Manchester City firmly established themselves within footballing history earlier this month when they became just the second team to win a Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League treble after beating Inter Milan in Istanbul.
However, Liverpool fans will need no reminding that Pep Guardiola's side are not the first club to experience European glory in the Turkish capital. The Reds, of course, did so 18 years ago in one of the sport's most sensational finals.
Despite completing such an admirable achievement, however, it now appears that several significant members of the Citizens' squad could be seeking pastures new. Ilkay Gundogan's anticipated transfer to Barcelona was confirmed this morning, while the likes of Kyle Walker and Bernardo Silva have both been heavily linked with moves away from the Etihad.
READ MORE: Liverpool defender set for exit and could follow former team-mate to new club
READ MORE: Xabi Alonso phonecall helped Liverpool beat Man City and Chelsea to £17.5m transfer
After seven years at the club, a period in which he won every trophy on offer, Gundogan bid farewell to City supporters in an open letter. Interestingly too, a segment of the letter in question may be of interest to those of a Liverpool persuasion.
Undoubtedly, Jerzy Dudek's penalty-saving heroics will go down in Anfield folklore, though supporters will be forgiven for forgetting who the Reds' second-choice goalkeeper was on that famous night.
Gundogan revealed that the presence of former Liverpool shot-stopper Scott Carson, who is now a third-choice option behind Ederson and Stefan Ortega in Manchester, convinced him that City would win their first European trophy once the 37-year-old had mentioned his previous visit to Istanbul.
The German wrote: "When we got on the bus over to the hotel, I was sitting near Scott Carson, and obviously he had been a part of that Liverpool team that came back from 3–0 down against AC Milan in 2005.
"He said, 'Don’t worry, boys. Every time I come to Istanbul, I leave with a Champions League trophy.'
"Hahahah. With Scott in the squad, we couldn’t lose, I suppose."
Having previously been the only player in City's squad to have previously won the Champions League, Carson extended his contract at the club until 2024."
READ NEXT:
Real Madrid star slammed Liverpool team-mate and 'walked out' on squad after row with Everton hero
- Juventus star Federico Chiesa quizzed about future after Liverpool transfer links
- Stunning new footage shows Anfield Road expansion as Liverpool stadium transformed
- Erik ten Hag won't like Liverpool transfer deal for 'better version of Pogba' Ryan Gravenberch
- Liverpool sign new three-year sponsorship deal that is 'cornerstone of any successful model'
