As Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool side prepare for their first Champions League away game in five years, we count down our top five most memorable away victories by the Reds in Europe’s premier club competition.
5. Marseille 0-4 Liverpool- 11th December 2007
Back in the 2007/08 season Rafa Benitez’s side knew that victory against Marseille would see them qualify for the last-16. Having lost to the Ligue 1 side at Anfield, a win was imperative.
Steven Gerrard won an early penalty for the Reds following good work from Dirk Kuyt and Fernando Torres, and although the skipper’s spot-kick was kept out by Steve Mandanda, he was on-hand to score the rebound.
Torres, at the absolute peak of his powers, scored a wonderful individual effort after 11 minutes to put Liverpool in total control, weaving past a couple of Marseille challenges before sliding an excellent finish into the corner.
Benitez’s men continued to dominate proceedings, and Kuyt made in 3-0 early in the second-half having been found by Harry Kewell in the penalty area.
Substitute Ryan Babel rounded off the scoring in stoppage-time, having been sent clean-through, as the Reds won their third Champions League game in a row. They were eventually eliminated in the semi-finals by Chelsea.
LFC Starting XI: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Hyypia, Riise, Kewell, Mascherano, Gerrard, Benayoun, Kuyt, Torres.
4. Inter Milan 0-1 Liverpool- 11th March 2008
In a tight first-leg of this last-16 clash at Anfield, Liverpool had earned a priceless late 2-0 win, thanks to goals by Kuyt and Gerrard. Roberto Mancini’s side were extremely strong, however, and the Reds knew the tie was far from over.
The second-leg at San Siro was a gritty affair, and perfectly illustrated how hard Benitez had made his side to beat. Jamie Carragher and Sami Hyypia were a wonderful centre-back pairing- Carragher actually started at right-back for this game- while Javier Mascherano was one of the finest holding midfielders in world football.
Both sides had good first-half opportunities to open the scoring, with Julio Cruz and Torres denied by Pepe Reina and Julio Cesar, respectively. Cruz wasted two further efforts before the break, but the Reds held strong.
Nicolas Burdisso’s harsh sending off soon after the break made life harder for Mancini’s men, and on 64 minutes the tie was effectively put to bed by the electric Torres.
The Spaniard collected Fabio Aurelio’s ball, before turning and firing a terrific effort past Cesar from 18 yards. The travelling Liverpool fans went wild, and their side saw out the rest of the game to reach the quarter-finals.
LFC Starting XI: Reina, Carragher, Skrtel, Hyypia, Aurelio, Babel, Mascherano, Gerrard, Lucas, Kuyt, Torres.
3. Juventus 0-0 Liverpool- 13th April 2005
Although this game may not have ended in victory, it was enough to see them qualify for the semi-finals on a memorable night in Turin. It remains one of the most gutsy, rewarding results Liverpool have achieved in Champions League history.
Juventus had a wonderful side at their disposal, with Gianluigi Buffon, Lilian Thuram, Fabio Cannavaro, Pavel Nedved, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Alessandro Del Piero all in their starting eleven, but they trailed the Reds 2-1 from the first-leg of the quarter-final.
Liverpool were without the inspirational Gerrard through injury, but they defended for their lives from start to finish at Stadio delle Alpi, and 23-year-old Xabi Alonso was superb in midfield.
Ibrahimovic and Milan Baros both missed glorious chances at either end, while Emerson and Cannavaro saw headers saved and come off the post, respectively.
Benitez’s side held on, however, securing a semi-final showdown with Chelsea in the process. The Reds would, of course, go on to lift the trophy after a legendary win over AC Milan in the final in Istanbul.
LFC Starting XI: Dudek, Finnan, Hyypia, Carragher, Traore, Nunez, Biscan, Alonso, Riise, Luis Garcia, Baros.
2. Real Madrid 0-1 Liverpool- 25th February 2009
It doesn’t get much more daunting than a trip to Santiago Bernabeu, and that’s what awaited the Reds in the Champions League last-16 back in 2008/09.
Benitez had turned his side into one of the most respected in Europe over the previous couple of years, and they weren’t overawed against a strong Madrid side.
Despite a half-chance for Raul and a disallowed effort from Gonzalo Higuain, it was the visitors who arguably looked the more dangerous, with Torres and Yossi Benayoun both testing Iker Casillas.
Arjen Robben almost opening the scoring after the break, but Reina tipped the Dutchman’s effort over, while Alonso’s audacious attempt from the halfway line was kept out by Casillas.
With eight minutes remaining the game’s pivotal moment arrived. Benayoun, one of the least physical players on the pitch, was left completely unmarked six yards from goal, and the Israeli star headed home Aurelio’s free-kick to give Liverpool a famous victory.
LFC Starting XI: Reina, Arbeloa, Skrtel, Carragher, Aurelio, Benayoun, Alonso, Mascherano, Riera, Torres, Kuyt.
1. Barcelona 1-2 Liverpool- 12st February 2007
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-Qg8SmS-pI
If beating Real Madrid in their own backyard was impressive, defeating a Barcelona team containing Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho, Deco and Xavi at Camp Nou was even better.
Despite their European prowess under Benitez, not many felt they would progress to the last-eight against the Catalan giants. When Deco headed them in front after 14 minutes it looked as though it could be a long night.
The former Portugal international had another chance but was thwarted by Reina, while Javier Saviola fired wide. Just before half-time Liverpool were level, however.
Craig Bellamy’s header from Steve Finnan’s cross was saved by Victor Valdes, but in doing so the Spaniard slid over the line with ball in hand, gifting the Reds a way back into the match.
The Welshman’s infamous celebration, in which me mimed swinging a golf club, was in reference to an incident involving himself and John Arne Riise at a training camp prior to the game.
Gerrard and Kuyt both had chances to put Benitez’s men ahead, as they grew in stature, but it was Riise’s thunderous right-footed shot from inside the box, after Valdes had denied Kuyt, that sealed a memorable win.
Despite losing the second-leg 1-0 at Anfield, Liverpool still progressed to the last-eight. It was their greatest away win in the Champions League since its inception in 1992.
LFC Starting XI: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Agger, Riise, Finnan, Sissoko, Alonso, Gerrard, Bellamy, Kuyt.
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