The Champions League final is drawing closer than ever, and in preparation, Goal.com brings you the historic European seasons Liverpool and Milan have enjoyed in the past.
We start with the 1976-77 season, better known as the year in which the Reds' dominance of this elite competition began. It was nothing but a new dawn for them, in the dusk of Rome's Stadio Olimpico. zoom - galleria 25th of May 1977, as Star Wars open across the world to begin itheir own cinematic dominance, Liverpool's captain Emlyn Hughes, fondly known as `crazy horse' by players and fans alike, led his team out in the cauldron of the Stadio Olimpico, Rome. Bob Paisley, who had already been part of the management team with Bill Shankly, and had revolutionized Liverpool's `bastion of invincibility' in the English first division, began his personal quest to ensure that the European scouse dominance began. The European cup, as it was known then, involved only five knock out rounds home and away in comparison to a grueling nineteen games nowadays. However, lifting `old big ears' (the Liverpool fan's nickname for the trophy) was the highlight for any European club captain. Liverpool's road to Rome began in September. The first leg against little known Irish outfit Crusaders was Liverpool take a 2-0 lead thanks to Phil Neal's (dubious) penalty and John Toshack. The Belfast leg was different, and brought out the real difference. A 5- 0 result, though four came in the last ten minutes as the Irish part- timers tired, gave Liverpool a 7-0 aggregate win. On to Turkey for the second round. Liverpool next travelled into the unknown and the hostile Black Sea port city of Trabzon to meet Trabzonspor. Conditions both on and off the pitch were miserable and the game was separated by another dubious penalty. However this time it was Liverpool's opponents who took a one goal advantage into the second leg at Anfield. Thousands of England based Turks made base in a large section of the main stand creating an atmosphere to rival that of the famous Kop. After only twenty minutes, however, their fire was extinguished as goals from Steve Heighway, Johnson and Kevin Keegan made the second half no more than a stroll, apart from cynical challenges from the visitors that led to one of their defenders being dismissed. It was also a personal high point for Liverpool midfielder Ian Callaghan, who set a new record of European appearances that night, with 79 games. Liverpool would have to wait four months until the quarter-final meeting against Saint-Etienne, the previous year's finalists, who were unluckily beaten by Bayern Munich at Hampden Park. It was notable that Liverpool's team sheet for the first leg only showed four substitutes due a Kevin Keegan injury that didn't clear up prior to the game. In another hostile atmosphere in the Geoffrey Guichard stadium, Steve Heighway second half effort struck the upright and as the game was heading for a goalless draw. However Dominique Bathenay found the corner of the net with ten minutes left. Liverpool would have to come back form another first leg deficit. Anfield was packed out with 55,000 thousand supporters including a large number of visiting fans, creating the typical Anfield European night atmosphere we have come to know and love. Liverpool had the perfect start; after only two minutes on the clock, Keegan's 'cross- turn-shot' looped over Curkovic into the corner of the Anfield road goal. Level on aggregate! Bathenay turned antagonist again; his swerving long range strike found its way in to put the French champions back into an aggregate lead. Although striker turned midfielder Ray Kennedy levelled the scores, Saint-Etienne would still go through on the away goals rule. With six minutes remaining, substitute savvy Paisley sent for the flame haired David Fairclough. Renowned for his goals coming off the bench, the scouse striker lived up to his billing, as he picked up a ball from Kennedy, brushed off any unwelcome attention, and finished with aplomb, sending the fans into raptures. The famous Anfield European night atmosphere was born, one that future visiting teams would come to fear. The final whistle ended a thrilling game with Liverpool into the semi-finals, and sensing glory. Zurich, Switzerland was Liverpool's next destination and although it was a European Cup semi-final, it lived in the shadow of the Saint- Etienne tie, which had been historic. With the capacity at the Letzigrund Stadium of only 29,000, Liverpool supporters still travelled in their droves, and plenty were left outside when the stadium doors were closed with over 30,500 crammed inside. Liverpool found themselves a goal down inside five minutes through a penalty from Risi, but within ten minutes Phil Neal stole in to stab home the equalizer. Steve Heighway showed his typical individual brilliance by giving Liverpool the advantage just after half time and Neal returned to hammer in the final nail with another assured penalty with over twenty minutes left. Three away goals had to see The Reds through to Rome. With the home leg a formality thanks to the heroics in Switzerland, many fans stayed at home to save their money for the probable trip to Rome. Liverpool's place in the final was settled in dominant fashion as goals form Jimmy Case (2) and Keegan annihilated the Swiss to send the Liverpool fans cuckooing! It was also a huge night for a 17 year old scouser called Sammy Lee, who was promoted to the first team squad but unluckily didn't make the team. The Final So onto Rome where Liverpool would face old UEFA cup foes Borussia Moenchengladbach. The form of travel for the majority of fans of Liverpool was by train and ferry, and the old saying, `All roads lead to Rome', had to be re-written. Customs officers in Dover looked overwhelmed at the volumes of Liverpudlians attempting to invade the European mainland. Once there, the Stadio Olimpico was awash with red as 30,000 fans had begged, borrowed and stole to get into Roma's home ground. Liverpool fans felt at home as the most famous song in football rang out: When you walk through a storm Hold your head up high And don't be afraid of the dark At the end of a storm There's a golden sky And the sweet silver song of a lark Walk on through the wind Walk on through the rain Though your dreams be tossed and blown Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart And you'll never walk alone Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart And you'll never walk alone You'll never walk alone The history of the fans being Liverpool's twelfth man was created and the players made their way onto the pitch in amazement as though Anfield had been airlifted to Italy. Signs of nerves were unnoticeable for the Reds as they as Liverpool got there passing game going early on. Keegan, making his last appearance for the club, was showing his typical determination and doggedness whilst being shadowed by new German captain Berti Vogts. In the 27th minute, Liverpool broke the deadlock; Heighway continuing his own good form to lay the ball on for Terry McDermott to lift over Borussia keeper Kneib. The Liverpool fans erupted into mass hysteria and chants of "EE - Aye - Addio The Pope is a Red" filled the air. Liverpool being one-nil up seemed to lift the Germans and before half time Rainer Bonhof rattled the Liverpool upright. The interval arrived with The Reds leading 1-0 and the half- time party started. As the Liverpool fans were looking for omens, the fading sun turned the sky red and the second half would be played under Roman dusk. However, it only took six minutes for Borussia to make a game of it. Jimmy Case lost possession to Allan Simonsen, who decided to charge and do it all himself, unleashing a shot that not even Ray Clements could stop. Borussia's confidence grew and it took a incredible stop by Clements to deny from Uli Stielike, and keep the scores level. Liverpool reacted well and messrs Callaghan, McDermott and Kennedy began to win the battle in midfield with Keegan applying himself well in attack. You could see something was going to give and in the 65th minute Liverpool got their reward. They won a corner on the left and supply man Heighway delivered the perfect ball for the towering Tommy Smith to bullet a header into the net. Smith, playing his 600th and last game for his beloved club was mobbed by the players and the Italian capital erupted again. Borussia had evidently been given a body blow and fatigue began to set in. Liverpool were looking to make things count. With eight minutes left, Keegan took the ball into the penalty area with Vogts in close company. On he went until a lunging tackle from the German took Keegan's legs and the referee pointed to the spot. Penalty!! Up stepped the trusted Phil Neal and with five steps to glory, stroked the ball home. For most Liverpool fans the remaining minutes were nothing more than a blur as singing and dancing accompanied the final moments leading up to the whistle. Liverpool were Champions of Europe. Emlyn Hughes took the famous trophy and held it aloft and Liverpool were Champions of Europe for the first time. More importantly, it was the dawn of the scouse dominance in the Roman dusk. Captain Emlyn Hughes (LFC player & captain 1967-79): "I remember walking out onto the pitch before the game and I thought to myself `Jesus Christ we're back in Liverpool!' There were that many punters from Liverpool there, we were greeted by a sea of red and white. The support of the fans gave us all a terrific lift and all the lads were saying to each other how there was no way we could lose the match now. It was like playing at home. I can imagine what the Borussia players must have thought when they walked out. They must have looked around and thought they had no chance against such support. It must have seemed like they were playing at Anfield."
