LIVERPOOL FINISHED THE 2000/2001 season with three trophies.
The third was secured after an incredible clash with the unlikely Spanish side Deportivo Alaves in the final of the Uefa Cup.
Hotly-tipped to make light work of their opponents, Liverpool certainly started the game brilliantly at Borussia Dortmund’s Westfalenstadion.
They were in front after just three minutes when Markus Babbel headed home from close range after Gary McAllister picked him out from a free-kick.
Just over ten minutes later, Michael Owen slipped a pass through for Steven Gerrard who rifled it inside the near post to make it 2-0.
The Spaniards pulled one back on 26 minutes when substitute Alonso headed past Sander Westerveld but McAllister converted from the penalty spot before the break to leave it 3-1 at half-time.
But then it all started to collapse for Gerard Houllier’s side.
They conceded again within minutes of the restart when Javi Moreno flicked another header to the corner. Two minutes later, Moreno’s low free-kick squeezed through the wall and inside Westerveld’s near post to make it 3-3.
Vladimir Smicer and Robbie Fowler were introduced and the latter made his presence felt. With less than twenty minutes to go, McAllister found him with a neat through-ball and he did the rest – enthusiastically dispatching to the net.
But with two minutes of normal time remaining, a familiar face popped up to temporarily derail Liverpool’s victory.
From another set-piece, Jordi Cruyff – formerly of Manchester United – rose highest at the near post to flick a header past Westerveld.
The game went to extra-time and as penalties loomed large on the horizon, McAllister whipped in a free-kick and Delfi Geli deftly put through his own net.
The Liverpool squad for that night was as follows:
Starting XI: Sander Westerveld, Markus Babbel, Sami Hyypia, Stephane Henchoz, Jamie Carragher, Gary McAllister, Dietmar Hamann, Steven Gerrard, Danny Murphy, Emile Heskey, Michael Owen.
Substitutes: Pegguy Arphexad, Gregory Vignal, Stephen Wright, Vladimir Smicer, Patrick Berger, Nick Barmby, Robbie Fowler.
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