Liverpool reached the European Cup quarter-finals with a 4–0 victory over Aberdeen at Anfield on 5 November 1980. Already ahead from Terry McDermott's goal at Pittodrie, they won the second-round tie 5–0 on aggregate.
Aberdeen's defence held Liverpool for more than half an hour. Mark McGhee also had a chance to bring the visitors level in the tie, beating Phil Thompson and evading Phil Neal before shooting straight at Ray Clemence.
An injury then brought Avi Cohen into the game for Alan Kennedy. Almost immediately, the substitute helped make the opening goal. Cohen took a short corner from Kenny Dalglish and crossed; Alan Hansen headed on, and Willie Miller turned the ball into his own net.
Neal doubled the lead in the 43rd minute. Thompson passed forward to Dalglish, whose first-time back-heel released the full-back. Neal transferred the ball to his left foot and placed his shot past Jim Leighton.
Cohen contributed again to the third goal, lifting the ball over Leighton and against the crossbar. Sammy Lee recovered it and supplied Dalglish's header. Hansen completed the scoring in the 71st minute, finishing a passing move from McDermott's final ball.
The crowd of 36,182 had seen Liverpool keep a second clean sheet against the Scottish champions and secure their place in the last eight.