Remembering Liverpool and Chelsea's Epic European Showdowns

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Before 2005, Liverpool never really cared much for Chelsea. Their biggest rivals were always alongside them in the North West in the form of Everton and Manchester United, while the Blues had enough to worry about in the capital alongside the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham. However, Luis Garcia's ghost goal in the 2004/05 UEFA Champions League semi-finals ignited one of the fiercest rivalries in English football history.

Fast forward two decades and much of the news is centered around other rivalries, consigning this epic north vs south battle to the history books. A recent article from the popular Bodog news and betting site focused more on Liverpool's fiery relationship with the Red Devils, ranking it as the sixth-best rivalry on the planet, with Barcelona and Real Madrid taking the top spot. But throughout the mid-to-late 2000s, everything paled in comparison to Liverpool vs Chelsea. 

The Flames Ignite

The seeds for this showdown were sown in the summer of 2004 when both clubs underwent significant change. Fresh off leading Portuguese underdogs FC Porto to Champions League glory, José Mourinho took charge at Stamford Bridge, backed with Roman Ambramovich's billions. Meanwhile, Rafa Benitez took over at Anfield and he was aiming to replicate his success in Spain, where he led Valencia to two La Liga titles, despite having a much smaller budget than those aforementioned El Clasico compatriots. 

Mourinho's Blues swept all before them domestically, romping to the Premier League title in record-breaking fashion. They coveted Reds skipper Steven Gerrard all season long and it appeared that he would make the move south, even scoring his first "goal" for the club in the League Cup final, a contest also won by the Blues. However, the trophy they truly wanted to claim was the Champions League, and all that stood before them and a date with AC Milan in the Istanbul final was Rafa's Reds. 

Despite Chelsea being the much stronger team on paper, the first leg at Stamford Bridge ended goalless, leaving it all to play for in the return fixture. It was there that one of the most controversial moments in history played out. Luis García bundled home the opener in the fourth minute with a strike that has gone on to become known as the "ghost goal." Long before the days of goal-line technology and VAR, replays of the goal could not conclusively prove if the ball had crossed the line. 

Chelsea, furious, could not find an equalizer, and Liverpool advanced 1-0 on aggregate. The Reds then completed an extraordinary comeback in the final against AC Milan, earning their fifth European Cup. The frustration for Mourinho and Chelsea only stoked the growing tension between the two clubs.

Champions League Chess Matches

Mourinho moved heaven and earth to sign lethal striker Andriy Shevchenko in the summer of 2006, but his debut couldn't have gone any worse as his new side dropped the Community Shield to the Reds. New Liverpool striker Peter Crouch netted an 80th-minute winner, but the biggest clash would come in the continental stage once again. 

In May 2007, the two sides met in the semifinals for the second time in as many years. Joe Cole’s solitary goal gave Chelsea a narrow 1-0 win in the first leg at the Bridge and Mourinho was hoping that would be enough to carry them through to the Athens final. Unfortunately, heartache would lurk around the corner once more. 

The second leg would be a classic Anfield night. Daniel Agger equalized the tie with a brilliant finish from the edge of the area after a well-worked free kick. Chelsea would once again not manage to find a goal on enemy territory, taking the tie to a penalty shootout. This time around, Pepe Reina was the hero, saving twice and allowing Dirk Kuyt to sweep home and send his side to the final. 

Mourinho’s Exit and Chelsea’s Revenge

By the 2007/08 season, the rivalry took an unexpected turn with Mourinho's shock departure from the Bridge in September 2007. His abrupt exit brought Avram Grant to Chelsea's helm, but the two clubs remained on a collision course. They met yet again in a Champions League semi-final, the third time in four seasons. And this time, Chelsea would finally find their way past their nemesis. 

They managed to net at Anfield for the first time in the three ties as John Arne Riise bundled into his own net in injury time to end the first leg at one goal apiece. The second leg would also end up 1-1, with Fernando Torres' second-half goal cancelling out Drogba's opener. In extra time though, it was The Blues that streaked clear, scoring twice and punching their tickets to an all-English final against Manchester United in Moscow. 

In 2009, the two unbelievably met once more, this time at the quarter-final stage. And the contest would ultimately be a thriller. 

Chelsea won the first leg at Anfield by three goals to one, with Drogba netting twice. Liverpool needed a miracle on the second leg at the Bridge, made all the more difficult by the fact that captain and talisman Gerrard was out with an injury. Unbelievably however, they raced into a two-goal lead thanks to goals from Fabio Aurelio and Xabi Alonso, and the miracle looked very much possible. 

Unfortunately though, in the second half, the Blues came roaring back. Goals from Drogba, Alex, and Lampard took the tie away from Liverpool, and while they did ultimately secure a 4-4 draw in the second leg, Chelsea were the worthy 7-5 aggregate victors.

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