Chris Lawler Liverpool 3-2 Everton November 1970 Lawler wrote his name into Kop folklore with possibly the greatest moment in Merseyside derby history when his 84th minute strike at the Kop end completed a memorable comeback against the old enemy. Everton took a two goal lead with strikes from Alan Whittle and Joe Royle, which left Evertonians taunting the world famous Kop. However, with 20 minutes to play Steve Heighway skipped down the wing and slotted the ball home from the tightest of angles. Six minutes later John Toshack scored his first for the club and tied this epic derby match. As the game drew to a close, attack after attack by the Reds was desperately defended by the Toffees who were left dismayed after surrendering their two goal lead. With little over five minutes to play, left-back Alec Lindsay crossed the ball in towards Toshack. He flicked the ball into the path of 'Silent Knight' Lawler, who smashed the ball home to send Kopites into raptures.
Alvaro Arbeloa Barcelona 1-2 Liverpool February 2007 In his first start for the club Alvaro Arbeloa was faced with the greatest of tasks in the Nou Camp. Brought in as an understudy to Steve Finnan in January 2007, Arbeloa was shifted to left-back for the first leg of the vital Champions League tie. With Liverpool fans knowing little about the Spaniard, he impressed by nullifying Barcelona star Lionel Messi as well as Ronaldinho and Saviola. He made such a big impression that Spanish newspaper Los Marcajes rated Messi and Ronaldinho with just five out 10 while Saviola scored a mere four. Barcelona managed to take the lead with Arbeloa trying his utmost to prevent the goal. A slick Barcelona move began when Ronaldinho fed the ball to Zambrotta who crossed without breaking stride. The ball evaded Arbeloa who was attempting to cover for Daniel Agger, but landed perfectly for Deco to head home and put the hosts ahead. Liverpool equalised just before half-time through Craig Bellamy, and with 15 minutes to go took a decisive lead courtesy of John Arne Riise. In what was one of Liverpool's most famous European away wins, to make a full debut and be faced with the task of marking one of the most feared strike forces in Europe will live long in the memory for Reds fans.
Steven Gerrard Liverpool 3-3 A.C. Milan May 2005 Not the most notable of right-backs, but the most notable of performances by the heroic Steven Gerrard. With Rafa Benitez finding his side three goals down at half-time and first choice right-back Steve Finnan unable to continue, he was forced to shuffle his pack. On came Dietmar Hamann, who made the midfield more compact to prevent any further damage being caused by the inspirational Kaka. Rafa shifted to three central defenders in Sami Hyypia, Jamie Carragher and Djimi Traore, with Vladimir Smicer operating as right wing-back and Riise on the left. Gerrard himself pulled a goal back through a miraculous header and within six minutes Liverpool were on level terms and had completed the most remarkable of comebacks with further efforts from Smicer and Xabi Alonso. However, Czech Republic international Smicer failed to cope with the dangerous Serginho. Benitez opted to move Gerrard to the wing-back position as Liverpool steadied the ship after equalising. For the remaining 30 minutes of normal time Gerrard helped to stop Milan from regaining their lead, as Liverpool hung on for extra-time. In the added period Milan continued to probe the Liverpool defence with Gerrard playing a huge part in breaking attacks down the Milan left flank. As a unit Liverpool somehow managed to escape with a penalty shoot out when the game looked dead and buried at half time. What happened next? Well, we all know the hands of the heroic Gerrard went on to lift the European Cup into the Turkish sky.
Phil Neal Liverpool 3-1 Borussia Moenchengladbach May 1977 Twenty-eight years before Istanbul, a legendary right-back would also make his mark in Liverpool's first ever European Cup victory against Borussia Moenchengladbach. Neal made an astonishing 417 consecutive appearances for Liverpool between October 23, 1976 and September 24, 1983. In Rome's Olympic Stadium, Neal capped a wonderful Liverpool performance with a vital penalty after 82 minutes to ensure Bob Paisley's men would be crowned European champions. The Reds took a 27th minute lead when a slick move resulted in Terry McDermott slotting the ball into the corner. However, the German opposition equalised through a thunderous strike by Simonsen. In the second half Tommy Smith scored his only goal of the 76-77 campaign with a bullet header which rocketed past a helpless Kneib, and set Liverpool on the path to victory. As the game drew to a close, Kevin Keegan in his last game before moving to Hamburg set off on a mazy run, dribbling through the German back line. Former Scotland manager Berti Vogts was forced to take him down as he closed in on goal. From the resulting spot-kick Neal ensured Liverpool would go home as champions of Europe.
Rob Jones Manchester United 0-0 Liverpool October 1991 Just 48 hours before making his debut for Liverpool Rob Jones was performing in the fourth tier of English football for Crewe Alexandra. A true Roy of the Rovers style story resulted in Jones being selected at Old Trafford and facing Britain's youngest hot prodigy in Ryan Giggs. He made way after just 65 minutes for the experienced Mike Marsh, but the way in which he had immediately adapted to top flight football was a credit to Jones. Just five months after playing for Crewe Alexandra, Jones was making his England debut against France at Wembley. Throughout Jones' career he never found his name on the scoresheet but it was not for the lack of trying. Playing an amazing 283 games without finding the net does not take away the fond memories held by Liverpool fans. A series of cruel injuries meant Jones' career was cut short but holding his own as an unknown in the cauldron of Old Trafford was the best possible manner in which to start. A great credit to Jones is that Welsh winger Giggs declared the right-back as the best player he ever came up against.
Alan Kennedy Liverpool 1-0 Real Madrid May 1981 In Liverpool's third European Cup final in five seasons they faced the mighty Real Madrid and made it a hat-trick of Ol' Big Ears thanks to a solitary Alan Kennedy goal. This time in Paris at the Parc de Princes, the game produced little in terms of chances; however, the man Liverpool fans nicknamed Barney Rubble netted an unpredictable winner. With David Johnson screaming for the ball to be played across goal for him to stroke into an empty net, Kennedy thundered the ball home and headed off in celebration towards the jubilant Liverpool fans. It was Kennedy's second cup final goal of the 1981 season, having already scored at Wembley against West Ham in the League Cup final. However, that game was forced into a replay where Kenny Dalglish and Alan Hansen clinched the trophy. But this time, in the city of love, Kennedy was not denied his romantic ending of being a cup final hero for Liverpool. His winning strike meant the Reds were crowned champions of Europe once again, and there was time for Kennedy to have yet more of an impact in a European Cup final - this time three years later in Rome...
Alan Kennedy and Phil Neal Roma 1-1 Liverpool May 1984 Back in Rome's Olympic Stadium and Liverpool added yet another European Cup to their ever growing trophy cabinet, and once again it was down to the players who occupied the full-back positions. AS Roma had the huge advantage of playing the final in their home ground, a fact that made them firm favourites against the Reds. Joe Fagan's men walked out into the lion's den expecting a tough examination but after 14 minutes they had taken the lead. Sammy Lee played the ball wide to Craig Johnston who crossed the ball into a dangerous area. Roma goalkeeper Franco Tancredi went up with Ronnie Whelan and failed to claim the ball, leading defender Dario Bonetti to strike the ball against his goalkeeper and into the path of Phil Neal who was on hand to give Liverpool a lead. On 42 minutes Roma equalised through a Roberto Pruzzo header and after a goalless second half the game went into extra-time. The additional 30 minutes failed to decide who would get their hands on the trophy, so Liverpool contested their first European Cup final penalty shoot-out. The Reds didn't start well with a young Steve Nicol striking over the crossbar, and with Roma's Agostini Di Bartolomei converting it took veteran Phil Neal, who scored from the spot in '77 to get Liverpool back on terms. Bruno Conti then missed for the home side, and Graeme Souness struck the coolest of penalties into the top corner. Roma followed up by netting through Ubaldo Righetti. Ian Rush slotted home to put Liverpool into a 3-2 lead, and next up for Roma was Francesco Graziani who succumbed to Bruce Grobbelaar's 'Spaghetti Legs' and fired the ball over the crossbar. That left Alan Kennedy with the penalty to clinch Liverpool a fourth European Cup crown and an unprecedented treble for Joe Fagan's side. Kennedy stepped up, duly dispatched and left Rome distraught and Merseyside jubilant.
Markus Babbel Liverpool 5-4 Alaves May 2001 Back in his home country for the first time as a Liverpool player, Babbel got his name on the scoresheet inside five minutes. Brought in on a Bosman signing from Bayern Munich, Babbel netted on six occasions during the 2000-01 season. In a campaign of high drama for Gerard Houllier's men, who were playing in their third cup final of the season, Babbel got the Reds of to the best possible start. A Gary McAllister free-kick drifted into the six-yard area, allowing Babbel to arrive and nod Liverpool ahead. Just 10 minutes later the Reds were two goals to the good thanks to Steven Gerrard before Ivan Alonso pulled one back after 26 minutes. The Reds' two goal lead was restored before half-time when Gary McAllister scored from the spot after Alaves goalkeeper Martin Herrara had fouled Michael Owen. Within six minutes of the second half Alaves had made it 3-3 through a Javi Moreno brace. Liverpool somehow took the lead again this time through substitute Robbie Fowler which looked to be the winner, that was before former Manchester Untied midfielder Jordi Cruyff headed home to send the game into extra-time. The game was decided when Delfi Geli flicked a Gary McAllister free-kick into his own net to secure a golden goal winner and ensure the UEFA Cup would take its place alongside the Worthington Cup and the FA Cup in the trophy cabinet. In a game of nine goals, two red cards and uncountable chances, it all made for a happy homecoming for Markus Babbel.
Gerry Byrne Liverpool 2-1 Leeds United May 1965 Ian St John is widely remembered as the man who ended Liverpool's 72-year wait to lift the FA Cup. The Liver Birds will fly away from the city before Liverpool lift the trophy was the token joke prior to 1965. However, Byrne went through the pain barrier that day as he suffered a broken collar bone after just three minutes in a horrific clash with Leeds' Bobby Collins. Physio at the time was future Liverpool manager Bob Paisley, who detected the break, but Byrne opted to play on as no substitutes were available in the Sixties. Running the risk of puncturing his lung Byrne continued and when the game ended 0-0 it meant a further 30 minutes of pain for the fearless left-back. Just three minutes into extra-time, Byrne found himself out wide where he battled his way to the by-line and crossed for Roger Hunt to nod home and give Liverpool a 1-0 lead. However, celebrations were short-lived when Billy Bremner struck the ball past Tommy Lawrence to equalise. With less than 10 minutes to play Ian St John powered home a famous twisting diving header past Gary Sprake to clinch the long awaited FA Cup. Just three days later with his arm in a sling, Gerry Byrne paraded the FA Cup around Anfield with fellow injured team mate Gordon Milne before the European Cup semi-final against Inter Milan, where Liverpool ran out 3-1 winners.
Avi Cohen Liverpool 4-1 Aston Villa May 1980 With Liverpool needing a victory to clinch the title they got off to the best possible start with an early goal from striker David Johnson. However, Cohen, who was in the side due to an injury to Alan Kennedy, scored a horrific own goal in front of the Kop which could have delayed any Championship celebrations with Manchester United hot on Liverpool's tail. But five minutes into the second period Cohen put Liverpool back in the lead, again at the Kop end, with an expertly struck left-footed shot. Cohen made amends for his first-half error and set the Reds back on the title track. From then on Liverpool cruised to victory with a further two goals being added, the first again through Johnson, before Villa's Noel Blake had the embarrassment of an own goal making it 4-1. From a situation where Cohen could have been deemed a villain for preventing the title being paraded around Anfield for a 12th time, he netted the goal which put Liverpool back on the road to victory. After signing in 1979 Cohen returned to Israel with Maccabi Tel Aviv in 1981 after making just 24 appearances, which included that all important goal. The goal itself is almost as famous as John Motson's commentary which accompanies it: "Oh I say... At the same end he's got one back!"