---
title: "OTD: Liverpool pull off the ‘Miracle of Istanbul’"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/news/otd-liverpool-pull-off-the-miracle-of-istanbul/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dan Clubbe"
section: "Liverpool News"
published: "2021-05-25T16:00:00Z"
modified: "2021-05-25T16:00:00Z"
---

# OTD: Liverpool pull off the ‘Miracle of Istanbul’

On this day (May 25) in 2005, [Liverpool](https://readliverpoolfc.com/2021/05/25/danny-murphy-says-curtis-jones-emergence-has-played-part-in-big-decision/) completed perhaps the [greatest comeback ever seen in sport](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8399943/Liverpools-miraculous-2005-Champions-League-win-voted-best-sporting-comeback-EVER.html) as the Reds defied the odds to win the European Cup for the fifth time.

The showpiece event will go down in the annals of not only Liverpool history, but also the [history of the prestigious competition](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/) moreover.

Within 45 minutes, Rafa Benitez’s side were staring down the barrel of a humiliating defeat at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul – 3-0 down and seemingly without a prayer.

Up against a star-studded AC Milan outfit, [Steven Gerrard](https://readliverpoolfc.com/2021/05/20/virals-peter-crouch-backs-steven-gerrard-hall-of-fame-induction/) and co had all but been blown away at half-time.

However, roused by the noise of loyal Kopites singing [You’ll Never Walk Alone through the corridors](https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/jamie-carragher-what-really-happened-3471790) and night sky, the Liverpool captain pulled one back 10 minutes after the restart before Vladimir Smicer quickly cut the deficit once more.

On the hour mark, the Reds were awarded a penalty and when [Xabi Alonso was first to react](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=in1BAMIE42k) as his own spot-kick was saved, Benitez’s men were somehow on level terms.

Extra-time [came and went](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2005/may/25/minutebyminute.championsleague) with both sides seemingly in shock from how the night had transpired.

It was left for penalties to decide who would be crowned champions of Europe and Milan [missed their first two kicks](https://www.lfchistory.net/Articles/Article/732) through Serginho and Italian football legend Andrea Pirlo.

Norwegian full-back John Arne Riise missed for the Reds but a [converted effort from Smicer](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/4573159.stm) gave Liverpool the upper hand.

Jerzy Dudek needed no second invitation as the jelly-legged stopper [parried clear Andriy Shevchenko’s effort](https://www.coachesvoice.com/classic-matches-ac-milan-3-liverpool-3/) and the Merseyside representatives were joyous.

### READ LIVERPOOL VERDICT

Nights like this are why we fell in love with the sport, and of course Liverpool Football Club.

As proven more recently by the remarkable [comeback against Barcelona](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48179167), the Anfield men have a penchant for making the seemingly impossible become a reality in Europe – something we all hope to see return next season under Jurgen Klopp.