LIVERPOOL go into tonight’s Europa League match with Augsburg with a proud record gainst German sides to protect.
The Reds have played 36 matches against German opposition (including sides from the former East Germany), winning 17, drawing 12 and losing seven. Here are six of the Reds’ best moments against opposition from Deutschland.
1967: Fairs Cup v TSV 1860 Munich
The main reason for including this tie is an excuse to post this video. It’s fantastic for a number of reasons, including how chubby the ref is, the fella swigging ale at the game (always been ahead of us with footie fan culture there) and how happy some of the fans are.
They’re happy, I assume, because as the delightfully low-rent scoreboard shows, TSV Munich won the game on the night, coming back from 1-0 down (Callaghan on target for the Reds) to win 2-1. And that’s sound. The only problem really is that the first leg was at Anfield. And the Reds won 8-0 (St John, Hateley, Smith — pen, Hunt 2, Thompson, Callaghan 2). Eight. Nil. You wouldn’t be laughing, would you? A bit of that tonight would be decent. Wouldn’t bet on it, like. Anyway – look out for the ref.
1973: Uefa Cup Final v Borussia Monchengladbach
After beating another German side, Eintracht Frankfurt, on the way to the final — and two sides from the East, Dynamo Berlin and Dynamo Dresden, the Reds faced Borussia over two legs.
The first leg was at Anfield, and a crowd of 41,169 watched Bill Shankly’s side quickly seize the advantage with Kevin Keegan scoring two first-half goals — both assisted by John Toshack — while also missing a penalty.
Larry Lloyd headed Liverpool’s third, while Ray Clemence brilliantly saved Jupp Heynckes spot kick.
It looked like the Reds had their first European trophy in the bag but Borussia made a game of it in the second leg, with Heynckes scoring twice in the first half on German soil, the second a brilliant curling shot into the top corner. The Reds held on though and the trophy was ours.
Augsburg v Liverpool preview: Klopp-mania, pretty city but Reds have a job to do
1977: European Cup Final v Borussia Monchengladbach
You know this one. Rome, just a few days after Wembley heartache. Borussia hitting the post, Terry McDermott’s opener: “That’s nice, that’s McDermott and that’s a goal”. Ray Clemence’s save after Allan Simonsen’s rocket equaliser, the chequered flags, Tommy Smith’s fairytale header, Keegan’s run and Neal’s pen, culminating in Emlyn Hughes — all grin and cup — a pose that was later a Panini sticker. Bob Paisley’s first, Liverpool’s first.
1978: European Cup Semi Final v Borussia Monchengladbach
They must have been sick of us. And when David Johnson’s 88th-minute header levelled Wilfried Hannes’ goal in the first leg, you can only imagine the German swear words flying about. Equally, they must have been buzzing when Rainer Bonhof booms that free kick in a minute later. Sorry about that second leg then in front of 51,500 at Anfield — Kennedy, Dalglish, Case. The Reds went marching on.
1981: European Cup Semi Final v Bayern Munich
After a scoreless first leg at Anfield, a 77,600-strong crowd expected Bayern to complete the job. And when Kenny Dalglish limped off after seven minutes, the odds looked stacked against the Reds. But Dalglish’s rookie replacement, Howie Gayle, seized the chance to shine in a fondly-remembered cameo. Ray Kennedy coolly chested and finished a great goal with seven minutes left. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge’s goal was too little, too late and the Reds booked a place in Paris on away goals.
2001: Super Cup Final v Bayern Munich
It is easy to diminish the Super Cup but the win over Bayern Munich in 2001 felt like it very much meant something. Liverpool were better than the European Champions from the outset, they looked bigger, quicker, better organised. Man for man they looked better footballers. John Arne Riise opened the scoring.
The abiding memory of the game is that of two defenders that stood between Emile Heskey and the goal. And then suddenly they didn’t; they were rendered irrelevant by Heskey’s power and pace, his finish unerring beyond Kahn, Liverpool in at the break two goals clear and worthy of the lead.
They made it three just after the break through Michael Owen, a goalscoring genius for whom the whole of 2001 would prove to be his finest year.
This Liverpool side, UEFA Cup holders, looked like potential European Champions — this side were probably the best since Heysel and until 08/09 not to win a European Cup.
They were maturing into a terrific unit and were unfortunate not to emerge from 2001/2 with major silverware. This game showed that, it wasn’t a glorified friendly. It was a statement of intent.
