Liverpool's best and worst Champions League group stage finales, from Steven Gerrard to Mohamed Salah
Jurgen Klopp's men produced another night of Anfield drama against Napoli before securing their round of 16 place
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Your support makes all the difference.Liverpool secured their place in the knockout stage of the Champions League with another brilliant result at Anfield following their 1-0 victory over Napoli in their final Group C match.
Mohamed Salah’s goal was enough for Jurgen Klopp’s men to secure the result they needed despite spurning several gilt-edged chances, but goalkeeper Alisson was forced to make a dramatic late save from Arkadiusz Milik to prevent the visitors from ripping up the script at the death.
The win continued Liverpool's formidable record of getting vital European results at Anfield, but they have not always delivered when it has mattered most over the years.
Here, we take a look at how the Reds have fared on matchday six with their progression still hanging in the balance during the Champions League era.
2001-02 (group stage one)
Gerard Houllier's side started top of their first group phase on nine points, one ahead of Boavista and Dortmund. Vladimir Smicer and Stephen Wright both scored as Liverpool beat the German side 2-0 at Anfield. SUCCESS.
2001-02 (group stage two)
There were two group phases before the knockout stage in the 2001-02 season and despite being bottom on four points in the second group, three behind leaders Roma and two behind Barcelona, Jari Litmanen's penalty and Emile Heskey's header was enough for Houllier’s men to earn a 2-0 win over the Italians at Anfield and turn the tide. SUCCESS.
2002-03
It has not always been plain sailing for Liverpool, however. In 2002 they were third on seven points, one behind second-placed Basel. They needed to beat their Swiss hosts to progress but were 3-0 down after 29 minutes at St Jakub Park – with future Tottenham legend Thimothee Atouba among the scorers – and despite pulling it back to 3-3, they were eliminated at the group stage. FAILURE.
2004-05
One of the most memorable nights at Anfield. Liverpool were third in the group on seven points, three behind second-placed Olympiakos. Rafa Benitez's side needed to win 1-0 or by two clear goals and after trailing by a single goal at half-time to Olympiakos, Florent Sinama-Pongolle, Neil Mellor and Steven Gerrard's last-gasp third earned a 3-1 triumph to progress. SUCCESS.
2007-08
Liverpool were third in the group on seven points, level with second-placed Marseille, and needed to beat the French side away from home to advance. The Reds ran out comfortable 4-0 winners, with Gerrard, Fernando Torres, Dirk Kuyt and Ryan Babel all finding the net. SUCCESS.
2014-15
Basel were the architects of Liverpool’s pain again. Brendan Rodgers’ team were third in the group on four points, two behind the Swiss giants. Another stirring Anfield win would have been enough to see them through, but Lazar Markovic was sent off just 16 minutes after coming on as a substitute and Basel held on to claim a 1-1 draw. FAILURE.
2017-18
Last season, Jurgen Klopp's team were top on nine points, one ahead of Sevilla. They had to draw to be certain of qualification, while a loss would have put them out. They eased past Spartak Moscow with a 7-0 win thanks to a Philippe Coutinho hat-trick, plus two goals from Sadio Mane and strikes from Salah and Roberto Firmino. SUCCESS.
2018-19
Three away losses in the group stage for the first time ever put Liverpool in third on six points, three behind leaders Napoli and two adrift of Paris Saint-Germain. They needed to beat the Italians 1-0 or by two clear goals, similar to the Olympiakos match 14 years earlier, and Salah's goal proved to be the difference in a tense battle against Carlo Ancelotti's side. SUCCESS.
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