After a five-year wait (which has seemed an eternity for their fans) Liverpool will finally be back in Champions League action this evening as they host Bulgarian minnows Ludogorets.
With the Reds being English football’s most successful side in European football, after 2005’s triumph secured the top prize for a stunning fifth time, they, naturally, have had a few great moments through the years on the very biggest stage.
We won’t delve back into the days of the European Cup, but instead we’ll take a trip through the Champions League records and remind ourselves of some of those magical nights at Anfield and further afield…
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CLICK ON LUIS GARCIA TO REVEAL THE FIVE
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5) ‘The nutter with the putter’
On their way to the 2007 final, Liverpool dispatched of Barcelona via away goals in a 2-2 aggregate draw. The first leg took place at the Camp Nou and was famous for the ‘golf incident’ between John Arne Riise and Craig Bellamy in the build-up… Reports suggested that the duo clashed on a team bonding trip to Portugal, with the Welshman – famous for his short temper – threatening the left-back with a golf club.
So what happens in the game? The two combine to lethal effect to net the vital. away goals for the Reds in Barcelona. Both players scored, and Bellamy celebrated his goal with the famous celebration. Who teed up Riise for the winner? You guessed it!
//www.youtube.com/embed/l-Qg8SmS-pI
4) The ghost goal
There were many moments of inspiration in the 2005 winning season, but perhaps one of the more memorable acts was actually one of controversy. To this day is seems that Jose Mourinho has failed to get over the ‘ghost goal’ scored by Luis Garcia at Anfield in the second leg of the semi-final, and has suggested that the Kop end actually scored it.
The impish Spaniard pounced after Milan Baros had been felled by Petr Cech to poke the ball towards goal, but it appeared that William Gallas has cleared before it crossed the line. Yet referee Michel Lobos gave the goal and the Reds went on to win 1-0 and book their trip to the final.
//www.youtube.com/embed/N9upojC-XBg
3) Liverpool 4-0 Real Madrid
Perhaps Liverpool’s single greatest display in the Champions League came as they battered Real Madrid 4-0 to secure a 5-0 aggregate victory in 2009. The Reds entered the tie with a single goal lead and were expected to endure a tough night on Merseyside against a side boasting big names such as Fabio Cannavaro, Raul and Arjen Robben.
However Rafa Benitez’s men ran amok as Fernando Torres opened the scoring before Steven Gerrard netted a brace. Andrea Dossena then supplied the final effort to absolutely guarantee a quarter-final clash with Chelsea – which they eventually lost.
//www.youtube.com/embed/xUibnwNaEjQ
2) Gerrard’s goal at home to Olympiakos
Mellor, down to Gerrard… ‘ohhhhhh ya beauty…’ Not many football fans like Andy Gray anymore, but that piece of commentary will forever live in the memory. I am of course talking about the famous 86th minute goal scored by Steven Gerrard to haul Liverpool kicking and screaming out of Group A in 2004 and into the last 16.
Due to their head-to-head record, Liverpool had to beat Olypiakos by two clear goals after Rivaldo had put the Greeks ahead on Merseyside, a feat which was looking nearly impossible as Florent Sinama Pongolle’s effort left the scores level with ten minutes to play. Neil Mellor then popped to make it 2-1, and light the fuse for Anfield to explode. Gerrard then blew the roof off minutes later when he latched onto the striker’s knockdown to unleash a half-volley from the edge of the area. Words barely do it justice, so watch the goal below…
//www.youtube.com/embed/Z9-P2UF9JIg
1) That night in Istanbul
Could there be any other winner? The epic 2005 game in Istanbul is widely hailed as the best ever Champions League Final thanks to the Reds’ miraculous comeback. Rafa Benitez’s Liverpool were 3-0 down at half time to AC Milan, who had raced to what they thought was a guaranteed win with two goals from Hernan Crespo and a rare Paolo Maldini effort.
But some tinkering during the interval saw Gerrard, Vladimir Smicer and Xabi Alonso grab three unlikely goals and take the game to penalties. Andriy Shevchenko was tasked with scoring the kick to keep the Rossoneri in the shootout, but his tame effort was parried away from Jerzy ‘Grobbelaar for the night’ Dudek.
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