TNT Sports use image of Liverpool lifting trophy on Arsenal celebration graphic

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Arsenal have done what Liverpool managed in both 2019 and 2022 and beaten Porto in the last-16 of the Champions League.

The Portuguese side have proven to be something of a lucky charm in the competition for the Reds. Both times the two clubs met at that stage of the competition, Liverpool ended up in the final.

On one of those occasions, the Reds lifted the trophy, seeing off Tottenham to win their sixth European Cup five years ago.

The photos from that famous night in Madrid are etched into the mind of every Liverpool supporter. That’s why when TNT Sports used a graphic containing a shot of the Champions League trophy to celebrate Arsenal’s progress last night, it looked incredibly familiar.

Alongside snaps of Martin Odegaard, Mikel Arteta, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli, the trophy stands out on the right of the promo. Adorned with red ribbons, the photo is clearly from Jurgen Klopp raising it above his head and into the Madrid sky. D’oh!

Liverpool crash the Arsenal party

The obvious reason behind TNT Sports using an image of Liverpool lifting the Champions League and not Arsenal is very simple. The Gunners have never won the competition. Not even once.

They did make the final back in 2006, but a Samuel Eto’o inspired Barcelona saw them off in Paris.

As a result, when looking for a red-ribboned trophy to showcase on their mock-up from last night, the broadcaster only had one choice.

Of course, this is not really a victory for the Reds. While Arsenal are now into the quarter-finals of Europe’s premier competition, Liverpool are stuck in the Europa League for now.

However, as Gunners fans become confident that their team can do a domestic and European double, it’s at least a little reminder of their place in the continental pecking order.

Now into the last eight, you can’t bet too heavily against Arsenal doing something special, though.

Arteta’s team have been steadily improving over the last few years and are unquestionably one of the strongest sides in Europe this season.

But despite that fact, you can’t fake pedigree on the top stage. As good a side as they are, Arsenal have very little of that in the Champions League. A nice little reminder that even when out of the competition, Liverpool’s success is still felt.