4 Liverpool won the Champions League in 2005, but can Man United do the same this year?

After a difficult season at the Old Trafford helm, David Moyes is hoping the Champions League can salvage his first term in charge.

The reigning Premier League champions’ defence of their crown has been woeful, and after early exits from both domestic cup competitions, European glory remains their only realistic opportunity of picking up silverware this season.

With 11 points separating sixth-placed Man United and Liverpool in fourth, winning this year’s Champions League may also be the Red Devils’ only route back into next season’s competition. However, though United’s league form provides little evidence that they can beat the best sides to Champions League glory this season, Moyes has taken an unlikely inspiration in his hope for continental success through bitter-rivals Liverpool.

“It isn’t always the best teams that get to the final in Europe,” said Moyes. “Liverpool in 2005 give us hope, but in any competition you always have a chance.”

Moyes’ comments are sure to irk the red half of Merseyside, who saw their side complete one of the most famous comebacks of all time when they beat Milan on penalties in 2005, but is Moyes right? Were Liverpool as average as he suggests and more importantly, how does his United side compare to the team that completed mission impossible on that night in Istanbul? talkSPORT investigates…

Premier League top six 24/02/05



Premier League top six 22/02/14



After the same amount of matches played in their respective seasons, there is little to separate the two sides. When Rafael Benitez succeeded Gerard Houllier in the summer of 2004, he inherited a side that finished 4th in the previous season with a tally of 60 points. The Merseyside club were well on course to surpass that mark in 2004/05 but faced a struggle against local rivals Everton to secure Champions League football for the following campaign. The most discouraging element of Liverpool’s form was that they had been beaten ten times in 27 matches – accounting for over a third of their matches played.

Compared with Manchester United, Liverpool’s form wasn’t nearly as cataclysmic. The Red Devils finished 11 points in front of Manchester City last season as they were crowned champions for a 20th time, but have endured a torrid campaign without the guidance of Sir Alex Ferguson, with United languishing 11 points short of fourth spot.

Though David Moyes’ side have two more points than Liverpool did at the same stage in 2004/05, Liverpool were a place better off than the Red Devils in 5th. Furthermore, while United’s hopes of Champions League football next season look almost exclusive tied to the unlikely occurrence of them winning this season’s competition, in 2005, Liverpool were hot on the heels of then-fourth placed Everton, with just five points separating the sides.

Form against the ‘top four’*



*These results are based on matches against the teams in the Champions League qualifying positions 27 matches into the 2004/05 and 2013/14 seasons. For Liverpool this was Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal & Everton. For Manchester United this is Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City & Liverpool.

David Moyes was handed a difficult start at Old Trafford when the fixture list threw up matches against Liverpool and Chelsea in the Scot’s opening three league matches of the season. After a loss and a draw in those two fixtures, United’s luck against sides in the top four has barely improved, with the Red Devils winning just one – against Arsenal in November – of their clashes against the current top four.

Remarkably, in 2004/05 Liverpool’s results against the top sides was very similar, with the Redmen also only recording one victory in six matches – coincidentally also against Arsenal. Unlike United, who have drawn two of their other five fixtures, Rafael Benitez’ side lost their other five, including losses at home against Chelsea and away at Everton. However, where Man United’s form in Europe has been largely reflective of their domestic fortunes, in 2004/05 Liverpool showed on the European stage against the likes of Juventus and Chelsea that their league form had very little bearing on their performances in the Champions League.

Conclusion

Based on league form and results against clubs in Champions League qualifying positions, there’s very little to separate this season’s Manchester United side with Liverpool’s in 2004/05. Both trailed behind the top four with eleven matches remaining and both had poor records against the sides within that quartet. Though Manchester United have more points than Liverpool had at this stage nine years ago, the Anfield club was closer to securing Champions League football than the Red Devils currently are. However, as we know, Liverpool only reached the 2005/06 Champions League by beating Milan in the previous year’s final and this is what drives on David Moyes’ push for glory this season. Rafael Benitez’s side showed that league form and results against the ‘top’ sides count for little in the Champions League and that when presented with a final shot of glory, took their opportunity. Whether Moyes’ men can do the same this time remains to be seen.

United fans, do you think you can win this season’s Champions League? Let us know below…