There are myriad reasons Liverpool’s extraordinary fifth European Cup triumph will be remembered and celebrated by supporters for as long as the club exists.
The miraculous fightback from three goals down at half time against a star-studded AC Milan side, the Reds regaining their crown as Kings of Europe after a long 21-year wait, and Rafa Benitez’s side blunting the taunts of Everton fans cock-a-hoop at their side finishing above Liverpool and qualifying for the Champions League play-offs to name but three.
That redemptive aspect also applies to a fair few of the Liverpool players who wrote themselves into immortality on that heady night in the Turkish capital. Nobody could ever credibly claim the Reds’ 2005 vintage was among the club’s greatest when it came to ability - or arguably, even in the top 10 - but that such a relatively limited outfit managed to defy the odds and overcome a clearly superior outfit of proven winners only adds extra lustre in the eyes of many.
