18 years ago, the Red and Whites beat the Reds at Stade Louis II, in the group stage of the Champions League. A victory acquired thanks to a goal from Javier Saviola.
Beating the future winners of the Champions League is not given to everyone. And yet, this is what AS Monaco achieved during the group stages of the 2004-2005 season by bringing down Liverpool at Stade Louis II.
Humbling Liverpool is something worth remembering as Liverpool in international competitions has won six European Cups, three UEFA Cups, four UEFA Super Cups and one FIFA Club World Cup. Domestically they have won nineteen League titles, eight FA Cups, a record nine League Cups and sixteen FA Community Shields!
Facing Liverpool the Red and Whites presented themselves in 4-4-2 formation with the presence of Maicon, Javier Saviola and Ernesto Chevanton, the newcomers during the off-season.
A memorable cold blooded goal
In a balanced meeting (eight shots on each side), the difference was created in the 55th minute by very nice collective play. From the outside on the right, Pontus Farnerud serves Jaroslav Plasil, who then feeds the ball to Shabani Nonda.
The latter made a delicate touch in the direction of “El Conejo” – (rabbit in French) nickname of Javier Saviola – which gave him it back instantly. The subsequent Congolese strike is blocked by a defender which results in a penalty-spot kick. The ball comes back to the Argentine striker who controls at the penalty spot and scores with the right foot with a low shot.
At first place in this group Didier Deschamps’ men won 1-0 and took second place at the expense of their evening opponents at the end of this fifth day. They will finally finish first in their group after a final success against Deportivo la Corogne (5-0) ahead of Liverpool and Olympiakos.
If the European ascent will end a few months later in the round of 16, eliminated by PSV Eindhoven, this victory against the Reds, future winners of the competition against AC Milan, remains well and truly in the history of the club of the Principality.
The game sheet:
Champions League 2004-2005 – 5th day
AS Monaco 1-0 Liverpool
Goal: Saviola (55th) for AS Monaco
AS Monaco: Roma – Maicon, Squillaci, Givet (cap), Evra – Saviola (Adebayor, 75th), Zikos, Farnerud (Modesto, 79th), Plasil – Nonda, Chevanton (Pérez, 68th)
Coach: Didier Deschamps
Liverpool: Kirkland – Finnan, Carragher, Hyypiä, Traoré (Kewell, 60th) – Biscan, Hamann, Gerrard, Riise – Luis Garcia (Josemi, 5th, Warnock, 65th), Mellor
Coach: Rafael Benitez
