REDS v REAL THE HEAD TO HEAD
EUROPEAN CUP FINAL May 27, 1981, Liverpool 1 Real Madrid 0
In European terms, old glory met new kids on the block at the Parc des Princes, in Paris, to decide the famous trophy’s fate.
Madrid had won the first five European Cups between 1956 and 1960, but had not lifted the massive pot since 1966 – a 15-year wait that had not even seen them reach the final.
In that time, first Italy, then Holland and Germany had dominated the tournament, before English clubs stepped up and took control.
Back-to-back wins for Liverpool in 1977 and 1978 were followed by the same double feat from Nottingham Forest, before Liverpool returned to the final to face Real Madrid in a competitive match for the first time in their history.
In the second round, Liverpool disposed of Aberdeen, led in the dugout by a young Alex Ferguson, and despite indifferent league form at home, where they finished fifth, they scraped through the semi-final on away goals against Bayern Munich.
Madrid finished runners-up in Spain in 1981 so both teams entered the final knowing only a win would see them into the competition for the following season. Alan Kennedy (far left, lifting the trophy with Phil Neal) had spent six weeks out with a broken wrist, but he returned for the final and eight minutes from time he raced on to a Ray Kennedy throw-in from the left and coolly fired home the only goal.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ROUND OF 16 Feb 25, 2009, Real Madrid 0 Liverpool 1 Mar 10, 2009, Liverpool 4 Real Madrid 0
Liverpool hoped odd years might be a good omen, having won the final in 2005 and reached another final in 2007. Following a 1-0 win in Spain with a late Yossi Benayoun (below, left) goal, they demolished Madrid at Anfield with goals from Fernando Torres, a Steven Gerrard double and a late clincher from Andrea Dossena.
Sadly that was to be it for them as they lost 3-1 at home in the first leg of the quarter-final against Chelsea, before playing out a 4-4 draw in the return to lose 7-5 on aggregate.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP STAGE Oct 22, 2014, Liverpool 0 Real Madrid 3 Nov 4, 2014, Real Madrid 1 Liverpool 0
Madrid were defending champions, having beaten neighbours Atletico in the final a few months earlier, and they showed why in both games.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema (above), twice, helped themselves to goals at Anfield before half-time as they took home three points, repeating the feat two weeks later when Benzema scored the only goal at the Bernabeu. Barcelona won the final that year, but Madrid returned to lift the trophy for the next three years in a row.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QF Apr 6, 2021, Real Madrid 3 Liverpool 1 Apr 14, 2021, Liverpool 0 Real Madrid 0
Any hope of three English teams in the semi-finals were dealt a serious blow in the first leg in Spain when rising Brazilian star, Vinicius Jnr (above), scored the first and last goals of the night to hand Madrid the advantage.
In between, Marco Asensio had made it 2-0 before Mo Salah pulled one back, but Madrid defended what they had at Anfield and Liverpool were left cursing their luck when they failed to score despite having 15 shots and 11 corners.
This was not the best Real side, however, and they were found out by Chelsea soon after in the semi-finals.