In The Spirit Of Istanbul: 5 Greatest Liverpool Comebacks Ever

What a game it was at Anfield. Liverpool trailed by two goals twice in the game and still came back to win 4-3 thanks to a Dejan Lovren header in the last minute of the game. The Reds defeated Borussia Dortmund and ensured that everyone remembers another great European night and well it certainly was a throwback to the Rafa Benitez days when Liverpool came back many a time.

Jurgen Klopp did speak about bringing in the spirit of Istanbul in the half-time team talk and boy did it work. The Reds were brilliant in the second half and deserved to go through. With Liverpool into the next stage of the Europa League and looking like the favourites, we list out the top five Liverpool comebacks.

Manchester United 1-4 Liverpool, Premier League 2009

Going into this game, Liverpool were way behind their rival’s Manchester United in the race for the Premier League title. Things did not start off too well as Cristiano Ronaldo slotted in a penalty in the first half but then the revival started from the Reds. Fernando Torres levelled for the Reds by taking the mickey out of Nemanja Vidic bit there was more to come.

Steven Gerrard game them the lead from the spot just before the end of the first half and the second half belonged to the Reds as goals from Fabio Aurelio and Andrea Dossena ensured Liverpool remember this victory even if they could not win the title that season.

Liverpool 3-1 Olympiakos, Champions League 2004

While everyone does remember winning the UEFA Champions League in 2005, Liverpool were almost out of it when they were trailing to a Rivaldo goal in the group stages. Liverpool needed to beat Olympiakos by two goals and they started it off in the second half thanks to Florent Sinama-Pongolle.

Neil Mellor made it 2-1 before Steven Gerrard hammered home the winner with just minutes left on the clock to give Liverpool a chance of playing in the knockout round and we all know how that went.

Liverpool 3-3 West Ham, FA Cup Final 2006

Liverpool under Rafa Benitez made it a habit to come back when trailing and they did it again against West Ham in the 2006 FA Cup final. Liverpool were favourites but as usual, they let it slip as West Ham led the game first 2-0 but Liverpool pegged them back to 2-2.

Paul Konchesky did put West Ham ahead but Steven Gerrard popped up with a stunning goal in injury time. The sides held on and Liverpool eventually won on penalties but the final will always be remembered as the Steven Gerrard final.

Liverpool 4-3 Newcastle, Premier League 1996

This has been called as the greatest Premier League match ever. Liverpool knocked Newcastle from the title race thanks to a Stan Collymore winner late, late into the game. The sight of Kevin Keegan slumping over the advertising hoardings will last forever in the memory.

Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler got the ball rolling in the game but goals from Les Ferdinand and David Ginola ensured Newcastle have the lead. Fowler made it 2-2 before Faustino Asprilla made it 3-2 for Newcastle before Collymore got his first goal to make it 3-3 and then 4-3.

Liverpool 3-3 AC Milan, Champions League Final 2005

The greatest comeback ever, do we really need to remind anyone about this? Liverpool were the underdogs in this game against an AC Milan side that featured Maldini, Crespo, Shevchenko, Inzaghi, Gattuso, Seedorf, Cafu and a host of others. Liverpool had Djimi Traore.

The Reds trailed 3-0 at halftime but Rafa Benitez and Steven Gerrard turned on the magic in the second half and six minutes of madness got the score at 3-3. Liverpool battled hard and ensured they went into the penalty shootout which they won. Easily the greatest comeback in the history of the UEFA Champions League.