Moments article
Gerrard vs Olympiacos, 2004: The Goal That Started the Road to Istanbul
Every Liverpool supporter remembers Istanbul. Fewer remember how close Liverpool came to never getting there. The miracle of May 2005 was only possible because of a cold December night at Anfield, and a captain who refused to lose.
The Situation
Liverpool went into their final Champions League group game on 8 December 2004 in trouble. Rafael Benítez’s side had lost 1-0 in Athens earlier in the group, and the maths was unforgiving: to finish above Olympiacos and reach the knockout stage, they needed either a 1-0 win or a victory by two clear goals.
It got worse. Midway through the first half, Rivaldo curled a free kick past Chris Kirkland. Olympiacos led 1-0. A 1-0 win was no longer possible. Liverpool now needed three goals without reply.
The Fightback
Benítez sent on Florent Sinama-Pongolle at half-time. Within two minutes of the restart, he scored. 1-1.
The minutes ticked by. Anfield roared, pleaded, willed the ball towards the Kop. With around ten minutes left, another substitute, Neil Mellor, forced the ball in from close range. 2-1.
One more. Liverpool needed one more goal.
The Strike
With 86 minutes gone, Jamie Carragher lifted a ball into the box. Mellor rose and nodded it down, into the path of the one player every Liverpool fan wanted it to fall to.
Steven Gerrard was already arriving. He did not take a touch. He met the dropping ball on the half-volley from outside the area and drove it, low and hard, into the corner of the Kop net.
Anfield erupted. Gerrard wheeled away, fists pumping, eyes blazing. Liverpool were through.
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The Boot
Gerrard wore the Predator for nearly all of his career, and in December 2004 that meant the adidas Predator Pulse. The Pulse introduced POWERPULSE, a system that shifted weight forward in the boot towards the point of impact, to put more power into the strike.
It is hard to imagine a better demonstration than a first-time half-volley in the 86th minute, with a whole season riding on it.
What Came Next
Liverpool beat Bayer Leverkusen, Juventus and Chelsea. In the final in Istanbul they were 3-0 down to AC Milan at half-time — and Gerrard’s header started the comeback that won Liverpool their fifth European Cup.
None of it happens without Olympiacos. It is why so many Liverpool fans still rank this as Gerrard’s most important goal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What boots did Steven Gerrard wear against Olympiacos in 2004?
He wore the adidas Predator Pulse, the Predator model of 2004.
What was the score in Liverpool vs Olympiacos 2004?
Liverpool won 3-1. Rivaldo scored for Olympiacos; Sinama-Pongolle, Mellor and Gerrard scored for Liverpool.
Why did Liverpool need to win by two goals?
Having lost 1-0 in Athens, Liverpool needed either a 1-0 win or a two-goal margin to finish above Olympiacos. Once Rivaldo scored, only a two-goal win would do.
Who assisted Gerrard’s goal against Olympiacos?
Neil Mellor headed the ball down into Gerrard’s path from Jamie Carragher’s cross.
Read more: Steven Gerrard and the Predator · The Predator Pulse · More Predator Moments