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10th Mar 2016

Here are 5 of the biggest all-English European football matches

Eric Lalor

Memorable matches…

Anfield is the setting tonight for the last 16 Europa League tie between Liverpool and Manchester United, so we thought we’d look back at some of the other top all-English matches from European competitions gone by.

Champions League Final, 2008

Chelsea v Manchester United

Probably the biggest European tie featuring two English clubs as this was the pinnacle of European soccer; two teams going head-to-head to earn the right to be called Champions of Europe.

It was a very wet night in Moscow, but we were treated to a fantastic match with both sides attacking at will, leading to an end-to-end match with thrills and spills aplenty.

MOSCOW - MAY 21: Carlos Tevez (R) of Manchester United and Ashley Cole of Chelsea battle for possession during the UEFA Champions League Final match between Manchester United and Chelsea at the Luzhniki Stadium on May 21, 2008 in Moscow, Russia. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

The match finished 1-1 after extra-time with Ronaldo scoring for United and Lampard grabbing the Chelsea goal. Didier Drogba was sent off near the end of extra-time after an incident with Carlos Tevez.

The match went to penalties and John Terry had the chance to win it for Chelsea, but slipped on his arse and the chance was lost.

MOSCOW - MAY 21: John Terry of Chelsea misses a penalty during the UEFA Champions League Final match between Manchester United and Chelsea at the Luzhniki Stadium on May 21, 2008 in Moscow, Russia. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

Edwin Van Der Saar became the hero for United as his save from Anelka’s spot-kick saw the famous old trophy head to Manchester for a third time.

Champions League Semi-Final, 2nd leg, 2005

Liverpool v Chelsea

The sides were drawn together in the semi-final and, after a goalless draw at Stamford Bridge, the second leg at Anfield was always going to be a tense dramatic occassion.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MAY 03: Luis Garcia of Liverpool scores the opening goal during the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg match between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield on May 3, 2005 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

The atmosphere at Anfield was electric as both sides went at it, but it was Liverpool’s Luis Garcia who got the all-important goal. It came early enough in the match and was shrouded in controversy as it wasn’t 100% clear whether the ball had crossed the line.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MAY 03: Eidur Gudjohnsen of Chelsea misses a chance on goal in stoppage time during the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg match between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield on May 3, 2005 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho didn’t think it had (obviously) and referred to it as Liverpool’s ‘ghost goal’.

Eidur Gudjohnsen had a big opportunity to win it for the Blues deep into injury time, but his shot rolled past the post.

Champions League Semi-Final, 2nd leg, 2008

Chelsea v Liverpool

This was the third Champions League semi-final meeting between the sides and Liverpool had won the previous two.

The first leg at Anfield finshed 1-1, but the home side had conceded an injury-time equaliser via an own-goal from John Arne Riise.

LONDON - APRIL 30: Dirk Kuyt of Liverpool battles with Joe Cole of Chelsea during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final 2nd leg match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on April 30, 2008 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

The second leg went to extra-time as Fernando Torres scored to cancel out Didier Drogba’s opener for Chelsea.

LONDON - APRIL 30: Didier Drogba of Chelsea celebrates with Ricardo Carvalho as he scores their first goal during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final 2nd leg match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on April 30, 2008 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Goals from Lampard and another from Drogba ensured the win for the Londoners and, despite a late goal from Ryan Babel, it was Chelsea who would go on to the final.

European Cup First Round, 1st leg, 1978/79

Nottingham Forest v Liverpool

Back in the old days, the Champions League used to be known as the European Cup. Imagine that!

Anyway, Liverpool were reigning European Cup holders, but had been drawn against Nottingham Forest, the team who had toppled them as English league champions.

The first leg was at the City Ground and Liverpool were hot favourites, but goals from Gary Birtles and Colin Barrett proved to be the difference. Forest won 2-0, went to Anfield in the second leg and got a 0-0 draw to send them through to the next round.

They went all the way to the final where they beat Malmo with a Trevor Francis goal to become European champions for the very first time.

Yes, you read that correctly. Nottingham Forest were champions of Europe.

Champions League Semi-Final, 2nd leg, 2009

Arsenal v Manchester United

The first leg between the sides finished 1-0 in favour of United, but the tie was very much still in the balance before the second leg at the Emirates.

Arsenal v Manchester United - UEFA Champions League Semi Final

However, United were not in the mood for drama and put on a virtuoso display to beat the Gunners 3-1 on the night and 4-1 overall. They put the tie to bed within 11 devastating minutes as Park Ji-Sung and Ronaldo both scored, the latter with an outrageous free-kick from 35 yards.

Arsenal v Manchester United - UEFA Champions League Semi Final

Ronaldo scored his second in the 61st minute after a devastating counter-attack featuring Rooney and Park Ji-Sung.