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Liverpool have a rich history in European club competitions, winning 11 titles since their inception. A majority of these came in the 1970s when Bill Shankly and then Bob Paisley were at the helm.
The Anfield faithful has developed a penchant for Champions League nights and their team has certainly provided them with some memorable ones. Gerard Houllier and Rafa Benitez gave the Kop these incredible nights, and now Jurgen Klopp seems to be continuing the tradition.
On that note, here are the 5 greatest Champions League nights for Liverpool.
#5 Liverpool 3-1 Olympiakos: Group stage, December 2004
A group stage win against Greek minnows at Anfield. Doesn't sound that eye-catching does it? Well definitely don't judge this one by the cover.
Liverpool needed to win by 2 goals or more to secure their progress, and as fellow hopefuls, Monaco were winning their game no lesser result would have sufficed. When Rivaldo scored for the Greek side, their task turned all the more difficult.
However, Florent Sinama and Neil Mellor scored to take Liverpool to just one goal away from the result they craved. And then what followed was beyond the imagination of even the most romantic Kop occupant.
Steven Gerrard, Anfield's beloved skipper thumped an absolute pile-driver of a volley into the net. Understandably the crowd went into the raptures and so did the players. Gerrard's goal completed a tremendous victory which spurred the beginning of a glorious time in the Champions League.
What a goal. What a night. Gerrard you beauty.
#4 Liverpool 3-0 Manchester City: Quarter-final, April 2018
Manchester City were the runaway Premier League going into this clash and were playing some of the best football England had ever seen. Liverpool were the underdogs going into the tie but their formidable trio of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, and Sadio Mane were no slouches either.
Buoyed on by the Anfield faithful, Klopp's men raced out of the blocks. Salah opened the scoring, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain rifled a second and Mane headed home a third. Half an hour had elapsed and Liverpool had stunned Guardiola by three unanswered goals.
The second half predictably saw City dominate but they failed to breach Loris Karius' goal. A resounding victory for the Reds which arguably pushed them into the European limelight аfter a lengthy absence.
#3 Liverpool 4-0 Real Madrid: Round of 16, March 2009
Liverpool carried over a 1-0 lead from the first leg but it did not seem enough against the mighty Real Madrid. They needed to put on a show at Anfield and put on a show they did.
Fernando Torres, who was brilliant throughout scored the opener and set the tone for the evening. The magnificent Gerrard converted a penalty and then volleyed home just after half-time. Substitute Andrea Dossena completed the rout as the game neared its end.
An emphatic victory which was free of tension and nervousness like many games on this list. Just unbridled joy for the fans as their team humiliated European giants Real Madrid. Amazing.
#2 Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea: Semi-final, May 2005
Liverpool were drawn against a rampant Chelsea side in the semi-finals in 2005. The Blues were runaway leaders in the Premier League lead by Jose Mourinho and it was by no means an easy draw.
The first leg at Stamford Bridge ended in a goalless draw and Chelsea headed to Anfield with the slightest of advantages. But Anfield has a way of strangulating opponents and so it turned out to be.
The Reds stormed into an early lead courtesy of a controversial goal by Luis Garcia. Whether his effort crossed the line is debated to this very day, but the referee adjudged it a goal then despite the best efforts of William Gallas.
The game continued punctuated by palpable tension and neither side failed to change the score. Chances were a rare commodity throughout the game but Eidur Gudjohnsen missed a golden one in stoppage time which would have sent Chelsea through.
An immense result for Liverpool which was unbelievably bettered by them in the subsequent final. More on that ahead.
#1 AC Milan 3-3 Liverpool (2-3 on penalties): Final, May 2005
That night in Istanbul. That night is the greatest in Liverpool's Champions League history, arguably in the club's history.
Facing the Italian giants in the final, things started badly and turned worse. Paolo Maldini opened the scoring and Hernan Crespo took the baton, scoring a brace. Rafa Benitez's gamble to start Harry Kewell seemed to have backfired as Liverpool were all but out.
But then the comeback began. Gerrard flicked home a header and then Kewell's replacement Vladimir Smicer breathed life into the game by scoring Liverpool's second. Then Gerrard was fouled and Alonso stepped up to take the spot-kick.
His penalty was saved but he dispatched the rebound to leave Milan stunned and Liverpool delirious. The match went to extra time when Jerzy Dudek produced a stunning double save to deny Andriy Shevchenko.
Penalties followed and Liverpool prevailed as Dudek denied Shevchenko again to spark wild celebrations. The Reds won their first Champions League title in sensational style, etching their name in history in the process.
Just imagine how the Liverpool fans who turned the telly off at half-time must feel.
