What was the penalty shootout score when Liverpool beat Roma in the 1984 final?

Liverpool's Roman Holiday: The 1984 European Cup Final

Rome, May 30, 1984. Liverpool walked into the Stadio Olimpico and did something almost absurdly bold — they beat Roma in Rome, on Roma's home ground, to lift the European Cup for the fourth time. The penalty shootout that sealed it finished 4–2 to Liverpool, and it remains one of the most dramatic nights in the club's history.

How the Final Unfolded

The match itself ended 1–1 after extra time. Phil Neal put Liverpool ahead early, and Roberto Pruzzo equalised for the hosts just before half-time. Neither side could find a winner over 120 minutes, so it came down to spot kicks — in front of a partisan Roman crowd that had spent the evening making life as hostile as possible for the visiting supporters.

The pressure on Liverpool's players was immense. They were shooting toward the Roma end, surrounded by noise and hostility. And yet they held their nerve.

The Shootout Itself

Steve Nicol stepped up first for Liverpool and missed — a horrible start. But Roma then failed to capitalise on that gift, with Bruno Conti blazing his penalty over the bar. From that moment, the momentum shifted.

Neal, Souness, and Rush all converted for Liverpool. Roma's Francesco Graziani then struck the crossbar, handing the cup to the men in red before Ian Rush even needed to take his kick. Rush stepped up anyway and scored, completing the 4–2 shootout victory.

Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar had played a significant psychological role, famously wobbling his legs on the goal line in a piece of gamesmanship designed — successfully, as it turned out — to put Roma's takers off.

Why This Win Stands Apart

Winning a European Cup final in the host club's own stadium is extraordinarily rare. Roma had finished first in Serie A that season and were playing in front of their own fans. The odds were stacked against Joe Fagan's side in a way that would have broken lesser teams.

It was also Joe Fagan's first season in charge, having taken over from the legendary Bob Paisley. To win the European Cup at the first attempt — while also claiming the First Division title and the League Cup — made it a treble-winning campaign of remarkable proportions.

The Legacy

That night in Rome is woven into Liverpool folklore. The images of Grobbelaar's spaghetti legs, Souness lifting the trophy, and thousands of Liverpool fans celebrating in the Italian capital have been replayed countless times since. The 4–2 shootout scoreline is a small but significant piece of football history — proof that composure, belief, and perhaps a little bit of goalkeeping theatre can win you the biggest prize in European football.