On This Day: Suarez scored Reds debut goal; Gary Neville announced retirement

Hi all, welcome to All Football's On This Day! Let's find out what happened today (February 2nd) in football history. If you have more stories and news that happened on this day in history, please post them in the comment area and share them with AFers!

On this day in 2011, Luis Suarez scored his Liverpool debut goal

On 31 January 2011, Suárez signed a five-and-a-half-year deal with Liverpool until 2016, and was the club's most expensive signing (£22.8 million) until the arrival of Andy Carroll (£35 million) a few hours later. Suárez requested the number seven shirt, but at the time did not realise that it had been worn by Liverpool legends such as his new manager Kenny Dalglish and Kevin Keegan. Suárez made his Liverpool debut on 2 February against Stoke City at Anfield in a 2–0 win; he came on as a substitute and scored Liverpool's second goal in front of the Kop in the 79th minute.

On this day in 2011, Man Utd legend Gary Neville announced his retirement

On 2 February 2011, Neville announced his retirement from football after almost 20 years playing at Manchester United. Neville's final professional appearance was against West Bromwich on New Year's Day 2011, a 2–1 victory at The Hawthorns. Neville later revealed that, during half-time of his last game, he sat on the toilet and knew for certain that it would be his last game. By the time of his retirement, Neville had won eight Premier League titles, three FA Cups, two Champions Leagues, an Intercontinental Cup, a FIFA Club World Cup, and two League Cups.

On this day in 2013,  Monreal made his EPL debut for Arsenal

On 31 January 2013, Monreal joined Arsenal on a long-term contract. He was given the number 17 shirt.

He made his Premier League debut against Stoke City two days later in a 1–0 home win.

On this day in 2014, Solskjaer replaced Mackay as Cardiff manager

On 2 January 2014, Solskjær was announced as manager of Cardiff City. He won his first game in charge after coming from behind to beat Newcastle United 2–1 in the third round of the FA Cup two days later. Cardiff then struggled for points and after defeats against Swansea, Hull City, Crystal Palace and Sunderland, Cardiff were relegated back to the Championship following a 3–0 away defeat to Newcastle. At the end of the season, Cardiff finished 20th, collecting only 7 wins and 30 points. He departed on 18 September 2014 following Cardiff City's poor run of form at the start of the Championship campaign.

On this day in 1996, Spurs starlet Winks was born

Winks is a product of the Tottenham Hotspur youth system. On 27 August 2016, he made his Premier League debut, replacing Eriksen in the last minute of the match in a 1–1 draw at home to Liverpool.

He made his first start of the season in the game against Liverpool that Spurs lost 2–1. In the away match against Fulham in January 2019, he scored a last minute winning goal to win 2–1, his first goal for the club since 2016.

Pochettino has said "When we talk about midfielders – because you like to use Spanish midfielders like Xavi and Iniesta – Winks is like this type of player"

On this day in 2009, Given joined Man City

On 1 February 2009, Given transferred to Manchester City for £6 million on a four-and-a-half-year contract.

Regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League and the world in his prime, Given was considered to be an agile, athletic, resolute and courageous goalkeeper, with excellent reflexes, anticipation, shot stopping abilities, and a good command of his area, in spite of not being particularly tall, although at times he had been accused in the media of not being particularly effective at dealing with crosses.

On this day in 2007, Policeman Raciti died from injuries after the Sicilian derby

The situation came to a head when Palermo visited Catania. A fierce rivalry under normal circumstances, tensions were exacerbated by the fact that both teams were challenging for European qualification spots. In addition, the game was played at night to accommodate the television schedule, allowing the aggression to build up over the day.

Fighting broke out in the stands after Palermo took the lead, prompting the police to use tear gas, which stopped the game for 30 minutes. Catania leveled shortly after play resumed, but Palermo scored again for the win.

Afterward, a group of ultras turned on the police, attacking them with fireworks, metal pipes, and even a broken sink taken from one of the stadium's restrooms. Raciti, who suffered blunt force trauma to his liver, was rushed to the hospital, but died later that day.