Liverpool’s start to life under Arne Slot has been incredible, securing the Premier League title in his first season. But despite a rich history in the Champions League, their 2024/25 campaign came to an abrupt end in the last 16.
More memories will be sure to come under Slot, but they will have to wait until the new season for their next great European night.
Indeed, Liverpool have enjoyed plenty of great Champions League and Europa League nights over the years – here are some of the very best…
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ByBarney LaneOct 18, 2024 4 Liverpool 5-4 Alaves UEFA Cup final, 2000/01
With a stunning cup treble on the line, Liverpool scored three times in the opening 40 minutes, yet they were pegged back several times, and by the 50th minute, the score was 3-3 as Alaves were giving everything they had.
Robbie Fowler looked like he had scored the winner with 20 minutes left, but Jordi Cruyff scored a late equaliser, sending the tie to extra-time.
A (golden) own goal by Geli with four minutes of the extra-time period remaining gave Liverpool the trophy, their first in Europe since 1984.
3 Liverpool 4-0 Real Madrid Champions League last-16 second leg, 2008/09
One of Liverpool’s finest European nights at Anfield saw them eliminate Real Madrid in the last 16 with a 5-0 aggregate victory.
Fernando Torres was devastating, scoring the opener before Steven Gerrard netted twice to put the Reds three goals up on the night.
A fourth was added late on as Liverpool sent shockwaves through the continent with this result, although they would lose to Chelsea in the next round.
2 Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona Champions League semi-final second leg, 2018/19
Ten years after their win over Real, Barcelona were the ones to suffer a 4-0 loss at Anfield. Trailing 3-0 from the first leg, no one gave the Reds much of a chance.
Divock Origi gave Liverpool a deserved lead after seven minutes, yet it wasn’t until Georginio Wijnaldum scored two quick-fire goals at the start of the second half that the fans started dreaming.
Trent Alexander-Arnold took a quick corner which caught the defence napping to gift Origi his second and send the club through to the final, which they won against Tottenham Hotspur in Madrid.
1 Milan 3-3 Liverpool Champions League final, 2004/05
The greatest European night in Liverpool’s history and perhaps even the finest comeback in the competition came as the Anfield side won their fifth continental title.
Benitez’s men were trailing 3-0 at half-time, but a rousing speech by Gerrard gave them some hope. Indeed, the captain scored a header early in the second half, before Vladimir Smicer scored from 25 yards to reduce the deficit to one.
When Xabi Alonso slotted home a rebound from a penalty, it was destined to be Liverpool’s cup. Jerzy Dudek made an incredible stop to deny Andriy Shevchenko in extra time before the Polish goalkeeper saved the Ukrainian’s penalty in the shootout to secure the trophy for his team.