UEFA Champions League: Liverpool finals and history

Liverpool have the bragging rights as England's most successful club in Europe, with the majority of their European success coming in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

The Reds have experienced some of the club's greatest heights when playing on the main stage in Europe, whether it be in front of thousands at Anfield or on the road, backed by the travelling Kop.

There is a different atmosphere inside the ground when Liverpool are playing in Europe and, no matter the standard of the 11 players in red shirts, they are always looking to add to their European honours.

Liverpool UEFA Champions League finals

How many UEFA Champions League titles have Liverpool won?

Liverpool have been crowned champions of Europe on six occasions, winning the European Cup in 1977, 1978, 1981 and 1984 and then the re-branded, re-formatted UEFA Champions League in 2005 and 2019.

Liverpool UEFA Champions League history

Liverpool reached their first European Cup final in 1977, where they would beat Borussia Monchengladbach 3-1 under the famous Bob Paisley.

Once Paisley and his side had got a taste for success in Europe, the Reds were a force to be reckoned with in the competition. They followed up their success in 1977 with more European silverware in the 1977/78 campaign.

Club Brugge tested Liverpool, but Kenny Dalglish's goal was enough to win the game and retain the European Cup.

Europe was dominated by another English side for the following two years, with Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest earning back-to-back European honours.

Paisley's tenure at the Reds came to an end in 1983, but the Liverpool great wasn't going to leave the club without adding a third European Cup to the tally.

Liverpool travelled to the French capital to face the Spanish giants, Real Madrid. Los Blancos were six time winners heading into the game, proving that they had the experience and knowhow to get the job done on the main stage. This however, wasn't going to be the case.

A Liverpool side littered with legends, including Graeme Souness, Alan Hansen, Alan Kennedy and Dalglish, got the job done in Paris. An 82nd minute goal from the left back, Alan Kennedy, sent the red side of the Parc des Princes into uproar. The European Cup was heading back to Merseyside for the third time.

The exit of Paisley begged the question as to whether Liverpool's domestic and European success was going to dry up.

This was not the case. Paisley's assistant, Joe Fagan, took over the Reds and led the way to triumph in his first season in charge.

Liverpool won an unprecedented treble in 1984, beating Roma in the 1984 European Cup final in the process. The scores were level after 120 minutes but Liverpool came out on top as 4-2 winners on penalties.

The Reds lost their first European Cup final in 1985, defeated 1-0 by Italian outfit Juventus.

Liverpool were banned from Europe by UEFA from 1985 to 1991 due to events which unfolded at Heysel Stadium prior to the start of the final in 1985.

It took the Reds 20 years to reach another European Cup final. However, this time round it had been re-branded as the UEFA Champions League.

For the Liverpool fans who had endured a 20 year wait, it is fair to say that the 2005 UEFA Champions League final made up for it.

The Reds overcame a 3-0 deficit against AC Milan to bring the game back level to 3-3 in the 61st minute. The miracle of Istanbul was complete after Andriy Shevchenko's penalty was saved by Jerzy Dudek in the decisive shootout.

AC Milan got their revenge two years later however, beating the Reds 2-1 in the 2007 Athens final.

Liverpool played in three UEFA Champions League finals between 2018 and 2022 under Jurgen Klopp. They emerged successful just once in 2019, where they beat Tottenham 2-0 in Madrid.

While Liverpool may have enjoyed success in the Spanish capital, they were unable to get the better of Real Madrid in the 2018 and 2022 finals, losing on both occasions.

Check out the bet365 betting hub for all the latest UEFA Champions League betting odds.

Ellis Statham

• Liverpool F.C.
• European Football
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