As it happened in 2004 and 2014, Liverpool European future will be decided in the last match of the group stage at Anfield. On both occasions, Liverpool needed a victory to survive in the Champions League, with an eventual different story in those two evenings.
In the first of these matches, Liverpool had to win by two goals against Olympiakos, but Rivaldo's goal meant that the Reds must score three to progress. Then, with Anfield roaring, while Liverpool was winning 2-1, a result that wasn´t enough, the clock marked the 86th minute when Steven Gerrard scored an outstanding goal to qualify his club.
Certainly, it was the spark for a team that had been struggling in the beginning of the season with the new coach, Rafa Benitez. Eventually, they reach the final after beating Leverkusen, Juventus, and Chelsea, and in spite of losing that match against Milan by 3-0, they drew and won it in the penalties, in perhaps the most exciting final of the Champions League history.
A nightmare in 2014
After a season where Liverpool almost lifted their first Premier League ever, the sale of Luis Suarez undermined Brendan Rodgers' team. They returned to the Champions League for the first time in five years, and despite being drawn in an easy group along with Basel and Ludogorets, they were just able to win one of the first five matches.
Thus, their destiny should have been decided at Anfield against the Swiss, and only a victory would make the Reds go through to the next round. Meanwhile, Basel just needed a point, they were controlling most of the match and were ahead in the scoreline.
Then, Markovic was sent off and everything seemed doomed for Liverpool.
But Steven Gerrard kept the hopes alive when he scored an astonishing goal as he did ten years ago against Olympiakos. That meant that Liverpool had to score another, but although they were trying relentlessly until the end with chances for Gerrard and Henderson, they couldn't win the game and therefore they were relegated to play at the Europa League.
Barcelona vs Tottenham Hotspurs
Apart from Liverpool, Pochettino's team might also be eliminated tonight from the Champions League. In order to avoid doing so, they need to match the result of Inter Milan, who play at home against an already eliminated PSV.
Realistically, Tottenham Hotspur shall win at the Camp Nou, a place where Barcelona have not lost since 2013. Still, there is a belief among the Londoners, who are now perhaps at their best moment in the season.
Indeed, Kane, Eriksen, Son, and Alli are shining after a difficult start, and even though they must accomplish such a feat to progress if they show the same dynamism as they did against Chelsea recently, they will surely have a chance.
