The last 5 times English sides have met in Champions League knockout ties
Liverpool and Manchester City are to meet in an all-English Champions League quarter-final – and hopefully it will live up to previous European battles between the Premier League’s best.
For supporters hoping for a glamorous tie in one of Europe’s cosmopolitan cities, it can often be a disappointment to see their team drawn against a side they already face at least twice a year.
However, all-English encounters have thrown up some classic Champions League knockout ties, and we’ve looked back at five of the most recent.
2010-11 Quarter-finals
First leg: Chelsea 0-1 Manchester United
Is it just us that has absolutely no recollection of this tie? Apparently Wayne Rooney scored the only goal after 24 minutes while Fernando Torres toiled fruitlessly upfront alongside Didier Drogba, months after completing his British-record move to Stamford Bridge.
Second leg: Manchester United 2-1 Chelsea
Honestly, are we sure this tie took place?
Carlo Ancelotti bravely dropped Drogba and opted for Torres on his own, the BBC report tells us. Javier Hernandez put United 2-0 up on aggregate just moments before half-time, when Torres was unceremoniously replaced by the Ivorian.
Ramires was then sent off for Chelsea, but an inspired Drogba pulled a goal back, only for Park Ji-Sung to ensue the hosts went through to face Schalke in the semi-finals.
READ: Where are they now: Schalke’s 2011 Champions League semi-finalists
2008-09 Semi-finals
First leg: Manchester 1-0 Arsenal
As the man who once chipped Manuel Almunia at Highbury in 2005, John O’Shea has proven an unlikely match-winner against Arsenal.
The defender produced the goods again on this occasion by scoring the only goal of the game after 18 minutes.
Second leg: Arsenal 1-3 Manchester United
Arsenal had hopes of overturning a first-leg deficit at home, with Arsene Wenger promising a “magnificent” performance, but Emirates Stadium was quickly silenced by the brilliance of Cristiano Ronaldo.
Park had given United the lead after only eight minutes before Ronaldo put the result beyond doubt with a 40-yard free-kick three minutes later.
Ronaldo bagged his second following a devastating counter-attack, while Robin Van Persie bagged a late consolation from the spot as Darren Fletcher was sent off.
2008-09 Quarter-finals
First leg: Liverpool 1-3 Chelsea
The Reds may have finished ahead of Chelsea in the Premier League that season, but the Blues, who replaced Luiz Felipe Scolari with Guus Hiddink in February, were dominant at Anfield.
Torres gave the hosts the lead after just six minutes, but Branislav Ivanovic headed home twice from corners either side of half-time before Drogba added a third.
Second leg: Chelsea 4-4 Liverpool
If the earlier clashes between Chelsea and Liverpool in the mid-noughties were characterised by tension and intensity, this fixture refused to follow script and descended into utter, brilliant madness.
By half-time Liverpool were back level on aggregate thanks to a sneaky free-kick from Fabio Aurelio and a penalty from Xabi Alonso. Chelsea then wrestled back control as Pepe Reina’s fumble allowed Drogba to score, before Alex scored an absolute thunderb*stard.
Frank Lampard made it 3-2 on the night, but the visitors went ahead once more thanks to goals from Lucas Leiva and Dirk Kuyt. With Liverpool just one goal away from a stunning comeback, Lampard finally killed off their hopes in the 89th minute.
Alex's free kick vs Liverpool 😍 https://t.co/uKnVw5MyVC
— Brazil Edition Vids (@BE_Vids) December 19, 2016
2007-08 Final
Manchester United 1-1 Chelsea (Manchester United win 6-5 on penalties)
There are almost too many great images from this final: Ronaldo towering over Michael Essien to head home United’s opener; Lampard pointing to the skies in tribute to his mother, who had passed away the previous month, after equalising; Drogba receiving a red card for slapping Nemanja Vidic (you’d forgotten all about that, hadn’t you?); John Terry’s slip; Edwin Van der Sar’s save from Nicolas Anelka; and, finally, United lifting the trophy.
2007-08 Semi-finals
First leg: Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea
Liverpool thought they had played the perfect first leg as the clock ticked down at Anfield. Kuyt’s first-half goal had given them the lead and only saves from Petr Cech to deny Steven Gerrard and Torres kept the hosts at bay.
The Reds appeared to have crucially thwarted Chelsea from returning to London with an away goal until John Arne Riise blundered by heading the ball into his own goal with five minutes of injury time having been played.
Second leg: Chelsea 3-2 Liverpool (AET)
Drogba put Chelsea ahead in the first half only for Torres to thwart his future employers with an equaliser just after the hour mark, sending the tie to extra time.
Lampard, playing for the first time since the death of his mother, was visibly emotional after showing supreme composure to put the Blues back ahead with a penalty, and Drogba’s second sealed the victory, although Ryan Babel’s wondergoal ensured a nervy finish.
What a goal this was by Ryan Babel against Chelsea in the 117th minute pic.twitter.com/WNbTtcnPVD
— LFCTS (@LFCTS) March 31, 2016
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