Liverpool will be forced to watch on from home as the Champions League quarter-finals get underway this week.

The Reds had been one of the favourites to win the competition this season, but ran into a brilliant PSG side in the last-16.

Had they managed to sneak through against the Ligue 1 title-winners, Liverpool would have fancied their chances over two legs against Aston Villa.

If, hypothetically, Liverpool had then progressed to the Champions League semi-finals, there’s a chance they would have faced Premier League title challengers Arsenal.

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That would have been only the second time the two teams have met in Europe’s top competition in their respective histories.

As we approach the 17th anniversary of that fantastic and dramatic quarter-final in 2008, it’s well worth looking back on what was a crazy night at Anfield.

Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images

Given their status as big boys of the Premier League, Arsenal’s record in Europe is extraordinarily poor.

The Gunners have only been to the quarter-finals of the Champions League once since 2008, and that was last season.

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As for Liverpool, they have won the trophy once in the meantime, but have been to a further two finals.

After going behind to an Emmanuel Adebayor goal in the first-leg at the Emirates, a fast equaliser from Dirk Kuyt gave them the advantage heading back to Anfield.

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But Arsenal were not going down without a fight and started brilliantly on Merseyside, Abou Diaby firing an early goal past Pepe Reina.

But that’s when the Ryan Babel show took over.

Up to that point, Babel had had a slightly difficult debut season since arriving from Ajax for £11.5m.

But after coming on as a second-half substitute, the Dutchman took it on himself to turn this game around and put Liverpool in the semi-finals.

First, Babel won a late penalty after being felled by Kolo Toure.

Then, with Arsenal in search of a late goal which would put them though, the flying winger broke through to seal the game for the Reds.

“I remember it was a set-piece, everyone was back, they kicked it and I was like, who is it, ah Fabregas!” Babel told the SDS podcast in January 2025.

“Ryan Babel with the goal of his life and it is a classic European Anfield party night.

In a quite extraordinary year for the Premier League in Europe, Man United then beat Chelsea in the final.
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