Liverpool vs Roma: Relive the 1984 European Cup final in pictures

Ahead of Liverpool’s huge Champions League semi-final first leg clash with Roma at Anfield, revisit the most famous meeting between the two teams: the 1984 European Cup final in Rome

It is impossible to rank victories in football and define one as being absolutely the greatest.

And yet, if there was a top five in Liverpool’s history, surely this would feature amongst the collection.

In May 1984, Liverpool travelled to the Stadio Olimpico in Rome to take on the mighty AS Roma in the final of the European Cup, who started the game as favourites. Liverpool took the lead in the first half when Phil Neal scored, but Roma equalised shortly before half-time through Roberto Pruzzo.

The game went to penalties. Substitute Steve Nicol was the first to step up for the Reds, but blazed his shot over the crossbar. Roma captain Agostino Di Bartolomei then put his side in front, but four successful penalties later and Bruce Grobbelaar’s theatrics in goal for Liverpool win the shootout, 4-2. It was their fourth European Cup in eight years.

Ahead of the eagerly anticipated Champions League semi-final clash between the two teams on Tuesday night at Anfield, Simon Hughes has revisited the famous match, to explain why the victory was a glorious night in Liverpool’s history, albeit one with a series of far reaching and tragic consequences.

Simon’s piece is illustrated with a series of high-resolution images from that famous night in Italy, courtesy of ColorSport. The full series of images are collected together in the above gallery, to provide a thrilling account of an extraordinary night in the club's rich history.