Over the years, Liverpool have played in numerous different countries across Europe in their many continental campaigns.
Trips to Spain, Germany and Italy have been frequent over the years, but last season the Reds ticked off a new country as they faced a team from Azerbaijan for the first time when thrashing Qarabag 6-0 at Anfield in January, when Virgil van Dijk claimed an improbable treble of assists.
Another of the lesser-known countries in LFC’s European scrapbook is Luxembourg, a nation that the Merseysiders have visited just once for a competitive fixture.
To bet on Liverpool matches in Luxembourg, check out the latest odds from mysportwetten.de/sportwetten-luxemburg!
Having won the league title and UEFA Cup in 1973, Liverpool qualified for the following season’s European Cup, and the journey started with a first round tie against Jeunesse Esch.
The first leg was played at the Stade de la Frontiere on 19 September, with almost everyone expecting the Reds to win comfortably against their modest opponents.
Bill Shankly’s side had to wait until shortly before half-time to break the deadlock, though, with Brian Hall finding the net on 43 minutes. That seemed set to trigger an opening of the floodgates, but the home side had other ideas.
It remained 1-0 until two minutes from time, when substitute Gilbert Dussier summoned an unlikely equaliser for Jeunesse Esch, who stunned Europe by holding Liverpool to a draw in Luxembourg.
The second leg took place at Anfield a fortnight later, with the Reds staring down the barrel of an ignominious early exit from the European Cup.
The frustration continued throughout a first half in which the English champions were unable to make a breakthrough, and the possibility of a major shock remained on.
Finally, just a couple of minutes after the interval, the unfortunate Leon Jang Mond put through his own net to nudge Liverpool in front. Any lingering nerves were put to rest shortly before the hour mark when John Toshack doubled the lead, and from there the Reds never looked back.
Jeunesse Esch proved to be no pushovers, but the Merseyside giants eventually got the job done, with Red Star Belgrade their opponents in the second round.
That was where our continental journey for 1973/74 came to an end, with the Yugoslav side winning both legs 2-1. The second game at Anfield turned out to be Shankly’s final European match with LFC.
The Reds would have to wait just three more years for European Cup glory as they defeated Borussia Monchengladbach in the final in Rome. They’d lift the trophy three more times in the subsequent seven seasons, an era of dominance unmatched by any other English club in this competition.
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