Ray Kennedy's late goal sent Liverpool into the European Cup final on 22 April 1981. The 1–1 draw with Bayern Munich at the Olympic Stadium settled a semi-final level on aggregate, Liverpool going through on away goals after the goalless first leg at Anfield.
Liverpool began without Phil Thompson and Alan Kennedy, with Colin Irwin and Richard Money in defence. They then lost Kenny Dalglish to an ankle injury in the opening minutes. Howard Gayle came on after nine minutes to partner David Johnson.
Gayle's pace gave Bayern a different problem. His later account of the match describes defenders repeatedly fouling him as he ran at them, a pattern also recorded in the contemporary reports. He was eventually booked himself and replaced by Jimmy Case midway through the second half.
Elsewhere, Liverpool's control depended on less conspicuous work. Sammy Lee tracked Paul Breitner in midfield, while Alan Hansen repeatedly stopped Bayern's attacks. The teams remained goalless at half-time and neither could force an early second-half breakthrough.
Johnson was limping by the closing stages. With both substitutes used, Bob Paisley moved Kennedy forward to support him. The decision produced the goal: Ray Clemence's long clearance reached Johnson on the right, and his ball across found Kennedy, who controlled it and shot low past Walter Junghans with his right foot.
Bayern now needed two goals. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge supplied one near the end after Norbert Janzon's cross came off Irwin's head, but Liverpool held on. Kennedy, captaining the side in Thompson's absence, had scored the away goal that secured a third European Cup final, against Real Madrid in Paris on 27 May.