FeatureKop 10: Liverpool's Premier League wins with 10 men

On March 25, 2006, the Reds beat Everton 3-1 despite captain Steven Gerrard being sent off inside the opening 20 minutes.

Here, we’ve taken a look back at 10 of Liverpool’s finest Premier League victories that were achieved even though they had been reduced to 10 men…

Newcastle United 1-2 Liverpool (August 2023)

The most recent example of the Reds overcoming a numerical disadvantage occurred earlier this season at Newcastle United.

With the hosts having just gone 1-0 up, the decibel level inside a raucous St. James’ Park was ratcheted up further when, with only 28 minutes played, Virgil van Dijk was shown a straight red card for a foul on Alexander Isak.

With Liverpool’s backs firmly against the wall, Alisson Becker made a miraculous save to deny Miguel Almiron as Newcastle pushed to capitalise before half-time.

Jürgen Klopp’s team survived, however, and had worked their way back into the contest by the time Darwin Nunez was introduced from the bench with 13 minutes remaining.

What followed was almost unthinkable as Nunez conjured a pair of top-drawer finishes, the second of which arrived in the third minute of stoppage time, to snatch a remarkable win.

Liverpool 3-1 AFC Bournemouth (August 2023)

Just eight days prior to that win on Tyneside, Liverpool had also made light of adversity while beating AFC Bournemouth 3-1 at Anfield.

Again, the Reds finished the match with 10 men and again they had to come from behind to claim all three points – albeit in less dramatic fashion on this occasion.

Goals by Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah had overturned an early deficit inflicted by Antoine Semenyo’s third-minute strike, but Alexis Mac Allister was then dismissed shortly before the hour mark.

However, perhaps fuelled by a sense of injustice – indeed, Mac Allister’s red card was later rescinded – Klopp’s side pressed their foot on the accelerator and quickly added a third goal through Diogo Jota.

Liverpool 2-1 Brighton & Hove Albion (November 2019)

Liverpool’s inexorable march towards a long-awaited Premier League title in 2019-20 appeared to be progressing serenely when Brighton & Hove Albion visited in late November.

A quickfire headed brace from Van Dijk put the Reds 2-0 up by the midway point of the first half but a tense conclusion to what had seemed to be a routine afternoon was to come.

Alisson was sent off for handling outside his penalty area with 13 minutes left and, from the resulting free-kick, Brighton’s Lewis Dunk caught out substitute goalkeeper Adrian.

With nerves frayed around Anfield, Brighton sought an unexpected equaliser but Liverpool stood firm to move 11 points clear at the top of the table.

Crystal Palace 1-2 Liverpool (March 2016)

Liverpool fell behind at Selhurst Park in the early stages of the second half and their hopes of finding a route back into the match were dealt a huge blow just after the hour mark.

James Milner was dismissed for a second bookable offence and the balance of power in the game was tipped further in Crystal Palace’s favour.

However, Klopp’s team reacted strongly and perhaps earned the fortune involved in their equaliser, when Palace goalkeeper Alex McCarthy gifted the ball to Roberto Firmino.

Eighteen minutes remained to find a winner and the Reds did so deep into stoppage time, when Christian Benteke won and converted a penalty.

Blackburn Rovers 2-3 Liverpool (April 2012)

Two early goals from Maxi Rodriguez looked to have set Liverpool en route to a comfortable win over Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.

But, when Reds goalkeeper Alexander Doni – in for suspended first-choice stopper Pepe Reina – conceded a penalty and was subsequently sent off midway through the first half, the momentum shifted.

Sub ’keeper Brad Jones saved Yakubu’s spot-kick but the Nigerian striker would haul Rovers level by the hour with a header and a second penalty of the evening, which he converted.

But Kenny Dalglish’s Liverpool had the final say in stoppage time when Andy Carroll headed home Daniel Agger’s knockdown.

Liverpool 3-1 Everton (March 2006)

When Gerrard picked up two bookings in quick succession and was therefore dismissed in the 18th minute, the door appeared ajar for Everton to record an away derby win over the reigning European champions.

It was goalless at that stage but the Blues failed to take advantage of the Reds being shorn of their inspirational captain so early on.

Rafael Benitez’s team edged ahead on the stroke of half-time when Phil Neville inadvertently glanced Xabi Alonso’s corner beyond his goalkeeper Richard Wright, and a fabulous chipped finish from Luis Garcia extended their lead soon after the restart.

Tim Cahill pulled one back for Everton but the visitors’ pursuit of a leveller was undermined when Andy van der Meyde was sent off.

And Harry Kewell would arrow home Liverpool’s third late on to put the seal on a sweet derby-day victory.

Liverpool 2-1 Everton (March 2005)

Almost a year to the day earlier, Gerrard’s Anfield derby had got off to a more productive start when the skipper steered in from a 27th-minute free-kick to give Liverpool the lead.

Garcia quickly doubled that advantage but a spate of first-half injuries would threaten the Reds’ objective of closing the gap on fourth-placed Everton in their pursuit of Champions League qualification.

Benitez was forced use all three of his substitutions before the break as Stephen Warnock, Dietmar Hamann and Fernando Morientes had to be replaced, while Garcia played on despite a fitness issue of his own.

Milan Baros was sent off in the 72nd minute and an anxious ending ensued when Cahill halved the Blues’ deficit 10 minutes later, but the Reds held on to claim the three points.

Liverpool 1-0 Sunderland (November 2001)

Liverpool were the early Premiership pacesetters in the 2001-02 season and this narrow win over Sunderland maintained their position at the summit of the table.

Emile Heskey’s fine header put the Reds ahead at Anfield but a red card for Hamann just before half-time offered the visitors hope of mounting a comeback.

But the hosts, led by caretaker boss Phil Thompson, were not to be denied.

Everton 2-3 Liverpool (April 2001)

Gary McAllister, Goodison Park, stoppage time: words that are sure to bring a smile to any Red’s face.

Even by Merseyside derby standards, the 164th edition of this rivalry was a frantic affair that featured five goals, two penalties, 12 cautions and one red card, shown to Igor Biscan for his second bookable offence in the 78th minute.

Liverpool led 2-1 at the time of Biscan’s dismissal, with goals from Heskey and Markus Babbel having sandwiched Duncan Ferguson’s equaliser before Robbie Fowler hit the post from the spot.

However, Everton were quickly back on level terms as David Unsworth scored a penalty to make it 2-2. Sami Hyypia was then thwarted by Paul Gerrard and it appeared that the spoils were to be shared.

And when Liverpool were awarded a free-kick 44 yards from goal in the 94th minute, Blues ’keeper Gerrard positioned himself for the cross all-but one person inside Goodison anticipated.

That one person, though, was McAllister, who stepped up and arced a quite brilliant set-piece into the bottom corner.

Liverpool 2-0 Manchester United (March 2001)

It’s a match perhaps best remembered for the textbook Gerrard piledriver that put Liverpool a goal to the good against Manchester United at Anfield.

United were well clear at the top of the table but the Reds were fighting on four fronts and this was a vital win in their pursuit of Champions League qualification. After Gerrard had blasted the hosts into the lead, Fowler finished unerringly to make it 2-0 before half-time.

Inevitably, United responded after the break and Dwight Yorke saw a goal ruled out for offside before Liverpool’s task of repelling the visitors was complicated further when Danny Murphy saw red in the 68th minute.

But Gerard Houllier’s Reds did not falter and, having already won at Old Trafford that season, recorded a league double over Alex Ferguson’s champions-elect.