LIVERPOOL 2 Newcastle 0 – September 20, 2006

DIRK Kuyt scored his debut goal for Liverpool just prior to the hour mark, but the game was more memorable for the second strike of the Reds’ 2-0 win over Newcastle.

Inside the last quarter of an hour, Xabi Alonso won the ball back inside his own half and looked to set himself, with the nearest black and white shirts backing off.

After taking time to get the right touch, he smashed the ball towards goal from 70 yards away, sending Steve Harper scrambling backwards, but the ‘keeper lost his footing and the shot sailed into the back of the net. An unbelievable goal, but something that wasn’t beyond The Spaniard — having produced something similar against Luton in January of the same year.

Fulham 1 LIVERPOOL 3 – September 22, 1993

AN 18-year-old Robbie Fowler made his debut for Liverpool in a League Cup second round tie against Fulham.

The Toxteth-born youngster lined up alongside captain Ian Rush, who scored after 19 minutes, and it wasn’t long before Fowler himself was making a good first impression.

With the score at 2-1 Don Hutchinson swung a long ball towards the back post and Fowler arrived to smash past the Fulham stopper, and put the game to bed. He went on to make 369 appearances and score 183 goals, becoming known as “God” among Liverpool fans. Rightly so.

LIVERPOOL 10 Fulham 0 – September 23, 1986

ANOTHER League Cup second round tie but an even more emphatic result — and that still doesn’t do it justice. Kenny Dalglish’s swashbuckling Reds put 10 goals past Fulham in an absolute exhibition for the few — 13,498 — in attendance at Anfield.

First half goals from Ian Rush, John Wark, Ronnie Whelan and Steve McMahon set Liverpool on their way, at 4-0. After the break, Wark added his second, McMahon added three more goals to his own tally, Ian Rush doubled his numbers and Steve Nicol rounded it off for 10.

McMahon actually missed a penalty, despite scoring four in the game. Couldn’t make it up.

LIVERPOOL 1 Derby County 0 – September 24, 1977

NOT a game remembered for its scoreline, or anything of that nature, but a landmark in the history of Liverpool FC, nonetheless, as legend Alan Hansen made his debut.

Hansen made an instant impression on the Anfield crowd, the ECHO summed up his performance, saying: “Hansen was timing his headed clearances like a young edition of Ron Yeats. He had certainly been a major success.”

The Scot would make 620 appearances for the Reds, all told, and scored 14 goals, though it was his contributions defensively that make him one of the club’s all time greats.

LIVERPOOL 5 Everton 0 – September 25, 1965

BILL Shankly’s Reds thrashed rivals Everton by five goals to nil, in front of a 53,000-plus crowd at Anfield.

Tommy Smith scored the only goal of the first half, but it was the second half which was much more fruitful for the home side.

Roger Hunt scored twice, as Willie Stevenson and Ian St John were among the goals after the restart. The Blues were completely second best, left fighting merely for pride — which they, arguably, didn’t retain much of after such a result.

LIVERPOOL 2 Swansea Town 0 – September 25, 1968

THEY were genuinely called Swansea Town, mad that. Anyway, it’s another game not famous for its scoreline — though, if you’re interested, second half goals from Chris Lawler and Roger Hunt won the game.

It is in fact famous as it was the debut of legendary goalkeeper Ray Clemence. Clem had recently turned 20 years old before being thrown between the sticks in the League Cup third round clash.

He would go on to make 665 appearances for the Reds, and he boasts an impressive honours list from his time at the club — five league titles, one FA Cup, one League Cup, three European Cups and two UEFA Cups. A true great.

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