anfield encounters

Reds v Spurs

Liverpool FC 7-0 Tottenham Hotspur FC, 02/09/78

“That must be the best goal Anfield has ever seen,” said manager Bob Paisley after Terry McDermott completed a flowing end-to-end move to head home Stevie Heighway's cross to make it 7-0. To this day many older Reds regard it as Anfield's greatest ever goal and it came against a Tottenham Hotspur FC side featuring Argentina's 1978 World Cup winners Ricky Villa and Ossie Ardiles. A Kenny Dalglish double and Ray Kennedy strike had the Reds 3-0 up at half-time and a David Johnson double and a twice-taken Phil Neal penalty made it 6-0, before Terry Mac put the icing on the cake.

Liverpool FC 3-1 Tottenham Hotspur FC, 15/05/82

Legendary Liverpool FC goalkeeper Ray Clemence made his Anfield return with Tottenham Hotspur FC, receiving a rapturous reception from the Kop, but his former team-mates were in no mood for being charitable as the Reds had to beat Spurs to win the league. Glenn Hoddle put the visitors ahead before half-time with a rasping strike from 35 yards out, but Mark Lawrenson's 51st minute header from a corner levelled matters. Four minutes later Kenny Dalglish beat Clemence to give the Redmen the lead, and when Ronnie Whelan hammered home a late third Liverpool FC were champions of England for a thirteenth time.

Liverpool FC 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur FC, 23/04/88

Kenny Dalglish's 'better than the Brazilians' class of 1987/88 ran away with the First Division title, losing just twice all season. They went into their final five league games needing just one win to clinch the championship and the first of those games was against Tottenham Hotspur FC at Anfield. With PFA Players' Player of the Year and Football Writers' Footballer of the Year John Barnes missing through injury the Reds weren't at their fluent best – the Kop amused themselves with chants of 'Walshy get yer hair cut' at ex-LFC striker Paul Walsh on his Anfield return – but a Peter Beardsley goal was enough to get the title party underway.

Liverpool FC 6-2 Tottenham Hotspur FC, 08/05/93

Liverpool FC's first Premier League season ended with an eight-goal Anfield extravaganza although manager Graeme Souness wasn't there to see it, opting to go on a 'scouting mission' to Coventry City FC v Leeds United FC instead amidst speculation about his job. He missed a cracker. Ian Rush opened the scoring with his 300th goal for LFC, before John Barnes netted on the stroke of the half-time interval and Teddy Sheringham pulled one back straight after it. Stuart Nethercott deflected a Steve Harkness shot into his own goal to make it 3-1, and although Steve Sedgley netted another for Spurs, three goals in the last five minutes from Mark Walters (pen), Rush and Barnes made it 6-2 while Bruce Grobbelaar saved a late Sheringham penalty.

Liverpool FC 4-0 Tottenham Hotspur FC, 08/11/97

The Anfield Road end was undergoing redevelopment when Tottenham Hotspur FC visited Merseyside in November 1997 – the upper tier had been built, but was yet to be fitted out with seats – which meant the visiting fans had the whole of the lower tier. It made for something of a cup-tie atmosphere in an even first half, but Roy Evans' Reds ran away with it after the break. Steve McManaman tapped home a 47th minute opener, after Spurs keeper Ian Walker could only parry Jamie Redknapp's shot, and Oyvind Leonhardsen slotted home a second moments later. Redknapp fired in a third from 20 yards before a 17-year-old striker by the name of Michael Owen came off the bench to score his first senior goal at Anfield.  

Liverpool FC 3-1 Tottenham Hotspur FC, 24/05/09

The Reds had challenged for the Premier League title all season, only losing twice, but their race was run when Harry Redknapp brought Tottenham Hotspur FC to Anfield on the final day of the season. Even so, it was a special afternoon as it was Sami Hyypia's farewell game after a decade at the Club. Fernando Torres, an Alan Hutton own goal and Yossi Benayoun got the goals with Robbie Keane, who had spent the first half of the season as a Liverpool FC player, replying for Spurs, but the loudest cheer was reserved for big Sami when he was brought on with six minutes to play. He broke down in tears at full-time as 'Oh Sami, Sami' rang around Anfield after his 464th appearance in a red shirt, with only a late Heurelho Gomes save denying him a fairytale goalscoring finale.

Liverpool FC 4-0 Tottenham Hotspur FC, 30/03/14

Brendan Rodgers' Liverpool FC were leading the Premier League table after seven wins on the spin and had so much momentum that they simply blew Tim Sherwood's Tottenham Hotspur FC away. Only 100 seconds had passed when Younes Kaboul turned Glen Johnson's cross into his own net and with Anfield reverberating to 'We Are Liverpool, tra la la la la', the visitors couldn't cope. Luis Suarez notched the second, following an error by Michael Dawson, and Philippe Coutinho drove home a low third. Jordan Henderson completed the rout, with a free-kick that went through a crowd of players, 50 years to the day since Ian St John had put LFC top of the league with a couple of goals against Spurs.

Liverpool FC 3-2 Tottenham Hotspur FC, 10/02/15

Both Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC were in the hunt for UEFA Champions League qualification when Mauricio Pochettino brought his side to Anfield for the first time as Spurs manager, and an entertaining encounter ensued. Lazar Markovic opened the scoring after quarter-of-an-hour with a low shot, only for Harry Kane to equalise nine minutes later. Daniel Sturridge, who'd earlier hit the post with a cheeky back-heel, was brought down in the penalty area and Steven Gerrard stepped up to make it 2-1 with his 183rd LFC goal, but Moussa Dembele got a 61st minute leveller. A 2-2 draw seemed likely, but when Adam Lallana fired a low 83rd minute cross into the six yard box, Mario Balotelli pounced to prod in the winner.

Liverpool FC 2-0 Tottenham Hotspur FC, 11/02/17

Jürgen Klopp's LFC revolution was gathering pace when Tottenham Hotspur FC visited L4 in February 2017. A win would put the Reds a point behind second-placed Spurs – and above both Manchester clubs – but 48 hours earlier captain Jordan Henderson had called a players-only meeting in response to a defeat at Hull City FC. “There is no harm to remind each other of what we need to do and what we want from each other,” revealed Adam Lallana. It proved to be galvanizing. Two first-half Sadio Mane goals in three minutes – the first from Gini Wijnaldum's pass and the second after Hugo Lloris had denied Lallana and Bobby Firmino – saw off Spurs and the Reds went on to qualify for the UEFA Champions League.

Liverpool FC 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur FC, 31/03/19

With seven games of the season to play and Liverpool FC going head-to-head with Manchester City FC in a relentless Premier League title race, this was a must-win game for the Redmen. It proved to be a nervy afternoon with a dramatic finish. Andy Robertson was in fine form, creating the opening goal with a well-measured cross for Bobby Firmino to head in and denying Christian Eriksen an equaliser with a brilliant block. Lucas Moura did level matters in the 70th minute following a quickly-taken free-kick, but the Reds never gave up and Mo Salah forced a stoppage-time winner when Hugo Lloris could only palm his header against Toby Alderweireld's shin and the ball trickled into the net.

Liverpool FC 2-0 Tottenham Hotspur FC, 01/06/19

That was the last time Liverpool FC met Tottenham Hotspur FC at Anfield, but there has been another game played since in Madrid that ended with the Reds as champions of Europe. Fancy reliving it again, while you're here? Thought so...