Italy’s Serie A was once home to legends as it was seen as the best around in the 1990s – just ask Sven-Goran Eriksson.
The former England boss coached Lazio between 1997 and 2001 at a time when Ronaldo, Roberto Baggio and Paolo Maldini roamed the league and it will stand the boss in good stead when he walks out at Anfield to take charge of a team of Liverpool legends that include Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard and Jari Litmanen.
One game in particular from Eriksson’s time at Lazio stands out and it came against AC Milan in one of the best matches in Serie A history.
Both teams were unbeaten heading into the fifth league match of the 1999/2000 season. The two sides were also two of the title favourites, with Lazio finishing in second spot the previous campaign, while Milan scooped the Scudetto.
More than 65,000 fans packed out the Stadio Olimpico, with supporters treated to an eight-goal thriller in a match filled with global superstars.
Alessandro Nesta, who later joined Milan in 2002 due to Lazio’s financial difficulties, captained the side, where he partnered the late Sinisa Mihajlovic in the heart of defence.
Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone featured in midfield, with ex-Manchester United and Chelsea man Juan Sebastian Veron and Porto manager Sergio Conceicao deployed on the wings.
And up front was Middlesbrough cult hero Alen Boksic, who won the Champions League with Marseille in 1993, along with Chile marksman Marcelo Salas.
Such was the quality of Lazio, Roberto Mancini and Simone Inzaghi started on the bench, before being introduced in the second half.
As for the visitors, the fact that Brazil’s 1994 World Cup-winning midfielder Leonardo and Germany’s Euro 1996 champion Oliver Bierhoff were left out of the line-up tells you all you need to know about their team.
Gennaro Gattuso also had to settle for a place on the bench, with Milan opting for a back three consisting of Maldini, Alessandro Costacurta and Roberto Ayala.
Milan Hall of Famers Serginho, Demetrio Albertini and Massimo Ambrosini slotted in midfield.
And leading the line was Andriy Shevchenko– playing in his first season in Italy – and 1995 Ballon d’Or winner and future Liberia president George Weah.
Lazio fans may have thought they were set for a comfortable win with the Rome outfit 3-1 up approaching half-time.
Veron’s expert half-volley broke deadlock in the minute, with Salas then restoring Lazio’s two-goal lead following own goals from Mihajlovic and Milan goalkeeper Christian Abbiati.
But Shevchenko halved the deficit just before the break after rounding Lazio shot-stopper Luca Marchegiani.
He then found the back of the net from the penalty spot before completing his 25-minute hat-trick moments later after latching onto Weah’s through ball which saw Milan take the lead for the first time.
After three unanswered goals, Lazio finally responded, as Salas popped up with his second of the game to claim a crucial point for the Biancocelesti.
The draw proved pivotal for Lazio as they ended the Serie A season as champions – finishing just one point ahead of Juventus in second spot.
It was the club’s first top-flight title since 1974, and remains their last league championship.
And it was triple delight for Lazio that campaign, as not only did they win the Scudetto, but they also won the Coppa Italia along with the UEFA Super Cup.
Following their UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup success, they played Manchester United in the Super Cup, where Salas scored the only goal of the game.
Eriksson eventually departed in January 2001 where he replaced Kevin Keegan as England boss.
It will be a sad yet joyous occasion on 23 March in the charity game against Ajax.
The 76-year-old revealed in January he had a year to live when diagnosed with cancer and, during his time speaking about his diagnosis, spoke about his desire to manage Liverpool but the opportunity never arose for him during his managerial career.
Jurgen Klopp then opened the door for him to sit in the dugout and Liverpool confirmed in February that Eriksson would manage a legends side alongside Ian Rush, John Barnes and John Aldridge.