FeatureComebacks and a first step to glory - five memorable LFC wins v French teams
As Liverpool prepare to welcome Toulouse to Anfield in the Europa League on Thursday night, we take a look back at five of the Reds’ most memorable wins against French opposition.
March 1977 – Liverpool 3-1 Saint-Etienne (European Cup)
The night on which the legend of ‘Super Sub’ was cemented forever.
Liverpool came into this quarter-final second leg under pressure having lost the first game in France 1-0.
Kevin Keegan’s early strike during the return at Anfield levelled the tie, only for Dominique Bathenay to give the visitors a precious away goal – and the aggregate advantage – early in the second half with a stunning 30-yarder.
Ray Kennedy made it 2-1 to the Reds, but Bob Paisley’s side were still heading out when he sent on David Fairclough for John Toshack, 16 minutes from the end.
The gamble paid off. With six minutes to go, Kennedy sent Fairclough through and, in front of the Kop, the substitute held his nerve to slot home the winner.
Liverpool went on to beat FC Zurich in the semi-final and defeat Borussia Monchengladbach in Rome to lift the club’s first European Cup.
November 1991 – Liverpool 3-0 Auxerre (UEFA Cup)
Another Anfield comeback under the lights.
Liverpool came into the second leg of this UEFA Cup second-round tie 2-0 down after a dismal performance away from home – but they produced a stirring response back in L4.
Jan Molby, recalled to the side by manager Graeme Souness, gave the Reds the perfect start as he converted a penalty after only four minutes, and when Mike Marsh headed home just before the half-hour mark the contest was level on aggregate.
The second half saw Liverpool push hard for a winner and it eventually arrived seven minutes from time, Molby setting up Mark Walters to slide home in front of the Kop.
December 2007 – Marseille 0-4 Liverpool (Champions League)
Needing a win to guarantee progression to the Champions League knockout stages, and having been stunned at Anfield in the reverse fixture, Rafael Benitez’s Reds produced a masterclass at Stade Velodrome.
They were ahead within four minutes, Steven Gerrard converting after his initial penalty had been saved by Steve Mandanda, before Fernando Torres netted a sublime solo strike to make it 2-0 inside 11 minutes.
Dirk Kuyt added a third early in the second half and substitute Ryan Babel raced away to put the seal on a superb win in stoppage time.
The Reds went on to reach the semi-finals that season, where they were beaten narrowly by Chelsea.
March 2010 – Liverpool 3-0 Lille (Europa League)
In the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie, Liverpool had underwhelmed in losing 1-0 to a Lille side containing the likes of Eden Hazard, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Yohan Cabaye.
But they responded superbly at Anfield, Lucas Leiva winning an early penalty that was converted by Gerrard.
Torres took over after that, latching on to Babel’s pass to coolly dink the Reds in front early in the second half, before sealing the game in the 89th minute by following up after Gerrard’s shot was saved.
Liverpool would subsequently nudge past Benfica, only to then be beaten by Atletico Madrid after extra-time in the semi-finals.
September 2018 – Liverpool 3-2 Paris Saint-Germain (Champions League)
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Watch on YouTubeThe road to Madrid, and European Cup No.6 for Liverpool, began on a wild September night against a PSG side featuring the likes of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.
Amid a frenzied Anfield atmosphere, Daniel Sturridge gave the Reds a first-half lead, heading home from Andy Robertson’s cross, before James Milner kept his cool to make it 2-0 from the penalty spot.
Thomas Meunier pulled one back for the French visitors before half-time, and when Mbappe fired home in front of the Kop with only seven minutes remaining it seemed a draw was on the cards.
Substitute Roberto Firmino had other ideas, though, capping a mazy run with a clinical finish into the far corner in stoppage time, to spark wild celebrations among the home supporters.
Another European journey was up and running, and it would end in glory.