Just the very mention of the word Istanbul will always unleash a whole range of emotions for Liverpool supporters.
It may be not far short of 18 years ago now but the Reds’ unlikely and exhilarating run to the Champions League final having seen off the might of Juventus and Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea, the extraordinary fightback from three goals down against Carlo Ancelotti’s star-studded AC Milan and the wild celebrations which followed are seared forever into the fabric of LFC and, for all the glories that went before and would later follow under Jurgen Klopp, May 2005 will be revered forever and is regarded by many as arguably Anfield’s most iconic triumph.
Emotions inevitably are mixed however for some people: those (of little faith) who gave up at 0-3 and left the ground or pub ; the regular match-goers who for whatever reason couldn’t make it over to the Turkish capital and were left to rue missing the experience of a lifetime ; and, sadly, some members of Liverpool squad who might not have kicked a ball in the Ataturk Stadium but played important roles in helping Rafa Benitez's side get there and were shabbily treated in the aftermath and missed the homecoming parade, including one local lad who battled serious injury setbacks to even get to wear the shirt of his boyhood team but was so disheartened at what happened to him and his mates it hastened his departure from the club he loved.
