As Liverpool prepare to take on Atletico Madrid in the Champions League round of 16 at Anfield tomorrow night, the Reds’ Twitter channel @LFC harked back 11 years ago today to another such fixture against opposition from the Spanish capital.
On 10 March 2009, Rafael Benitez’s side welcomed Real Madrid to Merseyside having won the first leg 1-0 at the Bernabeu and duly delivered an outstanding performance to hammer the La Liga giants 4-0 at Anfield.
#OnThisDay in 2009, there was a very memorable European night at Anfield ?? pic.twitter.com/WBcnESoSB4
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) March 10, 2020
According to BBC journalist Phil McNulty, ex-Atletico striker Fernando Torres “delivered a scintillating solo performance to torment his old adversaries” and it was he who opened the scoring on 16 minutes, with Steven Gerrard doubling the lead with a penalty shortly afterwards. Ryan Babel added a third just after the interval and Andrea Dossena rounded off the scoring on a night when the margin of victory may well have been even greater were it not for a series of saves from Iker Casillas. [via BBC]
Liverpool repeated that scoreline against another La Liga club (namely Barcelona) in the competition last year and it would be more than enough to take them through against Atletico Madrid tomorrow night. These Reds fans fondly recalled the 11-year anniversary of the emphatic win over Real Madrid and no doubt will hope for a repeat showing against their city rivals on Wednesday:
Boss night still picture it from the KOP what a night
— Gary Bond (@gary73bond) March 10, 2020
Legendary
— Lebohang (@Lebohan59345096) March 10, 2020
Dossena you rascal.
— Jason Williams (@jaswilliams81) March 10, 2020
They were lucky to only concede 4. Casillas was incredible that night.
— David Webber (@DrDaveWebber) March 10, 2020
Fantastic game and result and the “best defender ever” Sergio Ramos getting done big style by Ryan Babel (no offence Ryan)
— Dave Wilson (@letshaveit69) March 10, 2020
This was on my 18th birthday, it was the best present I could have had ?
— Rob Evans (@Rob_Evans10) March 10, 2020
Liverpool fans, does the 4-0 win over Real Madrid rank as one of the Reds’ greatest ever European performances? Have your say by commenting below!
