Liverpool vs Chelsea: Complete head-to-head record

North vs south, red vs blue, tradition vs the newly rich; Liverpool’s rivalry with Chelsea has long had the makings of a classic, but its significance has only been realised in contemporary times.

The duels were rarely notable for much of their respective histories, with the arrivals of two Iberian folk at the start of the 21st century transcending their bouts into a new realm of importance.

The pair once frequently met on the grand continental stage and have since made a habit of colliding in domestic cup finals. There’s usually plenty at stake when Chelsea and Liverpool lock horns, and here’s a complete overview of their rivalry.

Liverpool had long established themselves as England’s supreme force by the time they rocked up to Chelsea on the final day of the 1985/86 season aiming to secure a first win at Stamford Bridge in 12 years.

A fourth First Division title of the decade initially appeared unlikely for Kenny Dalglish’s Reds, but an imperious 11-game winning run meant that victory on the final day would see them pip Merseyside rivals Everton to the crown.

Their opponents, Chelsea, were hoping to spoil the party. The Blues had spent much of the previous decade in the second tier, but they’d impressed upon their return to the top flight in 1984. They’d end 85/86 in sixth.

The contest at the Bridge was decided by one moment of brilliance from Dalglish, who became the first player-manager in history to win the First Division. The Scot’s sublime 23rd-minute volley handed the visitors the lead, and they preserved their advantage to secure a once unthinkable title triumph.

There would’ve been no Istanbul miracle if it wasn’t for Luis Garcia’s “ghost goal”, as it was cynically dubbed by Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho.

Mourinho’s meetings with Rafa Benitez were rarely thrilling, with both managers prioritising the nullification of their opposition. Such caution worked a treat in the first leg of this semi-final tie as a stalemate was played out at Stamford Bridge, and there was little action the following week as Liverpool controversially progressed into the final.

There’s no doubt that Garcia’s scrappy finish was cleared by William Gallas before the ball had crossed the line, but Liverpool may well have had a penalty anyway with Petr Cech wiping out Milan…