When this season’s Champions League draw was made with Liverpool paired alongside AC Milan, it stirred memories of the most dramatic Champions League final in history in 2005.
On Wednesday, the two teams clash again at Anfield in the same competition, this time in the Group stages for the first time.
Ahead of that fixture we look back at the Liverpool goals from the two European Cup finals against the Rossoneri and also review some other goals from matches between the clubs.
AC Milan 3 -3 Liverpool (Liverpool won 3-2 on penalties)
25 May 2005 – Atatürk Olympic Stadium – Champions League Final
How could we review Liverpool’s goals against the Italians without starting with one of the most scintillating finals in history?
Against all odds, the Reds had made their way to the final in Rafael Benitez’s first season at the helm.
They had rode their luck at times on the way to the final but Benitez’s astute tactical qualities and Liverpool’s new found resilience in defence helped secure their spot in their first European Cup final for 20 years.
The first half could not have gone much worse as Milan stormed into a 3-0 half time lead leaving the supporters who had travelled from Merseyside hoping for a second half miracle. Little did they know what was about to follow.
GOAL: Steven Gerrard – 54th minute
Skipper Steven Gerrard gave his team a lifeline in the 54th minute when his looping header found the far corner from John Arne Riise’s cross. 3-1
GOAL: Vladimir Smicer – 56th minute
Two minutes later and the deficit was halved. Xabi Alonso worked the ball across to Didi Hamann who found Smicer 30 yards from goal on the right. The Czech international took one touch before unleashing an unstoppable drive into the bottom corner of Dida’s net. 3-2
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🇨🇿 Vladimir Šmicer
Liverpool v AC Milan
2005This was the second of Liverpool’s three second half goals. In Šmicer’s last game for the club, his last kick as a Liverpool player was the decisive penalty in the shoot-out.pic.twitter.com/e47w9rN8DF
— GoalScorer Challenge ⚽️ (@GoalscorerC) May 30, 2020
GOAL: Xabi Alonso – 60th minute
As the Reds continued to pile forward, Milan Baros’ neat back heel in the 60th minute found the run of the onrushing Gerrard.
The midfielder continued into the box before being clipped from behind by Gennaro Gattuso and Spanish referee Manuel Mejuto Gonzalez had no hesitation in awarding a penalty.
Alonso stepped up but saw his spot kick saved low to his right by Dida. The Spanish midfielder reacted quickest to the rebound however to thump home into the roof of the net with his left foot and square the match. 3-3
XABI ALONSO GOAL! LIVERPOOL 3-3 AC MILAN. pic.twitter.com/lhhvACVYsZ
— Fanatic LFC (@Fanatic_LFC) November 25, 2015
In the craziest seven minutes in Champions League history Liverpool had hauled themselves back into game.
Despite some difficult moments later in the game, where Jerzy Dudek made an unbelievable double save, they eventually went onto win 3-2 on penalties to seal their 5th European Cup triumph on a remarkable night in Istanbul.
AC Milan 2 -1 Liverpool
23 May 2007 – Olympic Stadium, Athens – Champions League Final
For the second time in three years, the Reds faced Carlo Ancelotti’s team in the Champions League final.
On this occasion however, Milan came out on top thanks to two strikes from Filippo Inzaghi in the 45th and 82nd minute.
GOAL: Dirk Kuyt – 89th minute
There was brief hope of an Istanbul like comeback when Dirk Kuyt headed home a flick on from Jermaine Pennant’s corner in the 89th minute. On this occasion however there was not enough time left for a Reds recovery.
#OnThisDay in 2️⃣0️⃣0️⃣7️⃣
AC Milan won the Champions League after beating Liverpool 2-1 in Athens 🏆pic.twitter.com/D606i4H7R3
— GOAL (@goal) May 23, 2019
Since those finals, the only matches between the two teams have taken place on the other side of the Atlantic in International Champions Cup matches. We’ve picked out two strikes from those games.
AC Milan 0-2 Liverpool
2 August 2014 – Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte – International Champions Cup
GOAL: Suso – 89th minute
Liverpool put themselves through to the final of the International Champions Cup with this 2-0 victory in North Carolina.
Joe Allen had given Liverpool the lead in the 17th minute and the victory was finally confirmed in the 89th when Suso exchanged passes with Philippe Coutinho before stroking home into the bottom corner from 20 yards.
Brendan Rodgers’ team would eventually go onto lose 3-1 in the final to rivals Manchester United.
Liverpool 2-0 AC Milan
30 July 2016 – Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara – International Champions Cup
GOAL: Origi – 59th minute
The teams faced off two years later in the same competition with the Reds again coming out on top 2-0.
The opening goal was scored in the 59th minute as Divock Origi took down a long pass on the Liverpool left before cutting inside and curling the ball inside the far post.
Roberto Firmino doubled the lead in the 73rd minute sliding home after good work from Sheyi Ojo on the right.