-0 in a World Cup qualifier in Eindhoven, with future red Cody Gakpo bagging his first senior goal. Steve Clarke took charge of Scotland, with Diogo Jota, Andy Robertson and ex-red Dejan Lovren all also in international action.
2020 – Centre-back Morgan Boyes debuted for Wales Under-21’s as they lost a European Championships qualifier 1-0 to Bosnia-Herzegovina in Zenica.
2019 – Toni Silva played for Guinea-Bissau for the first time since joining Astra Giurgiu as they won a World Cup qualifier 1-0 in São Tomé and Príncipe.
2016 – Keeper Caoimhín Kelleher made his debut for the Irish Under-19’s, keeping a clean sheet as they beat Austria 1-0 in a friendly in Dublin. Meanwhile, Toni Silva won his second and last cap for Guinea-Bissau as a Clube de Futebol União player as they lost an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier 1-0 in DR Congo, with Carl Medjani winning his first cap as a Club Deportivo Leganés player as Algeria thumped Lesotho 6-0 in another qualifier in Blida. Meanwhile, Trent Alexander-Arnold featured for England Under-19’s and midfielder Allan played for Brazil Under-20’s as they beat England 2-1 in Kidderminster.

2014 – Ex-red Mikel San José won his first senior cap as Spain lost 1-0 to France in a friendly in Paris, while Dirk Kuyt won his 104th and last cap for the Netherlands in their 2-0 defeat by Italy in Bari. On the same day, Dejan Lovren made his first appearance for Croatia since moving to Anfield, as they beat Cyprus 2-0 in Zagreb, with Divock Origi playing for Belgium for the first time since signing for the reds as they beat Australia 2-0 in Liège, as Brad Smith debuted for the visitors. Javier Manquillo made his debut for Spain Under-21’s while on loan at Anfield in their 1-0 European Championships qualifying win in Hungary. Also in friendly action that day were Mamadou Sakho, Brad Smith and future reds Ragnar Klavan and Gini Wijnaldum.

2011 – Future red Loris Karius played for Germany Under-19’s for the only time as they drew 2-2 with the Netherlands in a friendly in Cologne. Future red Oussama Assaidi played for Morocco on the same day as they drew 0-0 in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in the Central African Republic.
2009 – Future red Gini Wijnaldum won his first cap for the Netherlands Under-21’s in their 2-0 European Championships qualifying defeat of Finland in Emmen. Future reds Mario Balotelli, Simon Mignolet and Daniel Sturridge also featured at the same level that day.

Laurie at the wrong end
1946 - Centre-back Laurie Hughes scored an own goal as we lost 1-0 at home to Middlesbrough in our first home game of the first post-war season, with right-half Phil Taylor reaching a century of reds games.

Management moves
2008 - Kevin Keegan resigned as Manager of Newcastle United for the second time, stating that “a manager must have the right to manage and that clubs should not impose upon any manager any player that he does not want.”
2015 - Abel Xavier was sacked as Manager of Clube Desportivo das Aves after just two months in charge.

On the move again
2003 - Future red Peter Crouch joined Norwich City on loan from Aston Villa. He struck four times in fifteen games for the Canaries as they headed towards the First Division title. Meanwhile, James Milner joined Swindon Town on loan from Leeds United, netting twice in six games for the Robins.
2012 – Michael Owen signed for Stoke City, having been released by Manchester United. He could only net once in just nine senior outings before retiring at the end of the season.
2020 – SL Benfica paid a club record €24m to Unión Deportiva Almería for Uruguayan forward Darwin Núñez. He struck 48 times in 87 outings before moving to Anfield for an initial £64m in June 2022.

Young international reds
1998 - Jamie Carragher netted his only goal for England Under-21’s as they beat Sweden 2-0 in a European Championships qualifier in Sundsvall. Future red Emile Heskey also played. On the same day, future red Milan Baroš won his first cap at Under-18’s level, as the Czech Republic lost 2-0 to Italy in a tournament in Yugoslavia. Meanwhile, future red Alex Manninger was in action for Austria Under-21’s.

2001 - Future red Djibril Cissé scored his first Under-21's goal as France beat Spain 3-0 in a European Championships qualifier in Brest, while winning his second cap. Unfortunately, he also damaged his ankle ligaments in this game. Meanwhile, future red Christian Poulsen appeared at the same level as Denmark lost a qualifier 3-1 in Bulgaria, with Stephen Wright and future red Jermaine Pennant playing for England Under-21’s in their 5-0 trouncing of Albania in Middlesbrough.

Other reds games
1984 – Phil Neal converted a penalty as we won 2-1 at Luton Town, with Kenny Dalglish also on target.
1965 – We won 3-2 at Blackpool with Ray Charnley netting one of his seven goals against the reds. Roger Hunt struck twice with Ian Callaghan also scoring. Jimmy Robson scored the other goal for the Seasiders.
1954 – West Ham United won a Second Division fixture 2-1 in L4, with Jimmy Payne bagging our consolation.
1948 – We drew 0-0 at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Death of a guest
1952 - Frank O’Donnell died, aged just 41. He struck once in two wartime appearances for the reds. He gained six Scotland caps as well as scoring for Preston North End in every round of the FA Cup in 1937, including the Final.

Also in international action
1974 – John Toshack played for Wales in their 2-1 defeat by Austria in a European Championships qualifier in Vienna.
1985 – Future reds goalkeeping coach Cláudio Taffarel played for Brazil Under-20’s as they beat Nigeria 2-0 in their World Cup Semi-final in Leningrad.

1996 – Future reds Markus Babbel and Christian Ziege both appeared for Germany in their 2-0 friendly win in Poland.
2005 – Ex-red Rigobert Song faced future red Kolo Touré as Ivory Coast lost 3-2 to Cameroon in a World Cup qualifier in Abidjan.