Five European Cups by 1984

Lore & Background

Liverpool won the 1983–84 European Cup, beating Roma 4–2 in a penalty shootout after a 1–1 draw. They appeared in the 1984 European Super Cup against Juventus, their third Super Cup appearance, having won in 1977 and lost in 1978.

In Their Own Story

The rain in Rome fell heavy on the night of May 30, 1984. Inside the Stadio Olimpico, the air was thick with tension as Liverpool and Roma stared each other down after a goalless draw. The penalty shootout became a war of nerves. Bruce Grobbelaar, the eccentric goalkeeper, danced in his goal, mocking the Italian takers with 'spaghetti legs' that sent the crowd into a frenzy. As the final spot-kick sailed wide, the Anfield faithful erupted, their red sea swelling with the knowledge that they had conquered Europe once more, adding another star to the crest that would define a generation.

Reader's Guide

The 1984 European Super Cup was a single-leg match on 16 January 1985 at Stadio Comunale in Turin. Juventus won 2–0 with two goals from Zbigniew Boniek. Liverpool were without Kenny Dalglish (suspended) and lost Mark Lawrenson to injury in the first half.

Did You Know?

• Liverpool had won the European Cup four times by 1984.
• The 1984 European Super Cup was played over two legs (Liverpool vs Juventus, 0-2 and 0-2 aggregate); the first single-leg Super Cup was in 1998.
• Liverpool and Juventus met again in the 1985 European Cup final, where a disaster killed 39 people during the match due to a wall collapse and crowd crush.