Today In History
August 16th
1975 Queens Park Rangers (Division One) Loftus Road 0-2
Att 27,113
It may have been day one of the season but Gerry Francis scored what turned out to be the BBC goal of the season. Liverpool were systematically picked off through the heart of the midfield and Francis finished it well under Ray Clemence in a season where QPR took their title challenge to us to the final day of the season and ended up just minutes from pipping us to the title.
1980 Crystal Palace (Division One) Anfield 3-0
Kenny Dalglish 25' Alan Kennedy 32' Ray Kennedy 83'
Att 42,777
Ive definitely seen Alan Kennedy's goal here, he absolute smashes it into the roof of the Anfield road end.
1986 Everton (Charity Shield ) Wembley 1-1
Ian Rush 87'
Att 88,231
For the first time since his arrival in 1981, Bruce Grobbelaar doesnt feature for Liverpool at some point during a match, Brucie had never missed any action in his first 5 seasons at the club but an injury here allows Mike Hooper to deputise, the 2nd choice role at Liverpool had to be demoralising. Clemence and then Grobbelaar rarely missed any action.
1992 Nottingham Forest (Premier League) City Ground 0-1
Att 20,038
It is a new era, for division 1, read premier league, for ITV or BBC on a sunday, read Sky sports, for John Motson or Brian Moore, read Andy Gray and Martin Tyler, for Elton Welsby read Richard Keys, for passing back to the keeper, read,,,,,, well, just dont pick it up if your in goal.
Sky Sports heralded a new beginning, their ads consisted of slogan like "its a whole new ball game" aligned with the catchy "alive and kicking" from simple minds. Richard keys declared at 2pm on the day "sunday afternoons will never be the same". He wasnt half right. Sky over promised but for 20 years its safe to say they took coverage of the games to new heights. ITV's coverage usually began 5 minutes before kick off if even, Sky's began two hours before this initially.
This was the first game covered by SKY in England's top flight which pitted two teams that traded many a blow over the previous 15 or so years, both teams had high hopes going into the season but both teams seriously disappointed over the course of the season particularly Forest yet it was they who controlled the game. Two minutes in Roy Keane burst through from midfield and his shot was stopped by our debutant keeper David James who reacted brilliantly to then thwart two efforts from Nigel Clough. in the words of Tyler "a triple save, what a way to start a league career with Liverpool"
although James would eventually be beaten by a brilliant effort from Teddy Sheringham he enhanced his reputation as a good up and coming keeper with some stunning saves again from Keane and one effort from Brian Laws. Liverpool offered little in return though I think Dean Saunders hit the bar, Forest would end the season bottom but they were good value for the win. Sky went on from strength to strength, this was also the first league game in which we were sponsored by Carlsberg, an association that last 18 years as shirt sponsor, Carlsberg still sponsor us today although much like their beer, this is a watered down version.
1998 Southampton (Premier League )The Dell 2-1
KarlHeinz Riedle 39' Michael Owen 73'
Att 15,202
Southampton was a tricky enough place to go and when they took the lead they must have fancied that they would take atleast a point but a terrific header from Karl Heinz Riedle and a volley from Michael Owen in the second half gave us a 2-1 win. I dont know if i read it here or saw it on lfctv but for our winner Southampton were a bit pissed that one of their defenders wasnt allowed back on the pitch after leaving through injury just before we scored. Jason Dodd i think it was.
2008 Sunderland (Premier League) Stadium Of Light 1-0
Torres 83'
Att 43,259
Sunderland looked to be containing us and it seemed a frustrating day would end 0-0, although the introduction of Xabi alonso at half time re-affirmed our dominance and 7 minutes from time a blistering shot from Fernando Torres zipped along the surface beyind Craig Gordon in the Sunderland goal for a 1-0 win, it was our 5th consecutive win over them in the league and no goals were conceded in that time. (1-0, 2-0, 2-0, 3-0, 1-0)
2009 Tottenham Hotspur (Premier League) White Hart Lane 1-2
Gerrard (Pen) 56'
Att 35,935
If i was hopeful we could win the premier league that season then i dare say i was good company, i remember being a bit hungover from a 15 hour bender the day before. THe first half though we were poor and Benoit Assou Ekotto rifled in an absolute peach. We kicked into gear in the second half in which Steven Gerrard levelled from the spot after Spurs keeper gomez creamed our new boy Glen Johnson but minutes later an unmarked Sebastien bassong headed home on his debut. Liverpool probably were 2nd best but were denied a blatant penalty moments later when Androy Voronin was absolutely creamed clean through on goal by Ekotto. Just to take the absolute piss, Ekotto handled the ball in the box a few seconds later and also got away with that.