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RANKED

The definitive list of the best ever all-English Champions League ties

It has been a year to the day since Spurs put Pep Guardiola on his knees after one of the craziest games of football you could ever wish to see.

But was it even the most dramatic all-English Champions League contest of recent times?

Teams from our nation have thrown up some absolute classics over the years and we have tried to rank the top five knock-out ties since the year 2000.

*all aggregate scores*

5 – Man United 4-1 Arsenal (2009)

WHAT A HIT SON

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WHAT A HIT SON

This was one of Cristiano Ronaldo’s last performances for United, and arguably one of his finest.

The first leg ended with the Red Devils taking a 1-0 lead to The Emirates and with the tie finely poised before kick-off.

But just 11 minutes in and the game was all but over following a Ji-Sung Park goal and a Ronaldo free-kick from the best part of 40 yards.

If looks could kill

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If looks could kill

Arsene Wenger was gunning for his first European trophy but United’s clinical semi-final performance was capped with one of the best counter-attacking goals you could score.

The link-up between Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney was devastating and the finish from United’s number seven left the Arsenal manager’s dreams of European success in taters.

4 – Chelsea 4-3 Liverpool (2008)

“Name your ideal dinner party guests”

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“Name your ideal dinner party guests”

Chelsea and Liverpool have certainly got some history in the Champions League.

The two sides played an incredible 24 games between 2005 and 2010 and the European encounters are the most memorable of the lot.

The first leg at Anfield ended with John Arne Riise scoring a Les Ferdinand esq header into his own goal to cancel out Dirk Kuyt’s opener.

Lampard scored the decisive penalty in the second leg

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Lampard scored the decisive penalty in the second leg

The second leg at Stamford Bridge was where the fireworks really went off.

Didier Drogba scored the opener before it was cancelled out by Fernando Torres’ smooth finish.

In extra-time Frank Lampard scored a penalty before Drogba seemingly finished the tie off with a tidy finish at the near post.

Ryan Babel (yep, him) scored a screamer to give Liverpool hope but it was Chelsea’s day and their revenge for the ‘ghost goal’ game back in 2005.

Chelsea, like Liverpool in 2005, were on their way to the final.

3 – Liverpool 5 – 1 Man City (2018)

The Ox and Liverpool were red hot right from kick off in the first game

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The Ox and Liverpool were red hot right from kick off in the first game

Not many teams have swept aside a Guardiola side in Europe so convincingly.

Liverpool got the damage done in the first leg with Mo Salah opening the scoring early on before an Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain rocket and a Sadio Mane goal took the Reds into the dressing room 3-0 up.

Man City couldn’t claw anything back in the second leg

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Man City couldn’t claw anything back in the second leg

Gabriel Jesus put a potential spanner in Jurgen Klopp’s works early on in the second leg at The Etihad.

Leroy Sane had a goal wrongly disallowed before the break which could have been a big turning point in the tie.

Salah and Roberto Firmino scored second half goals to put the battle to bed and to send them into a semi-final tie against Roma.

2 – Chelsea 7 – 5 Liverpool (2009)

Blonde ‘Nando was something else

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Blonde ‘Nando was something else

This one lives long in the memory.

Branislav Ivanovic scored two at Anfield for the Blues, who took a 3-1 win from the first leg back down the M6 to London.

Done and dusted many thought, but just 15 minutes in at Stamford Bridge and Fabio Aurelio caught Petr Cech out from a free-kick and ten minutes after that Liverpool made it 3-3 on aggregate after a Xabi Alonso penalty.

What a game that second leg was

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What a game that second leg was

A Drogba goal, an Alex free-kick and Lampard’s close-range finish seemingly finished the tie off but two late goals gave Liverpool hope once again.

They needed one more in the last ten minutes.

Chelsea got the last laugh as Lampard scored his second of the game to set up a semi-final against Barcelona, remember that one Chelsea fans?

1 – Spurs 4 – 4 Man City (2019)

When you have to wear the present your Nan got you for Christmas

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When you have to wear the present your Nan got you for Christmas

Was top spot really going to be anything else?

The first leg saw Hugo Lloris save Sergio Aguero’s penalty early on after VAR’s first big call in the tie – more on that shortly.

Son Heung-Min scored late on to take a slender lead to the league leaders.

VAR stole the show in the second leg

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VAR stole the show in the second leg

Raheem Sterling’s goal got City out the blocks inside four minutes before Son scored two in three minutes to make it 2-1 Spurs… all before ten minutes was played.

Bernardo Silva and Sterling scored to make it 3-3 on aggregate inside 20 minutes.

Sergio Aguero’s second half goal put City in charge before Fernando Llorente scored a controversial goal off his hip/elbow.

VAR wasn’t done there, far from it.

Sterling thought he had the game won when he scored in added time only for the it to be cancelled out and for Guardiola to be left on his knees.

God I miss football.