Luis Garcia scores for Liverpool against Chelsea in the 2005 Champions League semi-final

Champions League final preview: Take a look back at all-English clashes in European football's top tournament including Liverpool v Chelsea controversy

By Sporting Life

Football

Wed May 29, 2019 · 5y ago

After Liverpool's 'ghost goal' against Chelsea and Tottenham's incredible tie with Man City, the all-English Champions League final in Madrid has a lot to live up to.

Chelsea v Arsenal 2003-04 (Chelsea won 3-2 on aggregate)

Roman Abramovich's investment was beginning to bear fruit for Chelsea and they were paired with Arsenal in an all-London quarter-final. The Gunners, on their way to winning the Premier League without losing a game, were in the ascendancy after getting out of Stamford Bridge with a 1-1 draw.

Jose Antonio Reyes then gave them a half-time lead in the second leg at Highbury, but a brilliant Chelsea fightback began with a Frank Lampard goal just after the restart and ended in thrilling fashion with Wayne Bridge's winner with just three minutes left.

Chelsea v Liverpool 2004-05 (Liverpool won 1-0 on aggregate)

Jose Mourinho's Chelsea were paired against Rafael Benitez's Liverpool in the semi-finals to guarantee an English team would be in Istanbul for the final. After a goalless first leg at Stamford Bridge, it all came down to the return match at Anfield - one that still rankles with Chelsea fans.

Luis Garcia's fourth-minute goal decided the contest, but it was shrouded in controversy as replays showed William Gallas cleared the ball before it crossed the line. The goal stood and Liverpool went on to beat AC Milan in a thrilling final.

Arsenal v Liverpool 2007-08 (Liverpool won 5-3 on aggregate)

A tight 1-1 draw at the Emirates was merely the calm before an almighty storm at Anfield as Abou Diaby gave the Gunners an early lead in what turned out to be a thriller. Sami Hyypia levelled and Fernando Torres looked to have put the Reds into the semi-finals only for Theo Walcott to produce a remarkable run ended with Emmanuel Adebayor squaring the tie but putting Arsenal through on away goals with just six minutes left.

Liverpool hit back almost instantly though with a Steven Gerrard penalty and as Arsenal searched for a late response Ryan Babel sealed a 4-2 win in yet another pulsating European night at Anfield.

Man Utd v Chelsea 2007-08 (Man Utd won on penalties)

John Terry misses a penalty for Chelsea in the Champions League final against Manchester United

Sir Alex Ferguson lifted a second Champions League crown, nine years after his first, as Manchester United turned Moscow red in the final against Chelsea. Cristiano Ronaldo headed United in front, only for Frank Lampard to draw Avram Grant's Chelsea level before the break.

There were no other goals and the game was decided on penalties. The shoot-out will be remembered for John Terry's slip, when a goal would have won it for Chelsea, but it was Edwin Van Der Sar's save from Nicolas Anelka that proved decisive.

Chelsea v Liverpool 2008-09 (Chelsea won 7-5 on aggregate)

Guus Hiddink's side won the away leg of the quarter-final 3-1 - but Liverpool gave them an almighty scare at Stamford Bridge, surging into a two-goal lead at half-time. Didier Drogba, Alex and Frank Lampard bagged in the second half to put Chelsea back in control before a frantic final 10 minutes.

Lucas Leiva and Dirk Kuyt struck in the space of two minutes to leave Liverpool needing just one more goal to seal a sensational win, only for Lampard to make the game safe in the 89th minute.

Liverpool v Man City 2017-18 (Liverpool won 5-0 on aggregate)

Manchester City were on their way to a record-breaking Premier League title and were favourites to progress in this quarter-final tie, but Liverpool had other ideas and blew them away in the first leg at Anfield. After City's coach was attacked on the way into the ground, goals from Mohamed Salah, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Sadio Mane put the Reds 3-0 up after only 31 minutes to put one foot in the semi-finals.

City were unable to rescue the game in their own backyard, despite an early goal from Gabriel Jesus, as efforts from Salah and Roberto Firmino gave Jurgen Klopp's side a win on the night and a 5-1 aggregate success.

Manchester City v Tottenham 2018-19 (Tottenham won on away goals after 4-4 aggregate draw)

Son Heung-min's late goal gave Tottenham a 1-0 advantage heading into the quarter-final second leg at the Etihad Stadium, which proved to be one of the most incredible Champions League matches of all time. Raheem Sterling opened the scoring before Son's quickfire double seemingly gave Spurs control.

However, Bernardo Silva's deflected strike and a second from Sterling made it 3-2 to City on the night after just 21 minutes. Sergio Aguero then fired home on the hour mark to put City 4-3 in front on aggregate, before Fernando Llorente bundled the ball in - not via his arm according to a review by VAR - to make it 4-3 on the night and swing the pendulum back Tottenham's way once more.

There was even more drama to come when City thought they had found a winner in added time, only for Sterling's hat-trick goal to be chalked off by VAR for offside.