Liverpool Football Club are one of the most iconic and successful clubs in European football and boast a remarkable history in UEFA competitions.
Over the years, the club has notched up an impressive collection of trophies on the continental stage in the UEFA Cup, which is known today as the Europa League. But how many times did Liverpool win the UEFA Cup? Many fans know about the Champions League trophies the Reds won. Yet, they may not be aware of Liverpool’s successes in UEFA’s second-tier cup competition.
This season, Liverpool are once again in UEFA’s second-tier cup competition, the Europa League. Fans can enjoy Europa League betting at bet365 during the Reds’ campaign in Europe.
UEFA Cup Triumphs
Liverpool’s maiden UEFA Cup victory came in the 1972-1973 season. Under the guidance of legendary manager Bill Shankly, the Reds defeated Borussia Mönchengladbach in the final. It marked the beginning of Liverpool’s European journey, and the trophy was a testament to the club’s growing stature. Liverpool won the trophy thanks to a 3-2 aggregate win over the course of two legs. The Reds won the first leg 3-0 at Anfield before losing 2-0 to Gladbach in Germnay.
Three seasons later, Liverpool’s second UEFA Cup victory came under Bob Paisley in 1975-1976. The Reds outclassed Club Brugge in the final, solidifying their reputation as a European force. Once again, the final was played over two legs, with Liverpool winning at Anfield 3-2 before drawing in Belgium 1-1 in the second match.
After their success in 1976, Liverpool had to wait until 2001 to capture another UEFA trophy. Under the management of Gérard Houllier, Liverpool clinched the UEFA Cup for the third time in the 2000-2001 season. They defeated Alavés in a thrilling final at Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund, with the match ending 5-4 in Liverpool’s favor after extra time. With the game level at four goals, an Alaves own goal in extra time led to Liverpool winning thanks to the golden goal rule. This victory was a precursor to Liverpool’s resurgence as a European powerhouse.
Liverpool returned to the final of UEFA’s second-tier cup competition in 2015-16. The competition had been rechristened the Europa League. Liverpool’s qualification for the final came during Jürgen Klopp’s first season as manager. The German took the Reds on a remarkable journey through the tournament, defeating teams, including Manchester United, Borussia Dortmund, and Villarreal, en route to the final.
The Reds faced off with Spain’s Sevilla in the final in Basel, Switzerland. Liverpool struck first, with Daniel Sturridge opening the scoring in the 35th minute with a sublime finish. However, Sevilla were not to be outdone. Just three minutes later, Kevin Gameiro levelled the score with a well-taken goal.
The second half saw Sevilla’s Coke score twice in the 64th and 70th minutes to complete a stunning comeback for the Spanish side. Sevilla won the final 3-1, securing their third consecutive UEFA Europa League title, a historic achievement.The loss marked Liverpool’s last appearance in the UEFA Cup/Europa League final.
