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On This Day - Despair In Japan

Liverpool were left to rue the cost of some poor decisions as Rafael Benitez's side lost 1-0 to Sao Paulo in the final of the FIFA Club World Championship in Japan on this day in 2005.

The Reds hit the bar twice, had three goals disallowed and saw a strong penalty appeal waved away as they lost the most one-sided final we can remember.

This was Liverpool's third defeat in Japan having lost to South American opponents in 1981 and 1984.

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On This Day - Boy Wonder Sinks City

Michael Owen was the hero as Liverpool edged past Coventry City at Anfield back in 1997.

The teen sensation took just 14 minutes to open the scoring when he was on hand to stab home a fine run and pass from Steve McManaman.

However, the expected avalanche of goals did not materialise and the Reds were left to hang on for a 1-0 win.

It was a much-needed three points for Roy Evans' men, who had gone into the game looking to avoid three home league games on the bounce for the first time in 34 years.

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McMahon Bids A Fond Farewell

Steve McMahon played his last game for Liverpool against his future employers on this day in 1991.

The tough-tackling midfielder featured for 58 minutes of the 2-2 home draw with Manchester City before being replaced by Mark Walters.

It brought the curtain down on a superb six-year spell at Anfield, in which time he made 277 appearances and scored 50 goals.

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Terrific Torres Torments Pompey

Liverpool made the perfect start to their festive programme with a well deserved 4-1 victory over Portsmouth at Anfield on this day last year.

The game was all but over as a contest inside the first quarter of an hour as the Reds raced into a two goal lead thanks to a Yossi Benayoun volley and an own goal from Sylvain Distin, and although Pompey reduced the deficit shortly after the break, top scorer Fernando Torres struck a brilliant double to end hopes of an unlikely comeback to seal the points with his thirteenth and fourteenth goals of the campaign.

The victory saw Rafa and co return to winning ways after two straight defeats in the league and brought to an end Pompey's six match winning streak on the road.

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God's Triple Delight

Robbie Fowler hit a hat-trick against Arsenal at Anfield for the second season in succession as Liverpool beat the Gunners 3-1, on this day in 1995.

The London outfit simply couldn't cope with the Fowler and Stan Collymore strike partnership as Roy Evans men produced a superb display.

The victory completed a superb home double for the Reds after beating Manchester United 2-0 a week earlier, thanks to two goals from who else but Fowler.

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Reds Too Strong For Chelsea

Geoff Strong scored the winning goal as Liverpool enjoyed a great start to their Christmas period with a 2-1 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, on this day in 1966.

Strong was a popular player with a knack of scoring vital goals at crucial times.

An own goal from Chelsea's Marvin Hinton gave the Reds the lead before Strong made it 2-0, and although the Londoners pulled a goal back Liverpool deserved the win.

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Liddell Goes Goal Crazy

Billy Liddell scored four goals as Liverpool made it a Christmas Day to remember as we beat Ipswich Town 6-2 at Anfield, on this day in 1954.

One of the great Scot's goals was a penalty and Louis Bimpson and John Evans also found the net.

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Reds Notch Another Record

Liverpool equalled a club record of eight straight league wins with a convincing 2-0 defeat of Newcastle United on this day in 2006.

First half goals from Steven Gerrard and Peter Crouch did the damage as Rafael Benitez's men ensured Michael Owen's first match at Anfield as an ex-Red ended in disappointment.

It also saw us notch up our 250th win in the Premier League and an eighth consecutive clean sheet - our best run of shut-outs since 1922-23.

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King Kenny's Treble Joy

Kenny Dalglish grabbed a magnificent hat-trick to inspire us to a crushing win over Manchester City on this day in 1982.

The legendary Scot opened the scoring after 18 minutes and added a second six minutes later, with a Phil Neal effort sandwiched in between.

It gave Liverpool a commanding lead at the interval and, with victory all-but in the bag, Rush added a fourth before Dalglish hit his hat-trick goal four minutes from time to put the seal on a 5-2 home win.

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Reds Make Manchester Bow

Liverpool played their first ever game at the City of Manchester Stadium on this day in 2005.

Goals from Vladimir Smicer - our 250th against Manchester City - and Didi Hamann had looked like making it a winning start too, after Nicolas Anelka had put the home side in front.

However, with only seconds remaining on the clock ex-red Robbie Fowler popped up to snatch a 2-2 draw for the hosts.