Michael Owen scored all three goals as Gérard Houllier’s Liverpool came from behind to beat Spartak Moscow 3-1 in the Champions League on this day in 2002.
Five goals in Frankfurt in 2025, Terry McDermott’s early winner at Alex Ferguson’s Aberdeen in 1980 and the night David Burrows ended up in goal in 1992 all share the date, and Bootle-born Mark Seagraves turns 60 today.
2002: Owen answers the call
Liverpool arrived at the Dinamo Stadium as Premiership leaders, three weeks after thrashing Spartak 5-0 at Anfield, but on a cold evening in Moscow it was the home side who struck first. In the 23rd minute Emile Heskey’s defensive header fell to Alexander Pavlenko, and his pass was drilled home by Alexander Danishevski.
Owen had Liverpool level before half-time, heading in Jamie Carragher’s cross from the right. In the 70th minute Sami Hyypia headed Danny Murphy’s free-kick against the bar, and in the scramble that followed Owen bundled the ball in with his left foot. In the final minute he met Murphy’s ball across the face of goal to complete his hat-trick.
Head, left foot, right foot: it was a perfect hat-trick, and it made Liverpool the first English side to win against Spartak in Moscow. Grégory Vignal had a night to forget, coming on for Heskey early in the second half and being taken off himself, for Igor Biscan, with a quarter of an hour left.
The three points did not save the campaign. Valencia won 1-0 at Anfield eight days later, and a 3-3 draw in Basel on 12 November left Houllier’s side third in Group B behind Valencia and Basel, so they dropped into the UEFA Cup.
2025: Ekitike’s happy return
A year ago today, in 2025, Arne Slot’s Liverpool went to Frankfurt on the back of four straight defeats and came home with a 5-1 win in the Champions League. Rasmus Kristensen put Eintracht ahead after 26 minutes, but Hugo Ekitike, back at the club he had left in the summer, raced on to Andy Robertson’s ball out of defence to equalise, and did not celebrate against his old club.
Before half-time Virgil van Dijk headed in Cody Gakpo’s corner and Ibrahima Konaté headed in one from Dominik Szoboszlai. After the break Florian Wirtz set up Gakpo for the fourth and then Szoboszlai, who finished the scoring with a long-range drive.
The win came at a cost. Jeremie Frimpong went off with a hamstring injury after 19 minutes, Conor Bradley replacing him, and Alexander Isak, starting alongside Ekitike for the first time, did not come out for the second half because of a groin injury.
1980: McDermott silences Pittodrie
In 1980, Terry McDermott needed only five minutes to score at Pittodrie, running on to David Johnson’s first-time pass and chipping the ball over Jim Leighton, as Bob Paisley’s Liverpool beat Alex Ferguson’s Aberdeen, the Scottish champions, 1-0 in the European Cup second round, first leg, in front of 24,000.
The return at Anfield a fortnight later was no contest. Liverpool won 4-0, 5-0 on aggregate, and the following May they beat Real Madrid in Paris to win the European Cup for the third time.
1975: Three in San Sebastián
It was 1975, and goals from Steve Heighway, Ian Callaghan and Phil Thompson gave Paisley’s side a 3-1 win at Real Sociedad in the UEFA Cup second round, first leg, with Amas getting a late consolation. The second leg at Anfield finished 6-0, 9-1 on aggregate, and Liverpool went on to win the league title and the UEFA Cup that season, beating Club Brugge in the final.
1992: Burrows between the posts
Thirty-four years ago today, in 1992, Graeme Souness’s Liverpool twice came from behind against Spartak in Moscow, in the European Cup Winners’ Cup second round, first leg. Nikolai Pisarev put Spartak ahead after 10 minutes, Mark Wright equalised in the second half, and when Valeri Karpin restored the lead Steve McManaman levelled again at 2-2.
Then, with six minutes left, Bruce Grobbelaar brought down Dmitri Radchenko and was sent off. Both substitutes had already been used, so the defender David Burrows went in goal, and he could not keep out Karpin’s penalty. Igor Lediakhov added a fourth late on, and Spartak won the second leg 2-0 at Anfield as well, 6-2 on aggregate.
1983: Nicol’s first goal
Steve Nicol came off the bench for Craig Johnston midway through the second half at Loftus Road on this day in 1983 and, seven minutes from time, scored the only goal of the game, his first for Liverpool, as Joe Fagan’s side won 1-0 at Queens Park Rangers. Paisley had paid Ayr United £300,000 for him two years earlier, and Nicol became one of the most versatile players of a great era, named Footballer of the Year by the football writers in 1989.
2009: Farewell to Ray Lambert
Seventeen years ago today, in 2009, Ray Lambert died at the age of 87. Born in Bagillt in Flintshire, he joined Liverpool as a 13-year-old schoolboy in 1936, signed professional forms on his 17th birthday and was a full-back in the side that won the league title in 1946-47. He also won five caps for Wales.
Born on this day in 1966: Mark Seagraves
Mark Seagraves, born in Bootle, turns 60 today. A defender who came through the youth ranks, he played twice for Liverpool, both times in the cups during the 1985-86 season, deputising for the injured Gary Gillespie in the first leg of the League Cup semi-final at QPR and in an FA Cup tie at York City. He joined Manchester City in 1987 and later faced his old club with Bolton Wanderers in the 1995 League Cup final, which Liverpool won 2-1.
2004 and 1979: Two more birthdays
Stefan Bajcetic, born in Vigo in 2004, turns 22. He came through the Academy after joining from Celta Vigo’s youth set-up, made his debut as a substitute in the 9-0 win over Bournemouth in August 2022 and, after injuries and loan spells at Red Bull Salzburg and Las Palmas, returned to Celta permanently in August 2026, starting out with their reserve side.
Doni, the Brazilian goalkeeper born in Jundiaí in 1979, turns 47. He joined on a free transfer from Roma in July 2011 and played four times for Liverpool in 2011-12. He went back to Brazil with Botafogo-SP in January 2013, but heart problems forced him to retire that August.
Also on this day
- 1904: Jack Cox and Bobby Robinson scored in a 2-0 Second Division win at Burnley.
- 1955: Billy Liddell and Alan Arnell scored two each in a 4-1 Second Division win at Bury.
- 1960: Kevin Lewis, Roger Hunt, Alan A’Court and Dave Hickson scored in a 4-2 Second Division win at Huddersfield Town.
- 1977: Everton held Liverpool to a goalless derby at Anfield in front of 51,668.
- 1994: Steve McManaman, Robbie Fowler and John Barnes scored in a 3-0 Premiership win over Wimbledon at Anfield.
- 1995: McManaman scored twice and Jamie Redknapp added a third in a 3-1 win at Southampton, where Matt Le Tissier was sent off after two bookings.
- 2008: Robbie Keane put Liverpool ahead at Atlético Madrid in the Champions League group stage, but Simão equalised late on for a 1-1 draw.
- 2014: Real Madrid won 3-0 at Anfield in the Champions League, with Cristiano Ronaldo opening the scoring and Karim Benzema adding two, all before half-time.
- 2015: Jürgen Klopp’s first game at Anfield as manager ended 1-1 with Rubin Kazan in the Europa League, Emre Can equalising after Kazan had been reduced to ten men.
- 2016: Sadio Mané and Philippe Coutinho scored in a 2-1 Premier League win over West Bromwich Albion at Anfield.
