John Barnes was born in Kingston, Jamaica, on this day in 1963, and went on to become one of the greatest players ever to wear the Liverpool shirt.
Roger Hunt broke the club’s scoring record in an 8-0 Fairs Cup thrashing of TSV 1860 München in 1967, Kenny Dalglish scored twice in a Merseyside derby win in 1981, and Fernando Torres floored Premier League leaders Chelsea with a first-half brace in 2010.
1963: Happy birthday, Digger
Born on this day in 1963 at Up Park in Kingston, Barnes joined Liverpool from Watford for £900,000 in June 1987 after months of expectation on the Kop.
Over the next decade he helped the Reds to two League titles and two FA Cups, was voted Football Writers’ Player of the Year twice and PFA Players’ Player of the Year once, and left for Newcastle United on a free transfer in August 1997 with 407 appearances and 108 goals to his name.
The winger who became a midfielder remains one of Anfield’s true greats.
1967: Eight past Munich, a record for Hunt
It was 1967, and Bill Shankly’s side dismantled the West German side TSV 1860 München 8-0 at Anfield in the Fairs Cup second round.
Ian St John and Tony Hateley struck inside the first ten minutes, Tommy Smith converted a penalty before the break, and after half-time Roger Hunt, Peter Thompson, Hunt again and Ian Callaghan twice completed the rout in front of 44,812.
Hunt’s brace took him to 242 goals for the club, surpassing Gordon Hodgson’s record. He would finish with 285 before Ian Rush eventually took the crown. Liverpool lost the second leg 2-1 in Munich but went through 9-2 on aggregate.
1981: Dalglish turns the derby
Forty-five years ago today, in 1981, Bob Paisley’s Liverpool beat Howard Kendall’s Everton 3-1 at Anfield after a goalless first half.
Dalglish broke the deadlock on 47 minutes and added a second five minutes later from Terry McDermott’s pass. Eamonn O’Keefe was sent off for a foul on Ronnie Whelan, Ian Rush made it three on 75 minutes and Mick Ferguson pulled one back late on in front of 48,861.
2010: Torres floors the leaders
It was 2010, and Roy Hodgson’s Liverpool beat Carlo Ancelotti’s Premier League leaders Chelsea 2-0 at Anfield thanks to two moments of brilliance from Fernando Torres.
Dirk Kuyt released Torres to lift the ball over Petr Cech on 11 minutes, and a minute before the break Raul Meireles found the Spaniard, who curled a stunning finish past the Chelsea keeper. Pepe Reina then stood firm after the interval as Chelsea, with Didier Drogba introduced from the bench, finally stirred.
Born on this day
Maurice Parry, born in Trefonen, Shropshire, in 1877, signed from Brighton United in 1900 and made 221 appearances for Liverpool, helping them to two First Division titles before moving to Partick Thistle in 1909.
Daniel Ayala, born in Seville in 1990, arrived from Sevilla as a teenager, made five first-team appearances and later played for Norwich City and Middlesbrough.
Left-back Milos Kerkez, born in Vrbas, Serbia, in 2003, signed from Bournemouth in 2025 and has become a regular in the Liverpool defence.
Also on this day
- 1896: Liverpool beat Sunderland 3-0 at Anfield.
- 1903: John Hughes scored in a 2-1 win over Notts County at Anfield.
- 1908: Bristol City won 1-0 against Liverpool.
- 1914: Newcastle United and Liverpool shared a goalless draw at St James’ Park.
- 1931: Harold Barton scored twice, with Gordon Gunson and Gordon Hodgson also on target, in a 4-2 win over Blackburn Rovers at Anfield.
- 1936: Preston North End won 3-1 against Liverpool, Berry Nieuwenhuys scoring for the Reds.
- 1953: Louis Bimpson and Kevin Baron scored in a 2-2 draw with Manchester City at Anfield.
- 1959: Dave Hickson scored both goals on his Liverpool debut in a 2-1 Second Division win over Aston Villa at Anfield, the day after crossing Stanley Park from Everton.
- 1964: Geoff Strong made his debut after signing from Arsenal, as Liverpool drew 1-1 at Fulham, Ian Callaghan scoring.
- 1970: Liverpool and Derby County shared a goalless draw at the Baseball Ground.
- 1972: Emlyn Hughes scored twice and Phil Boersma once in a 3-1 win at AEK Athens in the UEFA Cup.
- 1984: Benfica won 1-0 in Lisbon, but Liverpool went through 3-2 on aggregate in the European Cup; Kenny Dalglish was sent off.
- 1992: Ronny Rosenthal scored twice, with Steve McManaman and Ian Rush also on target, in a 4-1 win over Middlesbrough at Anfield. Rush’s goal was his 200th league goal for Liverpool.
- 1998: Jamie Redknapp scored a late consolation as Derby County won 2-1 at Anfield.
- 2021: Jordan Henderson made his 300th Premier League appearance as West Ham United won 3-2 at the London Stadium, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Divock Origi on target for the Reds.
