Liverpool’s form at the new Wembley has been patchy to say the least since it opened over ten years ago, losing their last four visits to the North London stadium in various competitions, so can they buck that trend against Tottenham on Saturday?
The old venue was something of a happy hunting ground for Liverpool in competitive games, but since the national stadium was rebuilt in 2007 the Reds have enjoyed a rather a rocky relationship with the Borough of Brent.
Their inaugural FA Cup final win of 1965 under Bill Shankly, European Cup glory in 1978, and the club’s first ever league and cup double back in 1986 – just a few special moments in Liverpool’s glorious history which were all played out under the old twin towers.
But as Jurgen Klopp’s men prepare to take on Tottenham at their temporary home it’s fair to say that they will need to improve on their recent record underneath the huge arch which now dominates the London skyline if they are to maintain their Premier League title ambitions.
Liverpool 2 Cardiff City 2 (Won 3-2 on penalties): 2012 League Cup Final
The scene of Liverpool’s last trophy win to date the two sides were level after 90 minutes while extra-time failed to produce a winner thanks to goals from Ben Turner and Dirk Kuyt. The match eventually went to penalties with Steven Gerrard and Charlie Adam both missing for Liverpool, but the Championship side couldn’t capitalise as the Reds claimed their first silverware since 2006.
Liverpool 2 Everton 1: 2012 FA Cup Semi-Final
Liverpool had enjoyed great success over their Merseyside rivals at the old Wembley with victories in 1984, 1986 and 1989, but it was Everton who took the lead on this occasion through Nikica Jelavic following a mix-up between Jamie Carragher and Daniel Agger. Luis Suarez drew the Reds level, however, with a fine individual effort before Andy Carroll’s late header sealed a victory which would send Liverpool into their first FA Cup final for six years.
Liverpool 1 Chelsea 2: 2012 FA Cup Final
Liverpool were two-from-two at the new National Stadium but things took a turn for the worse when they faced Chelsea in the FA Cup final of 2012. An early Ramirez goal put Chelsea ahead while a Drogba strike doubled the Blues’ lead shortly after the break. Andy Carroll pulled Liverpool back into the game with half an hour to go but couldn’t prevent Liverpool suffering their first loss at the new Wembley despite going close at the end.
In no particular order, our top five goals against @SpursOfficial. 💥💥
Liverpool 1 Aston Villa 2: 2015 FA Cup Semi-Final
Brendan Rodgers’ men were strong favourites to overcome Aston Villa in this FA Cup semi-final with Arsenal laying in wait for the eventual victors and when Philippe Coutinho put the Reds ahead it looked like a repeat of the 2001 final was on the cards. However, goals from Christian Benteke and Fabian Delph turned the game on its head and sent the Midlands side back to Wembley a month later.
Liverpool 1 Man City 1 (Lost 3-1 on penalties): 2016 League Cup Final
Within just four months of arriving at Anfield Jurgen Klopp had guided his side to a Wembley final with Liverpool looking to avoid a hat-trick of defeats at a stadium which had once been so kind to them. Fernandinho put Manchester City ahead in the 49th minute only for a late Coutinho effort to take the game to extra-time and then penalties. But Coutinho, Lucas Leiva and Adam Lallana all failed to convert their spot-kicks as City took the spoils.
Tottenham 4 Liverpool 1: 2017 Premier League
Like this year, Tottenham were playing their home games at Wembley due to the redevelopments at White Hart Lane with one of the early visitors to their temporary home being Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool. And a rampant Spurs side put a shambolic Reds defence to the sword thanks to two strikes from Harry Kane along with goals from Dele Alli and Son Heung-min in what was a miserable day for the Merseysiders.