Liverpool’s first competitive match after Hillsborough took them to Goodison Park on 3 May 1989. Eighteen days after the disaster, the two clubs came on to the field together, led by their chairmen, and a crowd of 45,994 observed a minute’s silence.
A Liverpool banner thanked their neighbours: “The Kop thanks you all. We never walked alone.”
The players had already returned to the pitch in a memorial friendly at Celtic Park on 30 April. Now they resumed the First Division programme, with Kenny Dalglish selecting the same starting eleven as at Hillsborough.
Everton began positively. Trevor Steven supplied Graeme Sharp, who made room to shoot and brought a save from Bruce Grobbelaar. Liverpool’s attacks were repeatedly interrupted by offside decisions, though John Barnes troubled Neil McDonald on the left.
The visitors applied greater pressure after half-time. Ronnie Whelan shot narrowly wide before Neville Southall made the double save that kept the game goalless: he stopped Peter Beardsley’s drive, then recovered to deny John Aldridge from the rebound.
Ian Rush replaced Aldridge in the 68th minute and soon created another opening for Beardsley, whose effort went astray. Neither side scored.
The draw left Liverpool second, five points behind Arsenal with one game in hand. Five league fixtures remained, alongside the rearranged FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest.