ALL-ENGLISH CLASHES

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

Roman Abramovich’s money was beginning to bear fruit for Chelsea and they were paired with Arsenal in this all-London quarter-final. The Gunners, on their way to winning the Premier League without losing a game, assumed the ascendancy after getting out of Stamford Bridge with a 1-1 draw. Jose Antonio Reyes 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 with Wayne Bridge’s late winner.

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

Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea were paired with 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, it all came down to a return at Anfield 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. But the goal stood and Liverpool went on to beat AC Milan in the final.

MAN UTD v CHELSEA 2007-08 (Man Utd won on penalties)

Sir Alex Ferguson lifted a second Champions League crown, nine years after his first, as 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 Blues won the away leg of the quarter-final 3-1 but Liverpool gave them a scare at the Bridge, surging into a two-goal lead at half-time. Didier Drogba, Alex and Frank Lampard replied in the second half to put Chelsea back in control before a frantic final 10 minutes. Lucas and Dirk Kuyt struck inside two minutes to leave Liverpool needing one more goal to seal a sensational win, only for Lampard to make the game safe.

MAN UTD v ARSENAL 2008-09 (Man Utd won 4-1 on aggregate)

Only long-time rivals Arsenal stood in front of United and a second successive Champions League final and the tie was in the balance as United headed to the Emirates Stadium for the second leg with a slender 1-0 advantage. But they enjoyed a dream start in London as Park Ji-Sung and Cristiano Ronaldo put them 2-0 up after only 11 minutes. Ronaldo added a second in the second half, meaning the contest was over by the time Robin van Persie scored a late penalty.