John Hartson’s recounting of Celtic’s memorable UEFA Cup victory over Liverpool in 2003 on Celtic TV’s “My Greatest Game” brings to life a night that remains etched in the history of the club and in the hearts of its supporters.
The 2-0 triumph at Anfield, which secured Celtic’s passage to the semi-finals with a 3-1 aggregate score, stands out not just for the result but for the quality of the performance and the goals that defined the victory.
Hartson’s detailed memory of his goal, a pivotal moment that solidified the win, captures the essence of what made that night so special. From the build-up play involving Neil Lennon and Henrik Larsson to Hartson’s own awareness and execution, the goal was just brilliant.
Appearing on Celtic TV, John Hartson said: “The Liverpool game. When we drew them it was very exciting. It was very similar to Celtic Park the week before. There were Celtic fans everywhere, not just in the away end.
“That goal at Anfield is printed in my head. Never leaves me. I’m fouled and I don’t get the foul and then it goes out, played into Neil Lennon, Neil plays it into me, I play a 1-2 with Henrik Larsson and I shift the ball slightly because the body angle wasn’t there.
“I just let it go and to me it just defied logic. The final whistle goes and we’re all super elated. We’ve beaten Liverpool at Anfield and what people have to remember is, nobody beat Liverpool at Anfield.”
The win saw Celtic progress to the semi-final that year. It was certainly a memorable game for many Celtic fans, especially with it on the road to Seville.
