On one of the key dates in the calendar, the 26 December has brought mixed fortunes down the years. Some of them are fondly remembered, others are best glossed over. So how have we fared?
1985:
An early kick off for Kenny's first one in charge at Manchester City. We pepper the home goal but can't score. City get a late winner instead, and we haven't won in 3 games.
1986:
12 months on; and back at home for another early ko against the other mancs. The result however is the same as in 85.
1987:
Our first win as we win convincingly 3-0 at Oxford. In the all conquering campaign, the only surprise is why we didn't hit another 4 as we did on a regular basis during the year.
1988:
Another win at Derby brightens up a challenging defence of the league. Last year, taking the lead equalled the unbeaten game record. This year, taking the lead won the game.
1989:
The home win over Sheffield Wednesday is revenge for losing at the relegation-threatened side the previous month. The away game was rearranged after the FA initially scheduled it for April 1990. We won the league though, as they were relegated.
1990:
Back on the road again to the plastic pitch at QPR. A 1-1 draw is better than losing there last season.
1991:
We're back there for a replay. Another draw is the result, 0-0 and it's our last game on the date in London.
1993:
Another 0-0 in an early ko at Sheffield United. The drab game passes without incident. They go on to get relegated, while Souness was fired a month later.
1994:
Another year, another early start away to Leicester as we win 2-1 at the relegation-threatened side to complete a very good first half of the season. We were still in the 11,30am ko era and most fans turned up at the appointed time. Two members of the Travelling Kop got their times wrong though, thought it was a 11,30pm ko, and duly arrived at a deserted stadium 12 hours later on a Monday night with nothing to see.
1996:
A relegation and promotion later, Leicester turned up for a return game 2 years later at our place, and came away with a point in a 1-1 draw. They would become a bogey side for us over the coming years.
1997:
Normal service resumed however 12 months later as we beat Leeds 3-1 at home. Owen announced himself earlier in the year and opened the scoring straight after half time, and a win over Leeds is always welcome.
1998:
We headed off to the North-East for the games over the next few years. At Middlesbrough, we claimed our first win there for 5 years in a 3-1 win.
1999:
Off to Newcastle as the century drew to an end. A 2-2 draw was not quite as good as the previous two years, but results there were finally starting to turn, having ended a 10-year winless stretch there just two years before.
2000:
The fixture was another trip to Middlesbrough. This time, we got nothing at all as a goal just before half time saw us lose by it.
2001:
The fourth away trip in a row, this time to Villa. A late goal gave us a 2-1 win. We went on to take the title chase to within 8 days of the end of the season, and are the first side in the EPL era to finish ahead of the mancs and not win the league.
2002:
A rapidly disintegrating title challenge continues following a 1-1 draw at home to Blackburn. Their late equaliser is part of the infamous 11 games without a win from November-January, and destroyed the season.
2003:
The long home sequence finally ended with a win against Bolton 4 months later. When Bolton arrived again later in the year though, they were comfortably seen off 3-1.
2004:
West Brom were a guaranteed 6 points for us every season at the time. No change here either, as we went there and swept them aside 5-0.
2005:
Owen was back at Anfield with Newcastle and took all the media attention with him. We just got on with the job and two early goals saw us win 2-0.
2006:
A large travelling Kop went to Blackburn, and outsang the hosts. Unfortunately the game didn't quite go to plan, and resulted in another 1 goal defeat.
2007:
Embarrassment is narrowly avoided at hapless Derby. A goal deep in injury time sneaked a 2-1 win out of there. We've never played them since.
2008:
Top of the league, Keane scores his sixth and seventh goals for us as Bolton are easily seen off again 3-0. It would be his last goals for us, and the title challenge fell short by 4 points.
2009:
As we remembered Shanks first game in charge 50 years ago, it takes a harsh red card for Wolves and Reina running the full length of the pitch to let the ref know what he thought of it to change the game. A set of quickfire goals follow and we win our last game on the date, 2-0. Reina is barracked by the away fans for the remainder of the game, and at the return game a month later.
2011:
Kenny is back in charge, but Blackburn score early at Anfield, we then set up camp in their half for the rest of the day and proceed to pummel their rearguard. One effort finally goes in, but no more. They get a point and later go down. We get a point and Kenny is asked to move aside at the end of the season.
2012:
A fantastic start at Stoke sees us go in front after a minute. Within 10 minutes however, the tables have turned and we go down to the Stoke three-card trick; the long ball, the corner kick and the big throw in. The only thing we throw in all night is the towel and after our latest ever ko time on the date, the squad then get the flu for the rest of the week.
And so we're back where we started, with a game at Manchester City....
« Last Edit: Dec 26, 2013 08:18:27 am by lfc across the water »
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