From crazy European nights to devastating Premier League losses, Kopites have seen it all around the globe. Whether you’re an avid supporter or a neutral, there’s no denying that Liverpool have an affinity for iconic moments on the pitch, those 90 minutes of sheer brilliance to turn the game around its head. Here we take a look at the top 10 most memorable matches of Liverpool that still are an absolute thrill to watch.
#10: Liverpool vs Manchester City, Champions League Quarter Final 2018
With Guardiola’s City considered as the best team Europe had seen in years, Man City were clear favorites to win the Champions League that season. Klopp had partially rebuilt Anfield into a fortress however, Guardiola and co. would experience the might of a stadium that night, one that was infamous for its miracle inducing ability to will the ball into the back of the net over the years.
The game started on a fairly equal footing but, the pace of the Liverpool counter-attack split open the City defense and Salah opened the scoring for Liverpool inside 12 minutes. Alex Oxlade Chamberlain scored a brilliant long-range volley to double the lead and Sadio Mane wrapped it up with a header near the far post to make it 3-0 inside just 30 minutes. Manchester City’s defense was in a disarray and Anfield was rocking, cheering the team with each pass they played. Manchester City’s inexperience in the European front showed, and they cracked under the pressure of the Anfield atmosphere as they never could find a footing on the game throughout the entire match. By the end of it, Liverpool had wrapped up an unlikely result heading into the second leg with a convincing 3 goal lead and managing a clean sheet as well.
Score: (Salah, Oxlade Chamberlain, Mane) Liverpool 3 – 0 Manchester City
Watch Highlights – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMNnj2gkzeI
#9: Liverpool vs Olympiakos, UCL Group Stage 2004
It was tough to imagine Rafa Benitez’s Reds to progress far in the European front that season, and talks were rife of Stevie G leaving the club if the team failed to earn any silverware in the coming months.
So when Rivaldo put Olympiakos ahead in the 26th minute, it was tough for even hardened veteran Kopites to have faith in the Reds seeing this through. Liverpool needed 3 goals to even make it through the group stages.
But the Reds had their unlikely scorers in Sinama Pongolle who scored just 2 minutes into the second half and Neil Mellor who headed past Olympiakos’ keeper to make it 2-1 in the 81st minute.
What followed 5 minutes later has gone down as one of the most iconic moments in footballing history, with Andy Gray’s “OHHH WHAT A HIT SON! WHAT A HIT” accompanying Gerrard’s beauty of a volley that snuggled into the far right corner. Anfield erupted and Liverpool went to see another day in the Champions League.
Score: (Sinama Pongolle, Mellor, Gerrard) Liverpool 3 – 1 Olympiakos (Rivaldo)
Watch Highlights – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EObO9O6MVnw
#8: Cardiff City vs Liverpool, League Cup Final 2012
Under Kenny Dalglish, Liverpool’s fortunes weren’t improving and the Reds were languishing at 8th position in the league that season. With no major trophies in six years, the team was desperate to clinch any silverware they could but faced an inspired Cardiff City side who had reached the final for the first time in their history.
Glen Johnson almost gave Liverpool the lead in the first minute with his strike hitting the crossbar but they were pegged back 18 minutes later by Joe Mason. The score remained the same until Stewart Downing’s cross was headed again into the woodwork, and Martin Skrtel flung in a leg to put the ball into the net in the resulting chaos that ensued.
The game extended on to extra time with no breakthrough for either side, until Dirk Kuyt slashed one into the net in the 108th minute to give Liverpool the lead. The drama did not end there for Kopites however, and in the final 3 minutes of extra time, Cardiff City somehow pushed the ball into the back of the net from a cross after multiple goal-line clearances. The nail-biting encounter headed into penalties keeping everyone around the stadium at the edge of their seats. Gerrard missed the first penalty along with Charlie Adam, and things didn’t look well for Liverpool until Dirk Kuyt, Stewart Downing and Glen Johnson converted their spot-kicks putting the pressure on Cardiff City’s Anthony Gerrard who missed his penalty to put an end to the suspense as Liverpool lifted their eighth League Cup.
Score: (Mason, Turner) Cardiff City 2 – 2 Liverpool (Skrtel, Kuyt), Liverpool won 3-2 on penalties
Watch Highlights – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CibD6lXa9Cg
#7: Liverpool vs Roma, European Cup Final 1984
Liverpool were a regular sight in the European frontier during those times, having won the Cup 3 times before in 1977, 1978 and 1981. Boasting players like Ian Rush, Graeme Souness, and Phil Neal, Liverpool were clear favorites against the home side of Roma, with the final being held in Rome.
Phil Neal put the Reds in front after just 13 minutes, as the clearance bounced off Roma’s goalkeeper and fell straight for Neal to slot it home. Bruce Grobbelaar pulled some spectacular saves but failed to keep Roberto Pruzzo’s header out as it snuck past him to make it 1-1 for Roma three minutes before halftime.
The deadlock could not be broken by either side in normal as well as extra time, and the teams readied themselves for penalties. Steve Nicol put it over the crossbar for Liverpool and Di Bartolomei converted his spot-kick to make sure Liverpool trailed in penalties. Phil Neal buried his effort into the back of the net and Conti missed for Roma, which meant all was square again.
That is when Bruce Grobbelaar came up with a unique way to distract the Roma penalty taker, wobbling his legs in a hope to distract Graziani. It worked like a charm as Graziani hit the upper crossbar and Liverpool added a fourth European Cup to their belt, winning 4-2 on penalties against the home side.
Score: (Neal) Liverpool 1 – 1 Roma (Pruzzo), Liverpool won 4-2 on penalties
Watch Highlights – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJ9so4Obhnk
#6: Liverpool vs Real Madrid, UCL Round of 16 2009
With Fernando Torres in a red hot form that season and Liverpool’s recent regular run of European successes, the Reds were very much favored to progress against the Spanish champions after taking a deserved 1-0 lead at the Bernabeu. Despite that, no one could have predicted the hammering the Reds would hand out to the most successful team in Europe.
With Anfield at its electrifying best, Casillas had to make two spectacular saves in the opening minute itself. The breakthrough came after just 16 minutes when Torres slotted a low pass from Dirk Kuyt after Pepe failed to clear the ball sliding into a challenge, leaving Casillas helpless at the back. 12 minutes later Gabriel Heinze handled the ball inside the penalty area, and Gerrard coolly converted from the spot putting Liverpool in a comfortable position heading into the break.
Real Madrid looked jaded right from the start, and that didn’t change after half time too. Backed by a deafening Anfield atmosphere, the Reds continued to show their dominance and Stevie G made it 3-0 just 2 minutes into the second half, hammering a Ryan Babel cross into the back of the net. Andrea Dossena wrapped it up at the 88th minute, finishing a classic counter-attack and sending Los Blancos packing with their worst ever European defeat.
Score: (Torres, Gerrard x2, Dossena) Liverpool 4 – 0 Real Madrid
Watch Highlights – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eN_ehTBPb4
#5: Liverpool vs Alaves, UEFA Cup Final 2001
Liverpool, having already won the FA Cup and League Cup a few weeks ago, were looking to finish off the season with a treble and faced a confident Alaves team that had won 9-2 in aggregate in the semi-finals.
Inside just 3 minutes, Liverpool took the lead courtesy of Marcus Babbel’s header which was doubled by Gerrard inside 15 minutes. Gary McAllister scored from the penalty spot in the 40th minute as Michael Owen was brought down after Alaves pegged one back to make it 3-1 at half time.
A game where both keepers performed poorly, Javi Moreno scored two back to back goals inside 2 minutes to make it all even for both teams just after the break. Robbie Fowler slotted one in at the 76th minute, but the goal-fest was far from over as Jordi Cruyff, son of legendary Johan Cruyff headed home 2 minutes before full time to make it 4-4 at the end of 90 minutes.
The golden goal rule was employed in extra time, which meant whichever team scored first would win, and both teams had a goal each ruled out for offside, with the stadium buzzing with nervous tension as everyone baited their breath. Alaves were reduced to 9 men after one of their players was shown a second yellow and another a straight red, and Alaves created their demise as a free-kick was converted into an own goal by the defense, and Liverpool had the golden goal awarded to them in the 118th minute of game time.
Score: (Babbel, Gerrard, McAllister, Fowler, Geli(O.G)) Liverpool 5 – 4 Alaves (Alonso, Moreno x2, Cruyff)
Watch Highlights – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNqFuw6YQZQ
#4: Liverpool vs Borussia Dortmund, Europa League Quarter Finals 2016
In Klopp’s first year at the helm of Liverpool, the Reds faced a stern test against a talented Dortmund side that had a fit Marco Reus along with Aubameyang and Mkhitaryan. Liverpool were unlikely to finish in the top five that season, and while no one expected Klopp to start bringing silverwares right from the get-go, it didn’t hurt to wish.
The first leg had ended 1-1, but whatever advantage Liverpool had with their away goal was blown away as Mkhitaryan and Aubameyang scored inside the opening 10 minutes to give Dortmund a 2-0 lead. The second half saw Origi poke one in and for a moment there was still hope, which was unfortunately dashed when Marco Reus’ netted in a superb solo goal from the left flank, making it 3-1 around the hour mark. Liverpool needed 3 goals in 30 minutes as a draw meant Dortmund would have progressed courtesy to away goals.
Coutinho’s low shot and Sakho’s header at the 78th minute had the fans up on their feet again as Liverpool equalized it 3-3, but still needed another goal to progress.
In the last moment of the last attack at the last added minute of the game, Milner’s cross was met by the unlikely figure of Dejan Lovren as he headed home the winner and Anfield erupted. Liverpool won the game 4-3 and 5-4 on aggregate, finishing another iconic European comeback in front of the Kop.
Score: (Origi, Coutinho, Sakho, Lovren) Liverpool 4 – 3 Dortmund (Mkhitaryan, Aubameyang, Reus)
Watch Highlights – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXnpbaKWHXc
#3: Liverpool vs West Ham, FA Cup Final 2006
Deservedly known as the Gerrard final, Steven Gerrard put in the performance of his career in this classic end to end encounter to earn Liverpool their seventh FA Cup.
The game started terribly for Liverpool after Carragher put the ball in his net and Pepe Reina fumbled a shot for Dean Ashton to squeeze the rebound and make it 2-0 in just 28 minutes for the Hammers. Four minutes later, however, Gerrard punted in a magnificent long ball for Djibril Cisse to make it 2-1, reviving hopes of a fightback. The game remained poised with both sides creating equal opportunities for themselves, until Steven Gerrard fired in a half volley to square it up for both sides in the 54th minute. But the drama was far from over as Paul Konchesky’s cross sailed over Pepe Reina into the net, giving the Hammers the lead again. Liverpool were visibly deflated after Konchesky’s goal and somehow managed to not concede.
Just at the cusp of the 90th minute, Liverpool ventured up for one final attack which West Ham cleared from their penalty area. Steven Gerrard had other plans, however, and from 35 yards out struck a thunderous volley straight into the bottom corner to make it 3-3 at the end of normal time.
With no side yielding in 30 minutes of extra time, the game went over to penalties. Pepe Reina pulled off some magnificent saves as Dieter Hamann, Steven Gerrard and John Arn Riise converted their spot-kicks to make it 3-1 on penalties, bringing an end to a classic cup final.
Score: (Cisse, Gerrard x2) Liverpool 3 – 3 West Ham (Carragher O.G, Ashton, Konchesky), Liverpool won 3-1 on penalties
Watch Highlights – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx97LGqGap8
#2: Liverpool vs Barcelona, Champions League Semi-Final 2019
After heartbreak in the 2018 Champions League final, Liverpool were determined to make amends last year. The Reds faced the mighty Barcelona team led by Messi and co who themselves were determined after their loss to Roma in the 2018 campaign. The first leg at Camp Nou had ended with a humbling 3-0 loss for the Reds, and most pundits had written off Liverpool at that stage with Salah and Firmino both injured.
But Anfield faithful had seen many comebacks to give up hope and after a frantic start Origi scored the follow up to Henderson’s attempt in just 7 minutes. The stadium erupted and the decibels rose with each passing moment as the defense produced a brilliant performance to snuff out any Barcelona attack.
Andy Robertson was replaced by Wijnaldum, and the talismanic Dutch put in a career-defining performance as he struck twice in two minutes to equalize the score 3-3 on aggregate, his towering figure meeting the end of a Shaqiri cross. Anfield was bouncing and Barcelona was left stunned as their defense was unraveling right in front of their eyes.
The final blow was struck by Origi as a corner was taken quickly by the young Trent Alexander Arnold and Barcelona were caught napping in the back. Origi fired the ball straight into the Kop end and Anfield erupted, the Liverpool Reds humbling the Spanish giants filled with experienced players as the world witnessed one of the greatest tramontana of the decade, with the game ending 4-0 for Liverpool. Anfield had another iconic European night to boast about.
Score: (Origi x2, Wijnaldum x2) Liverpool 4 – 0 Barcelona
Watch Highlights – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buoMlAshKXQ
#1: Liverpool vs AC Milan, UCL Final 2005
Arguably the greatest comeback in European football, the odds were stacked against Liverpool before the miracle of Istanbul. Liverpool were having an incredible European campaign seeing off Olympiakos in the group stages and defeating Mourinho’s Chelsea in the semi-finals, but were the underdogs against a star-studded Milan team consisting of Cafu, Maldini, Kaka, Pirlo and Shevchenko to name a few.
The first half was an utter nightmare for Liverpudlians who had traveled to Turkey, as they saw their team collapse under the sheer talent of the Milanese side. Paolo Maldini scored in the first minute with the first attack of the match, and a double by Hernan Crespo in the last 6 minutes of the first half had Liverpool in tatters at the back, the game seemingly finished even before half time. For most watchers, it was not about who, but how many goals before AC Milan lift the trophy. Not for the traveling reds, however, as the stadium was filled with chants of You’ll Never Walk Alone, urging their players to put in a final fight.
50 minutes into the game, John Arn Riise’s cross was met by a towering Gerrard who headed it into the back of the net, urging the players to not stop believing as he rushed to take the ball for the restart. 4 minutes later, Vladimir Smicer’s long-range low effort sneaked in to make it 3-2 for Liverpool, leaving the Rossoneri’s stunned. The Reds’ newfound inspiration resulted in attack after attack and Gattuso tripped Steven Gerrard in the 60th minute, earning Liverpool a penalty and a chance to make it level inside 15 minutes of the second half. Xabi Alonso’s strike was saved initially, but the rebound was slotted in by him and the comeback was complete.
The noise in the stadium was deafening as Carragher made a goal-line clearance and Jerzy Dudek pulled off an unbelievable double save to deny Shevchenko from scoring in extra time. The game went ahead to penalties.
Jerzy Dudek’s wobbly-legged antics made sure Serginho, Pirlo and Shevchenko fluffed their kicks, and Liverpool pulled off a miracle of a comeback to lift their fifth European Cup.
Score: (Maldini, Crespo x2) AC Milan 3 – 3 Liverpool (Gerrard, Smicer, Alonso), Liverpool win 3-2 on penalties
Watch Highlights – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OQToElxke4
