The Italians thought they were home and dry after a first-minute strike by Paolo Maldini and a Hernan Crespo brace gave them a comfortable 3-0 first-half lead.

But Liverpool achieved the impossible with goals from the inspirational Steven Gerrard, Vladimir Smicer and Xabi Alonso.

The Reds completed the mission with a 3-2 penalty shootout win that saw the likes of Andrea Pirlo and Andrei Shevchenko miss for Milan.

The Istanbul miracle