8th September

Happy birthdays
1972 - Markus Babbel was born in Munich. He arrived on a free transfer from Bayern München in June 2000 and was a vital member of the treble-winning team bagging six goals in 73 games, until he was struck down by Guillain-Barré syndrome, moving to VfB Stuttgart on a free transfer in July 2004 after a loan spell at Blackburn Rovers.

1998 – Irish centre-half Conor Masterson was born in Celbridge, signing on from Lucan United for £900,000 on his sixteenth birthday. He was released in the summer of 2019 having failed to break through and is now with Gillingham.
1978 - Icelandic former reserves forward Haukur Ingi Guðnason was born in Keflavik. He never made an official senior appearance for the reds after signing from his hometown club in December 1997, returning there three years later after just three appearances on our bench in May 1998.

Anfield christened
1888 - The first ever League game at Anfield was played as Everton beat Accrington 2-1.

On the losing side
1894 - We suffered our first ever defeat in the Football League, going down 2-1 at home to Aston Villa in our third First Division game, having remained unbeaten through the whole of our debut season in the Second Division. Harry Bradshaw struck our consolation that day.
1926 - We also entertained the Villains, with Harry Chambers and Dick Forshaw on target in a 2-1 victory, while George Stephenson bagged the first of his four goals against the reds.

Disappointing debuts
2001 - New signing Jerzy Dudek made his debut in our 3-1 defeat at home to Aston Villa. Steven Gerrard, who scored our goal, was later sent off for a bad tackle on George Boateng. Dion Dublin scored one of his seven goals past us, with Lee Hendrie and Darius Vassell also striking for the visitors.
1947 - Inside-forward Kevin Baron made his League debut in our 3-1 defeat at Sheffield United, with Albert Stubbins nabbing our consolation. Jimmy Hagan bagged the first of his four strikes against us, with Dennis Thompson and Harold Brook also netting.
1970 - We visited Third Division Mansfield Town for a League Cup Second Round tie, being held to a goalless draw with forward Jack Whitham making his reds bow as a substitute for Brian Hall. Dudley Roberts had a goal disallowed for the Stags, with the reds striking the woodwork five times.

1919 - Forward Dick Forshaw made his reds bow in our 1-0 defeat at Arsenal as Jackie Sheldon had a penalty saved. He went on to net 124 times in 288 games, winning two League titles. Full-back Sam Speakman made his 26th and last reds outing as Jock Rutherford bagged one of his six strikes against the reds.
1948 - Billy Liddell struck as we drew 1-1 at Highbury.
1984 - Alan Kennedy was on target in a 3-1 defeat there, his twentieth and last goal for the club. Brian Talbot struck the last two of his six goals against us, with Tony Woodcock also on target.

Big Anfield wins
1917 - We thumped Port Vale 4-0 in a Wartime League game thanks to two from Thomas Bennett and further goals from Harry Lewis and Arthur Metcalf.
1979 - We beat Coventry City by the same score in the First Division, with David Johnson nabbing a brace and Jimmy Case and Kenny Dalglish also netting.
1928 - Gordon Hodgson struck twice with Dick Edmed, Jimmy McDougall and Tom Reid all also on target as we thumped Leicester City 6-3 in another top-flight match, with right-back Bob Done scoring the first of his thirteen reds goals. Arthur Chandler netted the last of his six goals past us, with James Baxter and Thomas Gibson also scoring.

Future reds at the treble
1999 - Yossi Benayoun struck a hat-trick for Israel in their 8-0 trouncing of San Marino in a Euro 2000 qualifier in Tel-Aviv. On the same day, Christian Ziege bagged a hat-trick as Germany thumped Northern Ireland 4-0 in a Euro 2000 qualifier in Dortmund, with fellow future red Markus Babbel also in action.

Award winners
2020 - Trent Alexander-Arnold was named PFA Young Player of the Year, with Jordan Henderson, Sadio Mané, Andy Robertson and Virgil van Dijk all also being named in the PFA Team of the Year, following our runaway League title win.

More international reds bidding for Euro 2000
1999 - Skipper Steve Staunton scored a 25-yard free-kick winner as the Republic of Ireland narrowly won 3-2 in Malta, with future red Robbie Keane also on target. This was Staunton’s first international goal in his second spell at Anfield, while Malta netted against the Irish for the first time, in their seventh encounter. Ex-red Mark Kennedy also played.

Stéphane Henchoz won his first cap as a reds player, and 39th to date, as Switzerland beat Belarus 2-0 in Lausanne. Meanwhile, Patrik Berger converted a penalty as the Czech Republic beat Bosnia-Herzegovina 3-0 in Teplice. Ex-red Øyvind Leonhardsen scored as Norway thumped Slovenia 4-0 to qualify for the Finals. Vegard Heggem also played. Also playing in qualifiers that day were Robbie Fowler and Michael Owen, under Kevin Keegan’s management, and ex-reds Don Hutchison and Steve McManaman, while future red Milan Baroš turned out for the Czech Republic Under-18’s

Other international reds on target
1976 - Future red Kenny Dalglish struck as Scotland thumped Finland 6-0 in a friendly at Hampden Park. On the same day, Ray Clemence, Kevin Keegan and Steve Heighway all featured as England drew 1-1 with the Republic of Ireland in a friendly at Wembley.
1985 - Avi Cohen bagged his second and final international goal as Israel beat Taiwan 5-0 in a World Cup qualifier in Tel-Aviv. Fellow future red Ronnie Rosenthal also played.
2020 – Dejan Lovren scored his first goal since joining Zenit St. Petersburg as Croatia lost 4-2 to France in a UEFA Nations League group game in Paris. Diogo Jota won his last cap as a Wolverhampton Wanderers player as Portugal won 2-0 in Sweden, with ex-red Conor Coady making his senior debut in England’s goalless draw in Denmark. Rhian Brewster played for England Under-21’s for the eighth and last time before leaving Anfield in their 2-1 European Championships qualifying win in Austria. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez, future reds Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch, and ex-reds Simon Mignolet and Raheem Sterling all also featured for their countries.

2018 – Mohamed Salah bagged a brace, with one of his goals coming as he converted the rebound from his own penalty, as he also had another spot-kick saved in Egypt’s 6-0 trouncing of Niger in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Alexandria. Xherdan Shaqiri netted while winning his first cap as a reds player as Switzerland thumped Iceland 6-0 in a UEFA Nations League group game in St. Gallen. Also on target was ex-red Luis Suárez who bagged a brace, including one from the spot, in Uruguay’s 4-1 friendly defeat of Mexico in Texas. Toni Silva won his first cap for Guinea-Bissau as a Mamelodi Sundowns player in their 2-2 draw in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Mozambique, who were being managed by Abel Xavier. Also in action that day were Joe Gomez, Jordan Henderson, future red Thiago Alcântara and ex-reds Iago Aspas and Péter Gulácsi.
2007 – Ex-red El-Hadji Diouf struck for Senegal in their 5-1 thumping of Burkina Faso in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Dakar, with future red Kolo Touré appearing as Ivory Coast won another qualifier 1-0 in Gabon.

2002 - Titi Camara struck for Guinea, his first goal since joining West Ham United, in their 3-0 defeat of Liberia in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Conakry.
1993 - Ian Rush was on target as Wales were held to a 2-2 draw by the Republic of Czechs & Slovaks in a World Cup qualifier in Cardiff, playing alongside ex-red Dean Saunders. Meanwhile, ex-red John Aldridge netted in the Republic of Ireland’s 2-0 qualifying defeat of Lithuania at Lansdowne Road. Ronnie Whelan and ex-reds Ray Houghton and Steve Staunton also featured. Also that day, Gérard Houllier’s France beat a Finland side that included future red Jari Litmanen 2-0 in a World Cup qualifier in Tampere, while Roy Hodgson’s Switzerland held Scotland 1-1 in another qualifier at Pittodrie, with future red Gary McAllister skippering the Scots. Stig Inge Bjørnebye, Rob Jones, ex-red Jim Magilton and future reds Brad Friedel, Paul Ince and Øyvind Leonhardsen all also featured in World Cup action.

Xabi off
2007 - Xabi Alonso was sent off as Spain were held to a 1-1 draw in a Euro 2008 qualifier in Iceland, with Fernando Torres also featuring. Emile Heskey won his first cap while with Wigan Athletic with ex-red Michael Owen notching as England beat Israel 3-0 in another qualifier at Wembley Stadium. Yossi Benayoun, Steven Gerrard and future red Joe Cole were also in action. Meanwhile, Roy Hodgson’s Finland held Serbia to a goalless draw in a qualifier in Belgrade, with Sami Hyypiä, future red Milan Jovanović and ex-red Daniel Sjölund in action. Daniel Agger, Ryan Babel, John Arne Riise, Andriy Voronin, ex-red Nicolas Anelka and future reds John Heitinga, Robbie Keane and Dejan Lovren all also played in qualifiers on the same day, with John Toshack in charge of Wales.

In World Cup action
2004 - Djibril Cissé struck his first international goal as a reds player as France won 2-0 in the Faroe Islands. Meanwhile, Fernando Morientes won his last cap as a Real Madrid player, and 38th to date, as Spain drew 1-1 in Bosnia-Herzegovina, with Xabi Alonso also featuring. Also representing their countries that day were Milan Baroš, Jamie Carragher, Jerzy Dudek, Steve Finnan, Steven Gerrard, Sami Hyypiä, John Arne Riise, future reds Craig Bellamy, John Heitinga, Robbie Keane, Ragnar Klavan, Dirk Kuyt, Alex Manninger and Andriy Voronin and ex-reds Paul Jones, Jari Litmanen, Alex Manninger and Michael Owen.

Tommy’s farewell ton
1962 – Scottish left-half Tommy Leishman bagged his final goal while reaching a century of League games as we lost 3-1 at Nottingham Forest.

Disappointment against Pompey
1934 - Portsmouth won 1-0 at Anfield with Jimmy Easson netting the last of his eight goals against the reds.
1937 - Jack Balmer struck as we drew 1-1 at Fratton Park in another top-flight fixture, as Fred Worrall bagged the final goal of his four past us.

Le Boss again
2010 - Gérard Houllier was appointed Manager of Aston Villa, taking over a fortnight later. He led them to just twelve victories in 34 games in charge, before having to step down in April 2011 after falling ill.

First and last caps
2023 - Stefan Bajčetić debuted for Spain Under-21’s as they thrashed Malta 6-0 in a European Championships qualifier in Paola. Jayden Danns, Darwin Núñez, Andy Robertson and future red Giorgi Mamardashvili all also represented their countries, with Steve Clarke taking charge of Scotland.
2020 - Future reds keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili was sent off on his debut for Georgia Under-21’s, although they still won their qualifier 2-0 in Liechtenstein.
2021 – Mamardashvili won his only senior cap while on loan at Valencia, as they lost a friendly 4-1 in Bulgaria.

2019 – Future red Kostas Tsimikas won his last cap for Greece as an Olympiacos player in their 1-1 European Championships qualifying draw with Liechtenstein in Athens, with future red Thiago Alcântara and ex-red Suso also playing in a qualifier that day and future reds Fábio Carvalho, Federico Chiesa and Melkamu Frauendorf also in international action.
2018 – Future red Sepp van den Berg won his first cap for the Dutch Under-19’s in their 5-1 friendly thumping of the Czech Republic. Meanwhile, ex-red Toni Silva played for Guinea-Bissau for the first time since joining South African side Mamelodi Sundowns as they drew 2-2 with Mozambique in an African Cup of Nations qualifier in Maputo.

2015 – Roberto Firmino won his first cap as a reds player in Brazil’s 4-1 friendly defeat of the USA in Boston, alongside future red Fabinho, while Raheem Sterling played for England for the first time since moving to Manchester City as Roy Hodgson’s England beat Switzerland 2-0 in a Euro 2016 qualifier at Wembley, with Nathaniel Clyne, James Milner, future reds Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Xherdan Shaqiri, and ex-red Jonjo Shelvey also featuring. Future red Marko Grujić won his first cap for Serbia Under-21’s as they thumped Ukraine 5-0 in a European Championships qualifier in Gornji. Martin Škrtel, ex-red Javier Mascherano and future reds Wataru Endō, Ragnar Klavan and Sadio Mané also played for their countries that day.

2013 – Ex-reds keeper Charles Itandje won his first cap for Cameroon while on loan from PAOK with Turkish side Konyaspor, as they beat Libya 1-0 in a World Cup qualifier in Yaoundé, with future red Joël Matip also featuring.
2012 - Charlie Adam represented Scotland for the first time since moving to Stoke City, in their goalless home World Cup qualifying draw with Serbia. Daniel Agger captained his country as Denmark drew a blank with the Czech Republic in Copenhagen in another qualifier that same day. Meanwhile, Victor Moses won his first cap as a Chelsea player in Nigeria’s 2-2 draw in Liberia in an African Cup of Nations qualifier in Monrovia, while future reds Sadio Mané and Kolo Touré faced each as Ivory Coast beat Senegal 4-2 in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Abidjan.

2009 - Nikola Sarić won his first cap at any level as a reds player, his first for Denmark Under-19’s as they beat Sweden 3-0 in Eksjö. On the same day, future red Daniel Sturridge struck his first goal for England Under-21’s as they drew 1-1 with Greece in a European Championships qualifier in Tripoli, Mario Balotelli scored his last goal for Italy at this level in their 2-0 defeat of Luxembourg, with future red Mamadou Sakho netting for France Under-21’s for the only time, and future red Simon Mignolet also in action at this level.
2002 – Kolo Touré played for Ivory Coast for the first time since joining Arsenal as they were held to a goalless draw by South Africa in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Abidjan. Stéphane Henchoz also played for his country that day.

A mobile arrangement
2000 - Liverpool Football Club announced that Siemens Mobile Phones had become an official ‘Walk On Partner’ of the club, in a three-year seven-figure deal.

In and out of old haunts
1992 - Nigel Spackman re-signed for Chelsea from Rangers for £485,000. He made 88 appearances for the Blues in this second four-season spell at the Bridge without scoring, largely under Glenn Hoddle.
2006 - Stéphane Henchoz returned to Blackburn Rovers after a season with Wigan Athletic, playing sixteen times while back at Ewood Park.
2008 – Terry McDermott left as Assistant Manager of Newcastle United following Kevin Keegan’s second resignation as boss.

2021- Ex-reds loanee centre-half Steven Caulker joined Gaziantep on loan from Fenerbahçe Spor Kulübü, netting twice in 27 outings.
2023 - Philippe Coutinho joined Al-Duhail on loan from Aston Villa, netting eight times in 23 outings while in Qatar.

Other reds games
1990 – We beat Wimbledon 2-1 at Plough Lane. John Barnes and Ronnie Whelan scored our goals.
1973 – Kevin Keegan bagged the only goal of Chelsea’s visit to Anfield, later having a penalty saved by Peter Bonetti.
1956 – We drew 1-1 at Doncaster Rovers in a Second Division encounter, with Billy Liddell bagging a late leveller.

1951 – We lost 2-1 at Wolverhampton Wanderers. Jesse Pye scored before Dennis Wilshaw netted one of his seven goals against the reds. Ken Brierley nabbed our consolation.
1923 – Jimmy Walsh struck the only goal of our trip to Preston North End.
1906 – Jack Cox was on target as we drew 1-1 at Blackburn Rovers.

Also in international action
2021 – Conor Bradley, Kostas Tsimikas, future red Dominik Szoboszlai and ex-reds Joe Allen, Christian Benteke, Nikolay Mihaylov, Raheem Sterling, Danny Ward and Harry Wilson all represented their countries.
2016 – Future red Ozan Kabak played for Turkey Under-17’s in their 3-2 friendly defeat by the Republic of Ireland.
2014 – Jordan Henderson, Rickie Lambert, Raheem Sterling and future red James Milner all featured for Roy Hodgson’s England as they won a European Championships qualifier 2-0 in Switzerland, with future red Xherdan Shaqiri on the losing side. Brad Smith played for Australia on the same day in their 3-2 friendly defeat of Saudi Arabia at Craven Cottage, while Joe Gomez debuted for England Under-19’s in their 1-1 friendly draw in Germany, with fellow future red Ragnar Klavan also playing for his country.

1987 – Future red Nigel Clough appeared for England Under-21’s as they lost a friendly 2-0 to West Germany.
1982 – Glenn Hysén played for the senior Sweden side as they lost a European Championships qualifier 2-0 in Romania.
1977 – Hysén appeared for the Under-18’s as they drew 0-0 in Finland.