The manager who played a masterstroke in 2005 to win the Champions League insist that Liverpool are again capable of lifting the trophy again this season at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium, Istanbul, the same venue as the 2005 victory.
In 2005, Liverpool came back from being 3-0 to AC Milan at half time to finish the second half 3-3 taking the match to penalties. Liverpool won 3-2 on penalties thanks to strikes by Djibril Cissé, Dietmar Hamann and Vladimir Šmicer.
Liverpool again won the Champions League in 2019 against Tottenham Hotspur by winning 2-0 after a 2nd minute penalty from Mo Salah, and Divock Origi putting the game to bed in the 87th minute.
This time around brings with it many more challenges. Not least, the defensive injury situation that has seen all of Van Dijk, Gomez and Matip miss lengthy spells, but also the injury to captain Jordan Henderson. Victory again this season will hinge massively on if any of that quartet can return to fitness to play a part in the remaining games. Ozan Kabak and Nat Phillips have performed admirably in their new found partnership, however facing Ollie McBurnie and Eddie McGoldrick is a much easier task than coming up against Robert Lewandowski, Neymar or Kylian Mbappe.
Rafa Benitez think that the Reds could achieve this feat again, to bring home No.7.
“Liverpool has the potential and the manager, it’s not a problem.
“I think Liverpool can do the same and go to the final obviously. AC Milan was a great team but the team was growing in confidence because, in these knock-out competitions we could do it.”
When Liverpool won the Champions League in 2005, they were struggling in the Premier League. Benitez believes there are similarities between then and this campaign.
He added: “The Evertonians, when they talk about this year, that season we played the final of the Carling Cup in February, then your team is focussed on a final and then you lose the focus on the league.