Liverpool 4-3 (5-4 on agg.) Borussia Dortmund
Liverpool have a remarkable history when it comes to European comebacks. From that famous final against Milan in Istanbul to their amazing semi-final second-leg turnaround against Barcelona, a good portion of those matches have come in the Champions League.
However, one match which shouldn’t be overlooked when discussing Liverpool’s dramatic comebacks is their epic Europa League quarter-final second-leg against Borussia Dortmund in 2016.
After drawing the first leg 1-1 in Germany, Dortmund were set to pull off a massive shock as they were 3-1 ahead at Anfield with half an hour remaining. But somehow, Jurgen Klopp’s side staged a stunning comeback to break his old club’s heart.
Highlights of the game
Borussia Dortmund made a dream start at Anfield as they went 1-0 up after just five minutes. Simon Mignolet made a brilliant save to deny Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from point-blank range, but he was helpless to stop Henrikh Mkhitaryan from tapping home the rebound.
Liverpool’s disastrous start would get even worse as Dortmund would double their lead just four minutes later. Aubameyang was sent through on goal by Marco Reus, and the Gabonese hitman would not be denied a goal this time as he blasted the ball into the top corner of Mignolet’s near post.
Aubameyang was so close to adding to his tally on the half-hour mark. Lukasz Piszczek pulled the ball back for an unmarked Aubameyang, but Mignolet made an important touch to take the ball away from the Dortmund striker.
A shell-shocked Liverpool finally started to show some signs of life, with Philippe Coutinho involved in a few half-chances. Divock Origi and Roberto Firmino also came close but were unable to take their chances at goal.
However, the home side’s mounting pressure would finally pay off three minutes after the break. Emre Can’s brilliant first-time ball found Origi, who kept his composure and stabbed the ball past Roman Weidenfeller.
Anfield’s joy wouldn’t last long, though, as Dortmund regained their two-goal lead on 57 minutes through Marco Reus. The German got on the end of Mats Hummels’ excellent pass and picked out the bottom corner beautifully with a pinpoint finish.
But despite another setback, Liverpool kept on pushing, and they were rewarded on 66 minutes as Coutinho’s shot at the edge of the box arrowed into the bottom corner.
The Kop was cheering again after 11 minutes when Mamadou Sakho headed home from a corner to tie it back up at 3-3. Liverpool would still lose the tie on away goals if the scoreline stood, but they had momentum on their side and 13 minutes left to find a winner.
That winner came just in time 13 minutes later, and it came from an unlikely source. Centre-back Dejan Lovren soared high to meet a James Milner cross, and he headed the ball home to send Anfield into raptures.
Key statistics
Since they spent most of the match trying to come back from their deficit, Liverpool dominated in most of the stats. They had 58 per cent of possession and also had much more shots (21-12) and corners (11-2).
Dortmund still had the edge in terms of shots on target (6-4), but Liverpool found the back of the net with all of theirs.
Aubameryang, who made some Europa League 2020 highlights with Arsenal, was left to rue the chances he was unable to take in the match.
What happened next?
Liverpool would wind up reaching the final of the 2016 Europa League after defeating Villarreal in the semi-finals, 3-1 on aggregate. However, they would go down 3-1 to Sevilla in the final.
Sevilla are still alive in the 2020 tournament, although the Europa League 2020 betting odds for their round-of-16 tie against Roma were tight.
Klopp would lead Liverpool to another final — this time in the Champions League — during their next European campaign in 2017-18. But it was deja vu all over again as another Spanish side, Real Madrid, defeated them 3-1 in the final.
However, Klopp would finally end his European final hoodoo the very next season as Liverpool beat Tottenham.
As for Borussia Dortmund, they’ve continued to struggle in European competition since that stunning defeat. They haven’t gotten past the quarter-finals of either the Champions League or the Europa League.
They crashed out to Paris Saint-Germain the round of 16 of this year’s Champions League after beating them 2-1 in the first leg at home.
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