A European night under the lights at Anfield is always a special occasion.
Over the years there have been so many historic nights to savour for Liverpool fans at their historic ground.
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Liverpool fans make a din at Anfield.
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, who are chasing a domestic and European double this season, host Porto in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday night.
And ahead of that clash, talkSPORT.com has picked out five of the most memorable nights at the Kop in recent times…
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Liverpool 3-1 Olympiakos (December 8, 2004)
The Reds were having a tough time in the Champions League group stages and needed a win against Olympiakos to get through to the last 16.
Fans were left fearing the worst with just 26 minutes gone as Brazil legend Rivaldo curled a glorious free-kick past a helpless Chris Kirkland to give the Greek champions the lead.
A big half-time team-talk from Rafa Benitez was needed, and it paid off immediately after the break as substitute Florent Sinama Pongolle levelled the scores on 47 minutes.
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Steven Gerrard scored Liverpool’s crucial goal against Olympiakos
However, Liverpool needed to find two more goals to advance through, and with 10 minutes remaining that seemed all the more unlikely by the minute.
Neil Mellor gave Benitez’s men a fighting chance when he found the net with nine minutes remaining.
And with just seconds left on the clock, an Anfield legend stepped up to send the Anfield crowd into raptures.
Mellor was again involved, as Steven Gerrard rifled in his knockdown in spectacular fashion – and just like that Liverpool were through and on their way to make history.
Liverpool 4-0 Real Madrid (March 10, 2009)
After coasting through the Champions League group stages, Liverpool would have hoped for an easier tie than none other than Real Madrid in the last 16 of the competition.
The first leg at the Bernabeu couldn’t have gone much better for the Reds – with Yossi Benayoun’s header giving Rafa Benitez’s men a crucial away goal, and lead, heading into the second leg at Anfield.
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Fernando Torres was unplayable as Liverpool thrashed Real Madrid 4-0 at Anfield in March 2009
And what a night it was – with Fernando Torres grabbing the headlines with a simply sensational display.
Torres, a product of Real’s fierce rivals, Atletico, scored the opener after just 16 minutes – which all but ended Madrid’s hopes of a comeback.
Benitez’s men weren’t done there now, with Steven Gerrard notching a further two before Andrea Dossena put a gloss on the scoreline with Liverpool’s fourth of the night.
Liverpool 3-0 Manchester City (April 4, 2018)
Jurgen Klopp’s men produced a scintillating attacking display to completely blow away Pep Guardiola’s men in the first leg of their Champions quarter-final clash last season.
The contest – and in truth the tie – was all but over with just over half an hour on the clock.
Mohamed Salah pounced in the area to score his 38th goal of the season after 12 minutes, before Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain doubled their lead eight minutes later when he unleashed a unstoppable drive past Ederson from 20 yards.
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Mo Salah, right, scored his 38th goal of the season as Liverpool tore about Manchester City at Anfield
Sadio Mane rose to head home Salah’s cross on 31 minutes, as Klopp’s men inflicted a heavy defeat on the Premier League champions.
It didn’t get any better for Guardiola and co in the second leg, as they fell to a 2-1 defeat – eventually losing out to Real Madrid in the final in Kiev.
Liverpool 4-2 Arsenal (April 8, 2008)
A 1-1 draw in the first left this quarter-final tie finely poised.
Abou Diaby’s early goal put the visitors in control, before Sami Hyypia equalised and Fernando Torres put the home side ahead.
The Torres “bounce” was in full swing on the night as Liverpool looked to be closing in on the last-four of the competition.
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Substitute Ryan Babel played a key role in Liverpool’s Champions League quarter-final win over Arsenal in 2008
That was until Gunners substitute Theo Walcott intervened. The speed merchant went on a mazy run and teed up Emmanuel Adebayor, who tucked the ball home to make it 2-2 – a result which would have seen Liverpool crashing out of the Champions League.
Another sub, Ryan Babel, then intervened to turn the game back in Liverpool’s favour, first winning a penalty that Steven Gerrard converted, before getting on the scoresheet himself in the closing stages.
Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea (May 3, 2005)
The fact this game is still spoken about to this day says all you need to know about it.
Drama, passion, entertainment, controversy – it had it all!
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Luis Garcia’s goal against Chelsea is still talked up about to this day
Did it cross the line or didn’t it? Luis Garcia’s first-half goal was the difference between the two sides at Anfield in their Champions League semi-final second-leg clash.
Liverpool held on to their early goal and in doing so qualified for their first European Cup final in 20 years. We all know what happened next!
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