As Liverpool prepare to face FC Augsburg over two legs in the Round of 16 in the Europa League, I’ve looked back on five of the most famous Liverpool wins over German opponents in the club’s existence.
1976-77 European Cup Final – Liverpool 3-1 Borussia Monchengladbach
Goal-scorers: McDermott 28’, Neal 62’, Smith (pen.) 82’
Liverpool came up against 1976 German League champions, Monchengladbach for the final of the European Cup and walked away from Rome’s Stadio Olimpico having won their first of five European Cup/UEFA Champions League titles. Midfielder, Terry McDermott opened the scoring before the only non-German in Monchengladbach’s line-up, Dane Allan Simonsen, equalised in the 52nd minute. It was always meant to be Liverpool’s day however, with defenders Phil Neal and Tommy Smith (penalty) making sure of the result.
1977-78 UEFA Champions League Semi-Final Leg 2- Liverpool 3-0 Borussia Monchengladbach
Goal-scorers: Kennedy 6’, Dalglish 35’, Case 56’
The Reds prevented Monchengladbach from gaining revenge for their 1977 defeat as they overcame a first leg deficit of 1-2 to comfortably sail through to their second successive final and eventual cup win. Goals to Ray Kennedy, Kenny Dalglish and Jimmy Case did the job before they scraped past Club Brugge of Belgium in the final.
2001 UEFA Super Cup- Bayern Munich 2-3 Liverpool
Goal-scorers: Riise 23’, Heskey 45’, Owen 46’
The winners of the 2001 Champions League and 2001 UEFA Cup faced off in the 2001 Super Cup where Liverpool, who had defeated Spanish side Alaves 5-4 in a pulsating UEFA Cup final would challenge Bayern Munich, who narrowly prevailed over Valencia on penalties in the Champions League final. Liverpool established a surprising 3-0 lead shortly after half-time thanks to goals from John Arne Riise, Emile Heskey and Michael Owen. Bayern gave the Reds an almighty scare with goals to Hasan Salihamidzic and Carsten Jancker in the 57th and 82nd minutes, however Liverpool remained victorious.
2001-02 Champions League Liverpool 2-0 Dortmund
Goal-scorers: Smicer 15’, S. Wright 82’
Following a 0-0 draw in their first encounter between each other, Liverpool ensured they would continue through to the second group stage of the 2001-02 Champions League after disposing of Borussia Dortmund 2-0 to finish in top spot. Vladimir Smicer gave Liverpool an early lead before defender Stephen Wright set the result in stone in the 82nd minute.
2004-05 UEFA Champions League Round of 16 – Liverpool 6-2 Bayer Leverkusen on aggregate
First Leg: Goal-scorers-Garcia 15’, Riise 35’, Hamann 90+2
Second Leg: Goal-scorers-Garcia 28’, 32’, Baros 67’
Liverpool progressed to the quarter finals of the 2004-05 UEFA Champions League in fashion, thumping Bayer Leverkusen in both legs, 3-1 and 6-2 on aggregate. Almost 41,000 fans witnessed Luis Garcia, John Arne Riise and Dietmar Hamann all get on the scoresheet to establish a healthy advantage over Leverkusen who grabbed a late away goal.
The second leg produced the same result with Garcia again proving to be as influential as ever before Czech striker, Milan Baros rounded out the scoring and Liverpool strolled into a mouth-watering quarter final with Italian heavyweights, Juventus.
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