Vintage Liverpool produce epic response and triumph in Turkey

A victory plucked from despair, a thrilling fifth European Cup seized from Milan in the most dramatic terms. Liverpool Football Club has a history of which to be proud but last night Rafael Benitez's team wrote a new chapter that was quite unlike any that have gone before when his team came back from three goals down to win on penalties.

In the great, tumultuous history of Liverpool Football Club this will take some explaining. How their team came from three goals behind to win a game so compelling and so engrossing against odds that appeared insurmountable is a story that those who were not present in Istanbul last night might find difficult to comprehend. All they need to know for now is that for a fifth, remarkable time Liverpool are the champions of Europe.

In 120 minutes, through a comeback from three goals behind and then nine penalty kicks, Rafael Benitez's team lost their sense of identity and belief before regaining it in the most thrilling terms imaginable.

They fought back against a Milan team who had eviscerated them in every area of the pitch in the first 45 minutes and then held their nerve in a penalty shoot-out that culminated with Jerzy Dudek flinging himself at Andrei Shevchenko's decisive spot-kick.

Dudek, the hero of the red Scouse nation. Dudek, the goalkeeper who even in the early stages of the second half looked uncertain in his handling. Last night Benitez transformed his modest band of brothers into men capable of an epic victory that seemed beyond them when they trudged in at half-time 3-0 down.

It was a night when you had to re-assess everything you believed Liverpool were capable of with every goal they scored. It was an occasion that called for one of Bill Shankly's great lines. And when Steven Gerrard lifted the trophy, the visceral roar from the red end of the stadium seemed to say that, yes, all this was more important than life and death.

In the middle of an ocean of emotion in the stands and on the pitch, Benitez kept his cool with the admirable poise that has characterised his whole debut season. And some debut season. Whether this team, who finished just fifth in the Premiership this season, stand comparison with the Liverpool sides who won this trophy four times between 1977 and 1984 did not seem to matter last night. They may not yet qualify to be the greatest Liverpool team of all time but they contributed the greatest performance this club has ever witnessed.

This was an occasion that stood comparison with Manchester United's victory in 1999 and, like that match, it provoked the same profound release of emotion. It will make legends of its central characters, not least Gerrard who raised that famous silver pot with a primal roar and then, on the pitch in the ecstatic aftermath, announced that he will stay at Anfield. There was also Jamie Carragher and Xabi Alonso whose Herculean efforts have given them a reward beyond their dreams.

It started with a gamble. A brave, unusual gamble by Benitez to select Harry Kewell in attack that backfired horribly and saw the Australian make a pitiful, limping exit on 23 minutes, booed off by his own fans.

The suspicion is that this strange, wasted talent lost his nerve but that is a story for another day because by then Liverpool were chasing a Milan team who had taken the lead on just 53 seconds through Paolo Maldini.

A devastating blow, delivered via Andrea Pirlo's free-kick from the right which Maldini volleyed into Dudek's net. Liverpool were simply overrun by an attacking combination of Kaka, Shevchenko and Hernan Crespo ­ but mostly it was Kaka whose brilliant throughballs divided a demoralised, uncertain defence.

Shevchenko was a stud's width offside when he scored from one Kaka pass on 29 minutes and then 10 minutes later Milan added a second. The move had begun when Alessandro Nesta was acquitted of handling Luis Garcia's shot in the Milan area and from there Kaka broke upfield.

The Brazilian's pass was cut back from the right by Shevchenko and Crespo, off balance scored at the back post. A minute before half-time, Kaka's flick freed him from the attentions of Gerrard and, with one swipe of his boot, he sent a ball out of Carragher's reach that Crespo chipped past Dudek for Milan's third.

Utter desolation in their faces. Benitez brought on Dietmar Hamann for Steve Finnan at half-time but it seemed like a hopeful toe against the tide of Milan attacks. Already television zoomed in on tearful Liverpool fans and only 45 minutes had been played. Dudek dropped a shot, made one decent save and then suddenly we were confronted with six minutes that the red half of Merseyside will remember forever.

Gerrard headed John Arne Riise's cross in on 54 minutes for the first. Then two minutes later, Hamann teed up the substitute Vladimir Smicer for a low drive that beat Milan's goalkeeper Dida at his right post.

Gerrard gestured to his red army in the stands to rouse themselves and they did ­ but not as much as those on the pitch. Before the hour the Liverpool captain was tripped by Gennaro Gattuso in the penalty area and, although Dida saved Alonso's penalty, he poked in the rebound.

Djimi Traoré kicked one off the line and Dudek made two stupendous stops from Shevchenko at the very death in extra time but Liverpool survived for the penalty shoot-out.

Serginho missed the first, and Pirlo and Shevchenko had their efforts saved while all but Riise scored for Liverpool. It was scarcely believable but a fifth title was theirs.

Should Uefa prevent Liverpool from defending it next season, it would be a denial of everything that is great and important about football. All of which we witnessed last night.

Liverpool (4-4-1-1): Dudek; Finnan (Hamann, h-t), Hyypia, Carragher, Traoré; Garcia, Alonso, Gerrard, Riise; Kewell (Smicer, 23); Baros (Cissé, 84). Substitutes not used: Carson (gk), Josemi, Nunez, Biscan.

Milan (4-3-1-2): Dida; Cafu, Nesta, Stam, Maldini; Gattuso (Rui Costa, 112), Pirlo, Seedorf (Serginho, 84); Kaka; Shevchenko, Crespo (Tomasson, 84). Substitutes not used: Abbiati (gk), Kaladze, Costacurta, Dhorasoo.

Referee: M Gonzalez (Spain).

LIVERPOOL

JERZY DUDEK

Hesitant, nervy - just like the rest of defence. But also badly exposed. Great save from Shevchenko. 6/10

STEVE FINNAN

Had to do too much to simply retain possession. Lacked composure. 5

JAMIE CARRAGHER

Let down by the other defenders. Appeared frustrated but stood firm and brilliant tackle on Kaka. 7

SAMI HYYPIA

Disorientated by the speed and creativity around him. Tried to rally his team-mates. 6

DJIMI TRAORE

Out of his depth. Positionally naïve, tactically slow - but a great clearance off line. 5

LUIS GARCIA

At fault for first goal but tried to shoulder attacking burden and ran at defenders. 7

XABI ALONSO

Went missing at times but, with Hamann's arrival, was released and drove forward. Took his penalty well. 7

STEVEN GERRARD

Simply disappeared in first-half but what a transformation when his team needed him most in second half. 8

JON ARNE RIISE

Took the fight with energy and raw aggression when others wavered. 7

HARRY KEWELL

Gamble lasted 20 minutes but did little to justify selection in that time. Cameo summed up season. 5

MILAN BAROS

Willing runner but totally isolated by the first-half formation. But hard work gained reward. 6

SUBSTITUTES

VLADIMIR SMICER (for Kewell, 23)

Farewell appearance seemed to be petering away but goal transformed his game. 6.

DIETMAR HAMANN (for Finnan, h-t)

Quite why he did not start should haunt Benitez. Took hold off matters. 8.

DJIBRIL CISSE (for Baros, 84)

Not on long enough to make impact before 90min.

DIDA

Slow to react and at fault for Smicer goal but unlucky with penalty. 6/10

CAFU

Trademark overlapping runs to the fore. Lived up to his nickname "pendolino" (the commuter). 7

JAAP STAM

Swatted off Liverpool's attacks with disdain until the goals rained in and he was bypassed. Close range header flash wide on 88 minutes, the last major incident of the 90min. 6

ALESSANDRO NESTA

Baros and Garcia caused moments of discomfort. Wasted possession at times. 7

PAOLO MALDINI

Goal set tone. Constantly willing to get forward. Great attacking threat. 7

ANDREA PIRLO

Allowed to run the first-half show as deep-lying midfielder cum quarter-back. But faded. 7

GENNARO GATTUSO

Industrious defensive work - but should have been dismissed for tug on Gerrard. 7

CLARENCE SEEDORF

Cruised at times when he rarely wasted a pass. But struggled when Liverpool raised pace. 7

KAKA

Superb. Sublime passing. Creative, threatening, world class in first half, almost uncontested. So why did Liverpool not mark him? 8

HERNAN CRESPO

Finished with confidence and aplomb for his two goals. Worked hard and justified the £16.8m Chelsea paid for him. 8

ANDREI SHEVCHENKO

Elusive, hard-working, set up Crespo selflessly for Milan's second goal but faded. 7

SUBSTITUTES

SERGINHO (for Seedorf, 84)

Not on field long enough to make impact before 90 minutes were up.

JON DAHL

TOMMASON (for Crespo, 84)

No on pitch long enough for telling impression before regular period was up.

By Jason Burt