On this day in Liverpool history - 8th April

On this day in Liverpool history - 8th April

Thursday, 8th April 2010

Through to another semi
2008 - We beat Arsenal 4-2 in the second leg of our Champions League Quarter-final. Abou Diaby put the visitors ahead before Sami Hyypiä and Fernando Torres gave us the lead. Emmanuel Adebayor looked to have sent the Gunners through on the away goals rule after a storming run from Theo Walcott, but moments later Ryan Babel was brought down in the box and Steven Gerrard converted the spot-kick to score in his fourth consecutive home game in Europe, a new club record. Babel then added a fourth in stoppage time.

In Bob's honour
1999 - The Paisley Gateway was officially opened at Anfield, three years after Bob's death, to commemorate his service to the club. As Manager, he won an incredible nineteen trophies in nine seasons. He had also played 277 times in our first team, netting twelve times.

Semi-final joy and despair
2001 - We played in our 21st FA Cup Semi-final, beating Wycombe Wanderers 2-1 at Villa Park, with Emile Heskey and Robbie Fowler scoring after the underdogs had kept us out for nearly eighty minutes.
1981 - We were held to a goalless draw at home by Bayern München in the European Cup with Kurt Niedermayer rattling the crossbar, but we went through on away goals after the return in Germany. This game marked Steve Heighway's 475th and final reds game, as he came on at half time to replace Terry McDermott.

1990 - We lost 4-3 to Crystal Palace in the FA Cup, also at Villa Park. This is the furthest we have ever gone in the competition as holders. We went in ahead at half time, thanks to an Ian Rush strike, and in total control. However, the Eagles came out fighting in the second half. The game ended 3-3 after ninety minutes, with Steve McMahon also on target, and John Barnes scoring from spot. Recent Charlton Athletic manager Alan Pardew grabbed the dramatic winner in extra time.

Quadruple trebles
We have three times bagged hat-tricks on this day over the years.
1905 - Jack Parkinson netted a treble in our 8-1 thrashing of Burslem Port Vale at Anfield, with Robert Robinson and Jack Cox adding braces and Sam Raybould also scoring. Defender George Lathom made the first of his nineteen reds appearances in this game.
1955 - Ex-red Cyril Done bagged four in our 4-3 defeat at Port Vale, as they were by then known. Eric Anderson, Johnny Evans and Billy Liddell netted our goals.

1933 - Gordon Hodgson grabbed three in a 4-3 defeat of Blackpool, with Dave Wright also on target.
1899 - John Walker struck three times as we beat Derby County 4-0 at Anfield, with Alex Raisbeck also on target.

We have also beaten the Rams twice more in First Division matches at Anfield on this day.
1980 - Colin Irwin and David Johnson's goals were added to by a Keith Osgood own goal as we won 3-0
1939 - Phil Taylor bagged a brace in a 2-1 victory.

For Gerry
1970 - A testimonial match was staged for Gerry Byrne with the reds drawing 8-8 with an All Star XI at Anfield. Bobby Graham, Chris Lawler and Ian St. John each netted braces, with Roger Hunt and Willie Stevenson also on target. Steve Heighway played at Anfield for the first time for the celebrity side, and was so unfamiliar with his surroundings that he asked a team-mate which end was the Kop!

Sammy starts off with a bang
1978 - Sammy Lee scored on his reds debut as a substitute for David Johnson, in our 3-2 home League win over Leicester City. Tommy Smith nabbed both our other goals.

Beaten by the Blues
2009 - We lost 3-1 at home to Chelsea in the first leg of our Champions League quarter-final after Fernando Torres had handed us the lead, to suffer our only defeat of the season at Anfield. Branislav Ivanović twice headed in when unmarked at set pieces, with Didier Drogba rounding off the scoring late on to equal our worst ever home defeat in European competition.

Three off the mark
1912 - Outside-left Henry Lester and James Scott both debuted as we won 2-0 at Bradford City in a top-flight fixture, with forward John Speakman grabbing his first reds goal. Samual Gilligan also got on the scoresheet.

Red beginnings and ends
1944 - Outside-left Hugh McQueen died in Norwich. He had made 61 reds appearances after signing from Leith Athletic in October 1892, bagging sixteen goals and helping us to the Lancashire League and Second Division titles in successive seasons.
1889 - Inside-forward Arthur Metcalf was born in Sunderland. He signed from Newcastle United for £150 in May 1912 and netted 28 times in 63 reds games, playing in every position on the park.

Mixed fortunes against Oldham
We have faced Oldham Athletic three times on this day in history.
1911 - Sam Gilligan netted the only goal of the game at Anfield.
1916 - Dave Watson struck our consolation as we lost a Wartime League match 2-1 at Boundary Park.
1922 - We were thumped 4-0 away from home in another First Division meeting, with left-half Tom Bromilow away on international duty. Harry ‘Smiler' Chambers played his hundredth League game for the reds.

Beating the Owls
1989 - We thumped Sheffield Wednesday 5-1 in a top-flight encounter at Anfield with Peter Beardsley on target twice, and Steve McMahon, Ray Houghton and John Barnes also netting.
1896 - We also beat the Owls, with Clarke netting the only goal of our friendly against The Wednesday at Anfield.

Disappointment at St. James' Park
We have twice visited Newcastle United on this day in history.
1950 - Willie Fagan grabbed our consolation as we were thumped 5-1 in a top-flight match
1893 - Our friendly ended goalless.

Derby stalemate
1963 - Our top-flight trip to Goodison Park ended without score.

International beginnings
1992 - Myllykosken Pallo-47's Sami Hyypiä won his first Under-21's cap for Finland as they drew 1-1 in a friendly in Poland.
2007 - Future reds reserves forward Nikola Sarić won his only official cap for Denmark Under-16's, netting in their 3-2 defeat by Georgia in Portugal.

International endings
1970 - Emlyn Hughes won his eighth and final England Under-23's cap as they thumped Bulgaria 4-1 in Plymouth.
1906 - James Hughes made his third and final senior international appearance for Wales as they drew 2-2 with Ireland in the British International Championships in Belfast.
1900 - England's Raby Howell and Scotland's Hugh Morgan both won their second and final caps, and only ones as reds players, as the Scots won 2-1 in Villa Park in the same tournament. Future reds keeper Ned Doig was in the Scotland goal.
1999 - Future red Gary McAllister announced his international retirement after a total of 57 caps.

Razor sheathed
2001 - Neil Ruddock was released by Crystal Palace after 28 games for them. He joined Roy Evans at Swindon Town four months later.