Liverpool F.C and European Football go hand-in-hand. From Shankly’s first Uefa Cup win up to that night in Istanbul we’ve had some amazing matches with some of the best atmosphere’s experienced in any football ground around the world.
Liverpool F.C’s Official Facebook Page asked fans what their favourite final of all time was and the people voted for Istanbul. Now for me that’s not a true representation of Liverpool supporters, after all some simple demographic research would suggest a large percentage of Facebook’s users were not born before we won the European Cup in 1984, meaning their fondest memory is naturally going to be Istanbul.
For me Rome in 84 was our greatest final. One of the best Liverpool teams of all-time walked out in Rome and beat Roma in their own backyard. Not only that but winning the European Cup meant more then, you only played Champions, not second, third and fourth place teams. It was also straight knockouts which meant a bad night wasn’t an option as it is in today’s group stages.
Don’t get me wrong, I loved Istanbul, I was even in the Attaturk that night, I just don’t think it’s our great European Cup final.
Now, my question for Empire of the Kop readers is what is your favourite European night that isn’t a final? Forget about that night in Rome or Dortmund in 2001 I want people to think back to their favourite Semi-Finals, Quarter-Finals, Knockout fixtures and group games. It may have been the night the standing Kop was rocking against St. Etienne or it may be the game in which Gerrard scored that goal against Olympiacos. It may even be a group game against Chelsea I want to know what your favourite group game was by posting them in the comments section.
For me it has to be St. Etienne, the late Fairclough goal and the Standing Kop rocking to ‘We shall not be moved’ what a night that was.
So, go ahead battle it out in the comments section.
M.Owen
michael@empireofthekop.com
Definitely Istanbul!What we do In istanbul echoes in Eternity!
Favourite Night(s):The semi final against Chelsea (road to istanbul)
The destruction of Real Madrid!
The greatest European night was that gerrard goal closely followed by Chelsea in 05 because everybody remembers excatly where they were when that gerrard goal went in and it’s the same with the one that never crossed the line
Mine was the night we beat Juventus 2-1 with Luis Garcia scoring that wonder goal against Buffon & the Kop mosaic featuring the word Amicizia (friendship).
Well istanbul is legendary now but for me the semi-final against Chelsea 2007 as I was at anfield. Best experience of my life. Haven’t been to a better football game.
Istanbul is the obvious choice. I also really enjoyed the quarter-final second leg against Arsenal last year. That was probably the best atmosphere I’ve ever experienced at Anfield, and the ups and downs of that match almost killed me. An incredible night.
to me every single win is just a great night for reds. But recently i think i could say the game against manure, or the night that we almost beat chelsea for the champions this year. But to me, the champions final of istambul was something that i would never ever forget… for the big meaning of being losing and then win… i guess many of us cried that night…. afternoon in my case xD… but was like that.
Proud to be red, and even those time we lose, i wear my jersey proudly!!..
Istanbul without a shadow of a doubt was THE greatest European night. Rome, Paris and Wembley were all fantastic nights but nothing will rival what happened that night. It didn’t matter whether you were in the Ataturk Stadium or Liverpool city centre, if you witnessed it; if you lived that moment the way you live for LFC, then you were part of something unforgettable.
That aside, we’ve had some pretty amazing European nights over the past half century at Anfield alone. Inter Milan in ’65 and St Etienne in ’77 and Chelsea in ’05 roll off the tongue with such ease that it’s easy to forget the less celebrated ones.
Auxerre in the early 90s, Roma in 2002, Chelsea in ’07, Real Madrid last season and Arsenal the season before were also memorable.
Away from home we’ve had some pretty historic ones also. Beating Real Madrid, Barcelona and Inter Milan in their own back yards was highly impressive but nowhere near as credible as ‘mission impossible’ in Rome 1984.
Finals have been so plentiful that you really could take your pick but speaking from a young’un’s perspective, Dortmund 2001 was one of the highest ranking after the 5 European Cup wins.