On This Day, 11 October: Toshack’s hat-trick and the top two meet at Anfield

It is matchday at Anfield, and with Manchester City in town and Liverpool short of a centre-forward, 11 October brings back memories of a striker who never needed a second invitation.

On this day in 1975, John Toshack scored all three goals as Bob Paisley’s side beat Birmingham City 3-1.

With Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo ruled out and Hugo Ekitike out long term, Andoni Iraola goes into this afternoon’s 4.30pm kick-off without a recognised first-choice No.9. Fifty-one years ago, Paisley had no such problem.

Toshack treble sinks Birmingham

In front of 36,532 at Anfield, Toshack put Liverpool ahead in the first half and doubled the lead after the break. Bob Hatton pulled one back for Birmingham late on, but the Welshman had the final word, completing his hat-trick from a cross by substitute Peter Cormack, who had come off the bench in place of Jimmy Case.

A day after the second anniversary of Cormack’s passing, it is fitting to remember that he played his part. Kevin Keegan was alongside Toshack that afternoon, and the pair were the spearhead of a side that went on to win the league title and the UEFA Cup that season, with Keegan scoring in both legs of the final against Club Brugge.

Whoever Iraola picks to lead the line today, an afternoon like Toshack’s would go down very nicely.

Top two meet at Anfield

City arrive today as league leaders, and on this day in 1980 Anfield staged another meeting at the very top of the table. Bobby Robson’s Ipswich Town and Paisley’s Liverpool drew 1-1 in front of 48,084, and finished the afternoon first and second in the First Division.

Frans Thijssen gave Ipswich the lead, but Terry McDermott levelled from the penalty spot before half-time. Neither side went on to win the title, which went to Aston Villa, but both ended the season with European silverware: Liverpool won the European Cup in Paris and Ipswich lifted the UEFA Cup.

Champions see off Chelsea

Liverpool were the reigning league champions when Chelsea came to Anfield on 11 October 1947, and 51,359 turned up to watch them win 3-0. Bob Priday scored early on, Albert Stubbins added a second before half-time and Billy Liddell completed the scoring late on.

In the Liverpool side that day was a wing-half by the name of Bob Paisley. Leading the line for Chelsea was the England centre-forward Tommy Lawton, in what turned out to be his final appearance for the London club before his move to Notts County.

The stadium that never was

On this day in 2002, Liverpool’s plans to leave Anfield took a big step forward when a majority of local residents backed the club’s proposed 55,000-capacity stadium in Stanley Park, next door to the old ground. The club hoped to be playing there by the start of the 2005-06 season.

It never happened. Liverpool eventually stayed put and rebuilt Anfield instead, and this afternoon’s crowd will gather in the very stadium the club once planned to leave behind.

Happy birthday, Rocket Ronny

Ronny Rosenthal turns 63 today. Born in Haifa, the Israeli forward joined from Standard Liège, initially on loan, in the spring of 1990 and made an instant impact, scoring a hat-trick against Charlton Athletic on his first start.

He finished the run-in with seven goals in eight league games as Liverpool won the 1989-90 title, the club’s last top-flight crown until 2020. The move was made permanent that summer in a £1.1m deal, and he has been a cult hero ever since.

Elsewhere in football

On this day in 1997, Liverpool midfielder Paul Ince provided one of the most famous images in England’s history. Wearing the captain’s armband in Rome, he suffered a gash to the head from Demetrio Albertini’s elbow early in the game, was patched up and played on with a bandage and a blood-soaked shirt. The 0-0 draw with Italy sent Glenn Hoddle’s side to the 1998 World Cup as group winners.

It is also the birthday of the late Sir Bobby Charlton, who was born on this day in 1937 in Ashington, Northumberland.

Also on this day

• 1902: West Bromwich Albion 1-2 Liverpool. Sam Raybould scored both, and goalkeeper Peter Platt and full-back Don McCallum made their debuts.
• 1913: Liverpool 2-1 Bolton Wanderers at Anfield, with Tom Miller scoring both.
• 1919: Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool. Forward Tom Bennett made his one and only Liverpool appearance.
• 1924: Newcastle United 0-0 Liverpool.
• 1930: Liverpool 1-2 Sheffield Wednesday, with Gordon Hodgson on target.
• 1952: Bolton Wanderers 2-2 Liverpool.
• 1958: Liverpool 3-2 Lincoln City in the Second Division. Fred Morris scored twice and Jimmy Harrower got the other.
• 1969: Newcastle United 1-0 Liverpool, with Alan Foggon scoring the only goal.
• 1986: Liverpool 0-1 Tottenham Hotspur. Clive Allen scored straight after half-time on his way to 49 goals that season.