Liverpool’s 2004/05 campaign, Rafael Benítez’s first in charge, became one of the most famous in club history. Domestically, inconsistency plagued their Premier League form, finishing just 5th, outside the Champions League spots. Injuries to key players like Steven Gerrard and Djibril Cissé disrupted momentum, though new signings Xabi Alonso and Luis García impressed. In Europe, Liverpool produced a legendary run, culminating in the Champions League final in Istanbul. After trailing AC Milan 3–0 at half-time, Liverpool mounted an incredible comeback to 3–3, before winning on penalties. It was the club’s fifth European Cup, cementing Benítez’s place in folklore.
