Arguably the greatest night in Liverpool’s history came 14 years ago on May 25, and BT Sport have released 22 incredible minutes from the Miracle of Istanbul.
* Video above from BT Sport; geographic restrictions may apply.
The Reds headed to Turkey on the back of a remarkable Champions League campaign that saw them overcome Grazer AK to qualify, Monaco, Deportivo and Olympiakos in the group stage and Bayer Leverkusen, Juventus and Chelsea in the knockouts.
Their opponents in the final were an AC Milan side led by Carlo Ancelotti and littered with legendary names from defence to attack.
Cafu, Paolo Maldini, Jaap Stam and Alessandro Nesta took their places in front of Dida at the back, with Gennaro Gattuso, Clarence Seedorf, Andrea Pirlo and Kaka in midfield, and Andriy Shevcheko and Hernan Crespo up front.
By contrast, though the likes of Sami Hyypia, Jamie Carragher, Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso started for Rafa Benitez’s Reds, their lineup was comparatively humble.
That made the miraculous comeback even sweeter, as Liverpool fought back from three goals down at half-time to find themselves level at 3-3 heading into extra time.
Gerrard, Alonso and Vladimir Smicer were the goalscoring heroes, with Smicer also netting the decisive penalty as they lifted the club’s fifth European Cup.
It was a performance of gargantuan resolve and grit, as Benitez’s players, roared on by cramping Carragher, ran themselves into the ground and You’ll Never Walk Alone rang around the Ataturk.
Liverpool have gone close in the Champions League twice since, losing to Milan in 2007 and Real Madrid in 2018, and now they have another opportunity against Tottenham on June 1.
Jurgen Klopp will no doubt use this incredible night as inspiration, as the Reds look to bring home No. 6.
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