Liverpool’s 5 Champions League victories: Looking back at glory
By Kris Whelan
1977: Liverpool 3-1 Borussia Monchengladbach
This was the first of Liverpool’s five European triumphs, one they coasted to in the final by beating German side Borussia Monchengladbach 3-1 in the final. Three time defending champions Bayern Munich were knocked out in the quarter final by Dinamo Kyiv, much to the surprise of the footballing world.
In 1977 the European Cup didn’t have any group stages, instead it was comprised of 32 teams who went up against one another in a knockout style competition. Each team would play four knockout rounds consisting of two legs. (Not including the final which consisted of one game). Along the way, the English side beat Crusaders (Northern Ireland), Trabzonspor (Turkey), Saint-Etienne (France) and then FC Zurich (Swizterland) in the semi final.
Liverpool went in to the final as favorites after winning the English league for a record 10th time, besting Manchester City and Ipswich town by a single point. Liverpool went in to the half 1-0 up thanks to Terry McDermot who managed to put one past Wolfgang Kneib in the 28th minute. The game was level at 1-1 after the German side equalized through Allan Simonsen in the 52nd minute.
The goals that put Liverpool at the top of Europe’s elite for the very first time came from two defenders, Tommy Smith and Phil Neal respectively.
This was it, the foundation was laid for a fantastic European tradition that fans and historians alike continue to talk about to this day.
Liverpool line up: Substitutes:
GK- Ray Clemence GK- Peter McDonnell
RB- Phil Neal DF- Alec Lindsay
CB- Tommy Smith MF- Alan Waddle
CB- Emlyn Hughes (C) FW- David Fairclough
LB- Joey Jones FW- David Johnson
RM- Ian Callaghan
CM- Jimmy Case
CM- Terry McDermot
LM- Ray Kennedy
CF- Steve Highway
CF- Kevin Keegan
Next: 1978: A successful night in London