Liverpool need to stir some of the spirits of the European past if they are to overcome Atalanta and continue their Europa League campaign.
The Reds slumped to a shocking 3-0 reverse at Anfield to the Italian side on Thursday night. Ex-West Ham man Gianluca Scamacca scored twice, with Mario Pasalic also getting on the scoresheet.
Liverpool now have it all to do if they have any hopes of reaching the semi final in Jurgen Klopp ’s final season. But the Merseysiders know as well as anyone that no team can be counted out when it comes to two-legged European ties.
Klopp was in the dugout for one of Liverpool's greatest ever rescue acts, but there have been plenty of other remarkable comebacks. Mirror Football has taken a look at 10 of the best...
10) Ajax 3-3 Tottenham - 2019
Ajax were one of the stories of the 2018/19 Champions League season. The Dutch side, boasting the likes of Matthijs de Ligt, Frenkie de Jong, Donny van de Beek and more, had captured the imagination of the footballing world.
Lionel Messi posts emotional message after 'year I will never forget'
It looked as though their story would continue. They beat Spurs 1-0 at Wembley and then raced into a 2-0 lead back in Amsterdam. Step forward, Lucas Moura. The Brazilian fired home a quickfire double after the break and rounded off his hat-trick with practically the last kick of the game.
Ajax’s young stars slumped to the floor as Spurs celebrated wildly. While Tottenham only overturned a one-goal first-leg deficit, the context of this comeback sees it deservedly claim its place in this list.
Lucas Moura netted a hat-trick against Ajax in 2019 (Getty Images)What do you think is the best comeback of all-time? Share your thoughts in the comments below
9) Fulham 5-4 Juventus - 2010
After a 3-1 defeat in Turin in their Europa League meeting, Fulham looked set to bow out to Juventus. That result appeared to become more of a formality as David Trezeguet extended the Italian side’s lead at Craven Cottage.
That’s when things got a bit mad. Bobby Zamora got the London side a lifeline before Fabio Cannavaro was sent off. Fulham took full advantage and were level on aggregate after a brace from Zoltan Gera. Clint Dempsey’s delectable chip eventually secured what is one of the club's most famous ever results.
8) Liverpool 4-3 Barcelona - 2019
Given that this comeback is some way down this list, you can judge for yourself how mad it really is. During the 2018/19 campaign, the Reds found themselves 3-0 down after the first leg.
Lionel Messi had scored twice, with Luis Suarez also finding the net at the Camp Nou. Liverpool needed to be relentless at Anfield - and they were that...and then some.
Divock Origi gave the Reds the lead early on, with Georginio Wijnaldum netting twice to level matters. Origi then fired home Trent Alexander-Arnold ’s quick corner to seal a memorable comeback for Klopp's charges, setting them on the way to their sixth European Cup.
7) Roma 4-4 Barcelona - 2018
Oh dear, Barcelona. The Spanish giants get their second entry on this list. Just a year before their collapse against Liverpool, they were doing it against Roma. Barcelona looked on their way through after a 4-1 win against the Italian giants at the Camp Nou.
Edin Dzeko, the scorer of Roma’s only goal in Spain, netted early in the return leg. Daniele De Rossi then reduced the deficit to just one goal from the penalty spot.
Mirror Football's Premier League team of 2022 as champions dominate
Kostas Manolas then headed home in the final ten minutes to seal an aggregate success and one of the most memorable comebacks of all-time.
6) Deportivo La Coruna 5-4 AC Milan - 2004
While Roma overturned their three-goal deficit, their Italian rivals AC Milan went the other way. The habitual European champions looked to be comfortably on their way to the semi final after winning the first-leg 4-1.
Deportivo stunned their illustrious visitors by racing into a three-goal lead before the break. Walter Pandiani, Juan Carlos Valeron and Albert Luque all found the net.
For the first time, that meant that the Spanish side were going through on away goals. They put any doubt to bed as Gonzalez Fran scored within the closing 15 minutes to put the lid on a memorable evening.
Albert Luque celebrates scoring against AC Milan (Getty Images)5) Leverkusen 3-3 Espanyol - 1988
German side Bayer Leverkusen have been one of the stories of the season and could yet be waltzing away with multiple pieces of silverware. They secured the 1988 UEFA Cup with a stunning comeback against Espanyol.
Back then, the final was played over two legs. Espanyol looked halfway to the title after a 3-0 success in Spain.
Leverkusen rallied as they secured their own three-goal success and subsequently lifted the trophy thanks to a penalty shootout victory. Leverkusen fans will certainly be hoping to avoid such drama this season.
4) AC Milan 3-3 Liverpool - 2005
From one three-goal comeback in a final to another, this one goes down in history as arguably the best Champions League comeback of all-time. Aiming to lift their fifth European crown, things did not go to plan for Liverpool.
An early opener from Paolo Maldini set Milan on their way. Hernan Crespo then bagged a brace for the Italian side.
Liverpool rallied after the break. Steven Gerrard and Vladimir Smicer netted quickfire strikes, while Xabi Alonso then had the opportunity to equalise from the spot. He saw his effort saved but tapped home the rebound.
Jerzy Dudek saved from Andriy Shevchenko during the resultant penalty shootout to bag Liverpool the crown against all the odds.
Liverpool staged a stunning comeback vs AC Milan in the 2005 Champions League final (Getty Images)3) Leixoes 7-6 La Chaux-De-Fonds - 1962
From a clash you will definitely have heard of to one you probably won’t have. The game took place in the 1962 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.
Portuguese minnows Leixoes slumped to a 6-2 defeat against their Swiss opponents and they basically had no chance of progressing to the next round. Somebody forgot to tell them that though.
Leixoes won the second-leg 5-0 to secure victory in what is potentially one of the greatest - and most forgotten - European comebacks of all time.
2) Real Madrid 5-5 Borussia Monchengladbach - 1985
Back to some more familiar names now, Real Madrid have a glittering European history. However, the Spanish giants slumped to a dismal 5-1 defeat to Borussia Monchengladbach in the third round of the 1985/86 UEFA Cup.
Any sane person would likely have banked on the German side progressing to the next round. Real were not quite finished there though.
They scored four unanswered goals at the Bernabeu to seal a stunning away goals victory. Even better, it set them on their way to winning the whole competition.
1) Barcelona 6-5 PSG - 2017
Would it have really been anything else? Spanish giants Barcelona were actually the ones to stage the memorable comeback (or Remontada ) this time.
The Catalans looked on their way out of the Champions League after a 4-0 defeat in Paris. A brace from Angel Di Maria and strikes from Edinson Cavani and Julian Draxler were enough for the French giants.
Suarez and Messi both scored at the Camp Nou, while Layvin Kurzawa netted an own-goal to potentially tee-up a heroic comeback. However, Cavani scored with half an hour remaining to leave Barcelona needing three to go through.
Two goals from Neymar late on gave them brief hope heading into the closing stages. Sergi Roberto then scored the all-important goal to fire Barcelona through and into the quarter-finals.
and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
