Liverpool beat Manchester City 3-1 at Anfield on this day in 2019 and opened up an eight-point lead at the top of the Premier League.
Roy Evans was in the dugout for the last time as Liverpool manager in 1998, Neil Mellor’s late double knocked out the League Cup holders in 2004, and Patrik Berger was born in Prague in 1973.
2019: Eight points clear
It was 2019, and Jürgen Klopp’s leaders were hosting Pep Guardiola’s champions in front of 53,324 at Anfield. It was billed as the game that could shape the title race.
City were still protesting about a cross that had struck Trent Alexander-Arnold’s arm when Fabinho drilled the ball in from 25 yards in the sixth minute. The goal stood after a VAR check.
Mohamed Salah headed in Andy Robertson’s cross at the far post in the 13th minute, and Sadio Mané nodded in Jordan Henderson’s delivery in the 51st. Bernardo Silva pulled one back in the 78th minute, but Liverpool saw it out.
The result left Liverpool eight points clear of Leicester City in second and nine ahead of the champions, down in fourth. By the end of that season, the title was back at Anfield for the first time in 30 years.
1998: Roy Evans bows out
Twenty-eight years ago today, in 1998, Roy Evans took charge of a Liverpool game for the last time, sharing the job with Gérard Houllier, as Tottenham Hotspur won a League Cup fourth-round tie 3-1 at Anfield.
Steffen Iversen scored in the second minute and former Red John Scales made it two after 20 minutes. Allan Nielsen added a third just after the hour, and Michael Owen’s goal nine minutes from time was no more than a consolation.
Within days of that defeat, Evans had left the club. His time as manager had brought the League Cup in 1995.
Houllier took sole charge, ending the joint-management experiment that had begun only that summer.
2004: Mellor sinks the holders
In 2004, the night after Emlyn Hughes died, Anfield stood for a minute’s silence before Rafael Benítez’s side took on Middlesbrough, the League Cup holders, in the fourth round.
Boro hit the post through Joseph-Désiré Job and it looked to be heading for extra time. Then Neil Mellor struck twice in the closing minutes, on 83 and 89 minutes, to send Liverpool into the quarter-finals.
Liverpool went on to reach the final in Cardiff, where they faced Chelsea.
Born on this day
Patrik Berger was born in Prague on this day in 1973. He joined Liverpool from Borussia Dortmund for £3.25m in 1996, having helped the Czech Republic reach the final of Euro 96.
That fierce left foot brought him 35 goals in 196 games, and he won the FA Cup and the UEFA Cup in 2001 before moving on to Portsmouth in 2003.
Also on this day
- 1894: Neil Kerr scored, but Stoke won 3-1 at the Victoria Ground.
- 1900: Johnny Walker and Sam Raybould scored twice each, with Andy McGuigan also on target, in a 5-1 win over Aston Villa at Anfield.
- 1906: Alex Raisbeck, Sam Raybould and Bill McPherson each scored twice as Preston North End were beaten 6-1 at Anfield.
- 1923: Harry Chambers scored, but Huddersfield Town won 3-1 at Leeds Road.
- 1928: Bill Salisbury scored the only goal in a 1-0 win at Portsmouth.
- 1934: Huddersfield Town beat Liverpool 8-0 at Leeds Road.
- 1951: Brian Jackson scored in a 1-1 draw with Bolton Wanderers at Anfield.
- 1956: Louis Bimpson and Alan A’Court scored in a 2-2 Second Division draw at Rotherham United.
- 1962: Ian St John, Jimmy Melia and Ronnie Moran scored in a 3-3 draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford.
- 1973: Steve Heighway scored the only goal against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield.
- 1979: Kenny Dalglish scored twice, with Ray Kennedy and David Johnson also on target, in a 4-1 win at Brighton & Hove Albion.
- 1981: David Johnson scored twice, with Ian Rush and Kevin Sheedy also on target, in a 4-1 League Cup third-round win over Middlesbrough at Anfield.
- 1982: Craig Johnston scored the only goal as Rotherham United, managed by Emlyn Hughes, were beaten 1-0 in the League Cup third round at Anfield.
- 1984: Jim Beglin made his debut and Ian Rush scored in a 1-1 draw with Southampton at Anfield.
- 1990: Ian Rush scored twice, Jan Mølby from the spot and Peter Beardsley once in a 4-0 win over Luton Town at Anfield.
- 2007: Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard, from the spot, scored late on in a 2-0 win over Fulham at Anfield.
- 2010: Fernando Torres scored early, but Hugo Rodallega earned Wigan Athletic a 1-1 draw.
