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Rafa Benitez is set to reunite with members of his 2005 Champions League team to celebrate the 20-year anniversary of Istanbul next month

Rafa Benitez is set to reunite with members of his 2005 Champions League team as Liverpool legends get together to mark the 20th anniversary of one of the most famous nights in club history next month.

May 25 will mark 20 years to the day since the Reds lifted the European Cup for a fifth time in barely believable circumstances, having fought back from 3-0 down to a much-fancied AC Milan side before beating the Italians on penalties in Turkey.

For two decades the city of Istanbul has been synonymous with the incredible victory and Benitez and his former players will be reliving their finest hours at Liverpool's Crowne Plaza Hotel on Saturday, May 24, the night before the current Premier League campaign ends for Arne Slot's Reds at Anfield against Crystal Palace.



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The event sees the iconic Benitez team up once more with Reds legends Jamie Carragher and Didi Hamann and will allow attendees to relive the drama of the famous 3-2 penalty victory over Carlo Ancelotti's Rossoneri.

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The gala anniversary dinner also features a Q&A session with Carragher, Benitez and Hamann, who were all integral to the unforgettable comeback against Milan on the night.

"Istanbul is a night that’s always going to be close to the hearts of every Liverpool fan, and it’s a privilege to be part of this special celebration," Carragher said.

"It’s going to be a brilliant evening - emotional, fun, and full of memories.

I’m looking forward to seeing everyone there and sharing what’s sure to be an unforgettable night.”

The event will be hosted by comedian and avid Liverpool fan John Bishop, who famously quit his day job to become a full-time comedian in the aftermath of the Istanbul victory.

The evening will also feature a live performance from the Lightning Seeds.

The journey to the final itself had already been astonishing, not least the comeback against Olympiakos in the group stages that ensured passage to the knockouts where Bayer Leverkusen, Juventus and, most famously, then Premier League champions Chelsea were all overcome.

The final, to this day, is known as one of the most remarkable in the history of European football.

Benitez's side were dead and buried at half-time before mounting a second-half comeback that almost defied description.

The Reds fell behind to early goal from the legendary Paolo Maldini before Andriy Shevchenko and Hernan Crespo left Benitez's players with a mountain to climb for the second half against a side widely regarded as Europe's best at the time.

Steven Gerrard nodded in the first before Vladimir Smicer fired in a second.

The comeback was complete when Xabi Alonso struck home a rebound from a saved penalty by Dida as Liverpool scored three times in six crazy minutes to even things up before beating Milan on penalties at the Ataturk Stadium.

In addition to the dinner and entertainment, guests will have the opportunity to bid on exclusive memorabilia from arguably the greatest night of all time at Liverpool.

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All proceeds from the gala will benefit the 23 Foundation, a charity supporting disadvantaged young people in Liverpool and beyond.
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