Real Madrid vs Liverpool: Liverpool's three famous comebacks in Europe ahead of Bernabeu visit

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Liverpool face a daunting task next in the Champions League as they look to overcome a three-goal deficit in the second leg of a thrilling round of 16 encounters against Real Madrid. The Reds were handed a thumping defeat at Anfield in the first leg despite at the front foot with a 2-0 aggregate at the beginning.

However, the 14-time Champions League winners showed their experience and cold nerve blowing away the pressure to deliver one of their classic displays with five goals next.

Real Madrid have rarely choked on Europe's biggest stage and are undoubtedly the favorite to advance into the next round. However, if any team has a knack for causing upset it is surely the Merseyside giants.

Liverpool have often demonstrated over their history that they cannot be written off ever and these are the three big instances when they did unthinkable comebacks on Europe's biggest stage:

1. Liverpool 3-3 AC Milan (Liverpool won 3-2 on penalties, Champions League final, Istanbul, May 2005

Probably one of the best comebacks ever by a team if not the best, the Reds delivered a Champions League masterclass when it mattered the most. Rafael Benitez's side was up against one of the most in-form teams in Europe in 2005.

AC Milan were ahead with a 3-0 lead in the final however what happened in the second half will always be embarked in the history book. An outstanding long-range goal from captain Steven Gerrard followed by goals from Vladimir Smicer and Xabi Alonso leveled the tie in a seven-minute spell.

Liverpool eventually won the trophy with a penalty-shootout win stunning the Serie A giants.

2. Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona (Liverpool won 4-3 on aggregate, Champions League, Anfield, May 2019)

After trailing 3-0 in the first leg thanks to Lionel Messi weaving his magic with a brace, only a minor miracle would have seen the Reds qualify for a second successive Champions League final. Exceptionally Jurgen Klopp and his men did the impossible in the second leg beating the Spanish giants 4-0 at Anfield.

Divock Origi and Georginio Wijnaldum scored twice each to pour water on Barcelona's hope. It was the first time since 1986 that a team had overcome a three-goal first-leg deficit to win a semi-final in the competition.

3. Liverpool 3 Olympiacos 1 (Champions League Group Stage, Anfield, December 2004)

Liverpool needed a win with a two-goal lead to advance to the next stage of the competition. But the Reds made life even harder for themselves by conceding a first-half goal to the Greek giants. However, led by captain Steven Gerrard they managed to produce yet another incredible comeback.

Goals from Florent Sinama Pongolle and Neil Mellor put Liverpool in a 2-1 lead. But with just four minutes of normal time remaining, Gerrard scored the third and decisive goal to hand Liverpool the lifeline for the next stage.