English sides who have overturned first-leg deficits in Europe
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Liverpool will have to overturn a 1-0 first-leg defeat to Atletico Madrid if they want to secure a place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League for a third-straight season. The Reds lost 1-0 to Atleico at the Wanda Metropolitano thanks to a goal from Saul Niguez, so they’ll need another famous Anfield comeback if they are to successfully defend their Champions League crown. In honour of the task facing Liverpool, we’ve taken a look back at some other occasions when Premier League sides have overturned first-leg deficits in European competition.
Liverpool do the impossible
Liverpool made it to the 2019 Champions League final in the most extraordinary manner by overturning a 3-0 first-leg defeat to Barcelona at the Nou Camp. Many thought that the second leg at Anfield would be a formality for Barca to navigate, but an early Divock Origi goal set the cat amongst the pigeons. Two quick goals after half-time from substitute Gini Wijnaldum levelled the tie and sent Anfield into a frenzy. Then, a quick piece of thinking from Trent Alexander-Arnold at a corner kick saw Origi score a fourth goal to put the Reds into the final.
Moura's memorable strike for Spurs
It looked like Liverpool would face Ajax in the 2019 final but Tottenham had other ideas. After losing the first-leg at home, Spurs had it all to do going to Amsterdam and when they fell 2-0 down after 35 minutes, the tie looked to be over. However, Lucas Moura scored two goals in the space of four minutes to level the game on the night, meaning Tottenham needed one more goal to go through. It looked like time would ultimately run out fro Spurs but in the sixth minute off added time, Moura scored his hat-trick goal to put Tottenham into the final, breaking Ajax hearts in the process.
Chelsea turn it around against Napoli
In 2012, Chelsea won the Champions League but they were very nearly knocked out in the round of 16. Having lost 3-1 to Napoli in Italy. Goals from Didier Drogba and John Terry put Chelsea ahead in the tie, but Gokhan Inler’s superb strike gave the visitors the advantage. Frank Lampard’s penalty sent the game to extra time, where Branislav Ivanovic’s extra-time goal gave Chelsea a 5-4 aggregate win.
Robin Van Persie hat-trick sends Man United through
Manchester United had it all to do at Old Trafford after losing 2-0 away to Olympiacos in the first leg of their Round of 16 clash in 2014. Step forward Robin Van Persie. The Dutch star scored a hat-trick to send United through. Amazingly, that was the last Champions League knockout tie that United have progressed through.
Man United stun PSG with late Rashford penalty
Manchester United pulled off a miraculous comeback to the quarter-finals of the Champions League last season. United travelled to France to face PSG trailing 2-0 on aggregate after goals from Presnel Kimpembe and Kylian Mbappe gave Thomas Tuchel’s men a great win at Old Trafford. United twice took the lead in the second leg thanks to two Romelu Lukaku strikes either side of Juan Bernat’s goal but they looked to be exiting the competition. However, in injury time, VAR awarded United a penalty for a handball by Kimpembe and Marcus Rashford stepped up to convert and put his side through on away goals.
Arsenal hammer Porto at the Emirates
After losing 2-1 in the first leg of their Champions League Last 16 tie against Porto, Arsenal had it all to do in the return fixture at the Emirates. In the end, they made easy work of Porto, hammering them 5-0, with Nicklas Bendtner scoring a hat-trick to seal a quarter-final place for Arsene Wenger’s men.
Fulham stun Juventus
When Juventus beat Fulham 3-1 in the first leg of the Europa League Round of 16 clash in 2010, the second leg looked to be a formality and when David Trezeguet put Juve 1-0 up after two minutes at Craven Cottage, it looked like Fulham would crash out. However, Bobby Zamora’s goal, followed by Fabio Cannavaro’s sending off gave the home side half a chance. Two goals from Zoltan Gera squared the tie at 4-4 on aggregate before Clint Dempsey’s 82-minute chipped effort secured a famous win for Fulham.
Leicester continue their miracle run
Back in 2017, Leicester were trailing 2-0 to Sevilla in the first leg of their Round of 16 game, but Jamie Vardy scored an away goal for the Foxes, one that proved to be pivotal in them advancing to the quarter-finals. Goals from Wes Morgan and Marc Albrighton secured a 2-0 win for the reigning Premier League champions in the second leg, sending the King Power Stadium into a frenzy.
Seventh heaven for Man United
In hindsight, Man Untied had nothing to worry about in their quarter-final second-leg clash with Roma, but nobody predicted the hammering that they gave the Italian side. United lost 2-1 in Rome, but after an hour of the second leg, they were 6-0 up on the night and 7-2 up on aggregate. They ended up winning the game 7-1, giving them an 8-3 aggregate win.
Liverpool do for Chelsea again
Back in 2007, for the second time in three seasons, Liverpool knocked Chelsea out of the Champions League at the semi-final stage. Trailing 1-0 thanks to a Joe Cole strike in the first leg, the Reds returned to Anfield with work to do. Daniel Agger’s goal levelled the tie and the two sides could not be separated from that point on. The game went to penalties, where Dirk Kuyt scored the spot-kick to send Liverpool to Athens.
Terry's header beats Barca
John Terry’s late header puts Chelsea into the 2005 Champions League quarter-final at the expense of Barcelona. The Blues trailed 2-1 on aggregate after the first-leg at the Nou Camp. Chelsea raced into a three-goal lead within 19 minutes of the return game, with Eidur Gudjohnsen, Frank Lampard and Damien Duff putting the Blues in the driving seat. However, two goals from Ronaldinho had Barca back on top on away goals, but Terry’s 76th-minute header gave the Blues a hard-fought win.
Maccarone is Middlesbrough's hero
When Middlesbrough lost 2-0 in the first leg of their 2006 UEFA Cup quarter-final against Basel, it looked like their European journey was about to end. If that wasn’t enough, Eduardo’s 23rd-minute tap-in left Boro needing four goals to advance. Against all odds, they managed to get them too. Mark Viduka’s two goals got Boro back in the tie and things got better when Basel’s Daniel Majstorovic was sent off. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s wondergoal made it 3-3 on aggregate with about 11 minutes left and in the 90th minute, substitute Massimo Maccarone slid in the winner to complete a miraculous comeback win.
Maccarone does it again!
If Boro’s quarter-final wasn’t enough, they pulled off another comeback in the semi-final. They lost 2-1 to Steaua Bucharest in the first-leg and fell 2-0 down in the second, meaning they needed to score four goals again to advance. Once again, they did it too, with Maccarone’s 89th-minute header sealing a second famous comeback win in a matter of weeks.
Leeds overcome Maritimo
Leeds lost the first-leg of their clash with Portuguese side Maritimo 1-0 in the 2001/02 UEFA Cup First Round. However, goals from Robbie Keane, Harry Kewell and Eirik Bakke put Leeds through 3-1 on aggregate.
Liverpool batter Benfica
Benfica defeated Liverpool 2-1 in the first leg of the Europa League quarter-final in 2010, meaning the Reds had work to do at Anfield. In the end, the home side progressed comfortably, winning the second leg 4-1 with Fernando Torres getting two goals to put Liverpool into the semi-final.