Exclusive: Why Liverpool Champions League winner missed Rafa Benitez half-time talk in Istanbul

The Champions League final is the biggest game in club football.

Most players can only dream of playing in one, never mind winning it. The very best, own a number of winners’ medals.

Liverpool’s squad under Jurgen Klopp, and before him Rafa Benitez, have been fortunate to have featured in two finals each and got their hands on Ol’ Big Ears in 2005 and 2019 respectively.

With the Reds facing Inter Milan in the round of 16 this season, Klopp’s men will even be eyeing up the possibility of winning the famous tournament once again and becoming European champions for a second time in May.

But when Benitez’s side reached the Champions League final in 2005, it was against the odds and, having finished fifth in the Premier League, they headed to Istanbul not knowing when they would even get to play in the competition again, never mind reach a final.

Blood Red: Jurgen Klopp delighted with early impressions of Luis Diaz at Liverpool

Blood Red: Naby Keita Liverpool Future Dilemma Amid Barcelona & Bayern Munich Links

Blood Red: Jurgen Klopp Team News Update Ahead of Liverpool v Leicester City

Blood Red: Luis Diaz father explains why his son chose Liverpool over Tottenham Hotspur

Blood Red: Harvey Elliott's Dad in TEARS after Goal in front of Kop on Liverpool Return

Everton Player Ratings V Newcastle

Blood Red: Alisson Becker Sings ALLEZ, ALLEZ, ALLEZ After Training Ahead Of Liverpool Return

Lampard on Newcastle defeat

Blood Red: Liverpool players celebrate after winning the FIFA Club World Cup

Blood Red: Liverpool v Leicester City | Match Preview

And for Didi Hamann, he prepared for the biggest match of his career not even knowing if he had a future at Liverpool.

With his contract expiring in the summer of 2005, he watched on