Rafa Benitez insists his Champions League miracle in Istanbul is still Liverpool's greatest comeback.
The Newcastle boss has weighed in to the debate as to whether the 2005 classic was better than the Jurgen Klopp-inspired fight back from the dead this week against Barcelona .
Benitez loved seeing his former club set up a final against Tottenham by overturning a three goal first-leg deficit with a stunning 4-0 win against Lionel Messi and Co at Anfield.
But despite the rave reviews Klopp's side have rightly earned, Benitez says overturning a three goal half-time gap, to get level, and beat AC Milan on penalties, is still better.
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The Spaniard, 59, is a legend on Merseyside for that triumph 14 years ago, and he said: “Yes. It's very clear! In a poll too! Come on, no chance.
"You have 45 minutes, 3-0 against AC Milan, the best team, miles away from anyone, the fans singing at half-time, the Milan fans so happy, and then you go and you score three goals in six minutes and Dudek's save, and then you go to extra time, you go to the penalties?
“Better than that? Come on. One thing is the comeback and the atmosphere, the emotions: no chance, that is Istanbul.
“The other thing, is it a great performance, a great game? Yes, fine, that is good."
Benitez says the Miracle of Anfield will be heightened if they go on to win trophy. “If you win the trophy it would be a fantastic achievement after all these things.
“We beat Real Madrid 4-0 and Casillas was their man of the match in the game at Anfield, so that is one thing. They've done really well in midweek with a great performance, but Istanbul is another thing.”
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Benitez, meanwhile, is expecting to meet Newcastle owner Mike Ashley face-to-face next week to thrash out his future.
He says he will go into the summit in “positive” fashion, to hear how Ashley wants the club to progress.
Benitez's contract ends on June 30, and he is hoping his “ideas” are not too far apart form Ashley's.
Benitez has promised his players they can talk to him in the next 10 days about their own future and contracts, if he gets a new deal from Ashley.
