Liverpool won 3–2 at Anfield on 16 March 1983 but went out of the European Cup. Widzew Łódź, defending a two-goal advantage from the first leg, scored twice before Ian Rush and David Hodgson produced a late recovery. The Polish side advanced 4–3 on aggregate.
Kenny Dalglish had withdrawn with a stomach upset, leaving Hodgson to take his place. Liverpool nevertheless made an early breakthrough. When Mirosław Filipczak handled Alan Kennedy's header, Phil Neal converted the penalty.
Widzew answered with a penalty of their own. Graeme Souness slipped in possession and Leszek Rozborski released Włodzimierz Smolarek, who rounded Bruce Grobbelaar and was brought down. Mirosław Tłokiński equalised. Liverpool now needed three further goals without reply to go through.
Instead, Widzew scored again early in the second half. Filipczak broke down the right and squared for Smolarek to finish into the unguarded goal. Alan Hansen struck a post, while goalkeeper Józef Młynarczyk repeatedly denied Liverpool.
Rush equalised with ten minutes remaining. Hodgson then scored Liverpool's third in the closing moments, securing victory before 44,494 spectators but leaving them one goal short on aggregate. Even another Liverpool goal would have sent Widzew through on away goals.