On Tuesday night, Liverpool host Napoli in the final game of Group C needing to win 1-0, or by more than a single goal. Does that sound familiar?
14 years and three days before, Liverpool hosted Olympiakos in exactly the same predicament. Rafa Benitez’s Liverpool started the day three points behind their opponents in third place in the group. Having lost 1-0 in Greece, the reds had a superior goal difference that meant they would qualify if they also won 1-0, or by any bigger margin.
The similarities to this season are striking. In 2004 Liverpool opened their Champions League campaign with an impressive home win over the previous season’s finalists, Monaco. This season, Liverpool began their campaign with a huge win against PSG.
In their second game in 2004, Liverpool travelled to Olympiakos and lost 1-0. In their second game in 2018, they travelled to Naples and again lost 1-0.
Liverpool v Olympiakos – 2004
One game of the group stage left, Liverpool sat on seven points and Olympiakos on 10. Monaco were on 9 points, away at Deportivo La Coruna.
Rafa Benitez had arrived in Liverpool just five months previously, the former Valencia boss tasked with taking Liverpool back to the very top of the game.
Only the biggest of Liverpool fans will be able to name the starting XI that day, and even fewer the XI who finished the game.
Chris Kirkland, Steve Finnan, Sami Hyypia, Jamie Carragher, Djimi Traore, Antonio Nunez, Xabi Alonso, Steven Gerrard, John Arne Riise, Harry Kewell and Milan Baros started the game, while Josemi, Florent Sinama-Pongolle and Neil Mellor entered as substitutes.
Olympiakos started four of Greece’s shock Euro 2004 winners in their team, as well as 2002 World Cup winner Rivaldo.
Liverpool haven’t taken the easy route in European competition in recent history, and they didn’t on this occasion. Rivaldo fired a tame first half free-kick through a poor wall to silence Anfield.
The reds went in at the break a goal down, and needing three of their own to qualify from the group. Rafa Benitez responded by hauling off club legend Djimi Traore and replacing him with Florent Sinama-Pongolle.
The young forward had scored just three times for Liverpool since signing in summer 2003, but got Liverpool’s first within two minutes of the start of the second half.
Olympiakos kept Liverpool at a distance however, and though Harry Kewell spurned several good opportunities, the score was still 1-1 with 10 minutes left.
In desperation and genius Rafa Benitez sent on Neil Mellor in place of Milan Baros, and just three minutes later Mellor smashed home a rebound to leave Liverpool needing just one goal.
It was a simple equation. If they scored, they were through. If they didn’t they were out. Liverpool needed a hero and they got one.
“Mellor. Lovely cushioned header, for GERRARD! OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH YA BEAUTY! WHAT A HIT SON, WHAT A HIT!”
Steven Gerrard’s brilliant volley sent Andy Gray into orbit, and Liverpool into the Champions League knockout-stage. Anyone remember how they did?
Liverpool v Napoli – 2018
The reds were unlucky to lose in Italy in October, Lorenzo Insigne’s 90th minute strike consigning Liverpool to their first of three defeats on the road in Europe already.
But Napoli are a stronger outfit than Olympiakos were (as much as Liverpool are a stronger team now also), and fans will know that this game is very much on a knife edge.
In five Champions League games, Liverpool have conceded seven goals, more than they have conceded in their 16 league games so far.
And they must do it without Joe Gomez, the England international out until 2019 with a fractured leg. Of course, they do have the best defender in the world, Dejan Lovren, to come in.
Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino were instrumental in Liverpool’s run to the final last year, but have disappointed so far. They must step up to the plate on Tuesday.
Napoli have quality through their team. They will play carefully and patiently, knowing that a draw will see them through but that if they can score, the night may be a whole lot easier.
In Marek Hamsik, Dries Mertens, Arkadiusz Milik and Insigne, Gli Azzuri will carry a goal threat. They were unfortunate to leave Paris with just a point, and they will play to score.
They are not slouches at the back either. Senegalese defender Kalidou Koulibaly has been linked with a big money move away from Italy in recent months, and Roberto Firmino must be at his best to rattle the 27-year-old giant.
No Gerrard, who will be the hero?
Steven Gerrard’s screamer was neither the first or last time he rose to the occasion and almost single-handedly dug Liverpool out of a deep hole.
Five months later, he scored and won a penalty when Liverpool came back from 3-0 down to defeat AC Milan in Istanbul. Another year later he scored one of the all-time greatest FA Cup final goals in injury time to equalise against West Ham.
Such heroes are hard to come by, but this game opens the door to potential legend status within Anfield. Why else would anyone remember Florent Sinama-Pongolle or Neil Mellor? (That’s a bit harsh on Mellor, one of his two league goals for Liverpool was a 90th minute screamer to defeat Arsenal)
Both sides warmed up for this game with 4-0 victories, with both resting many key players also. This promises to be a titanic battle.
If Liverpool can overcome Napoli on Tuesday night, fans will believe that they can go all the way once again.
