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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Caoimhe O'Neill & Josh Challies

Rafa Benitez's fascinating tactical analysis of Champions League victory that all fans should watch

Former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has provided a fascinating insight into the Reds' glorious Champions League final comeback in Istanbul.

The Spaniard joined Jamie Carragher as a special guest on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football show.

And following analysis of Arsenal's 3-1 win over West Ham, the duo discussed Liverpool's incredible 2005 triumph in detail.

An imperious AC Milan raced into a 3-0 lead on the night, but Benitez's side emerged in the second-half and fought their way back into the game, scoring three goals in six minutes.

The Reds would go on to win the tie after Jerzy Dudek's memorable save saw Liverpool claim their fifth European Cup.

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Speaking on Monday evening, Carragher revealed the starting line-up for the final was a team who had never started a together before the

begins by explaining why he started former Australian international Harry Kewell up front.

"I had a lot of confidence in Harry Kewell," the 59-year-old explained. "People were criticising him because he was injured a lot but he was quality, a good left foot, good in the air, a good shot.

Liverpool's starting line-up for the final was an XI who had never started together before (FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP via Getty Images)

"He could do a lot of things and in this position, he could give some time to the wingers. I think he was a good player.

"The idea was to use Xabi and Stevie, the quality of these two players, then Kewell could hold the ball and give some time, he would give us something more.

"It’s a game that you have to win and I had a lot of confidence in Harry Kewell because he could score goals, he could pass players, he will be more like a striker.

"In the end, it was a mistake. Not because of Harry but because of the position of Kaka, he was killing us between the lines because Stevie used to go forward. I thought that we could control Kaka with the two midfielders but he was difficult to manage and Xabi [Alonso] was not the quickest in this area."

Jamie Carragher reacts during the 2005 Champions League final (CARL DE SOUZA/AFP via Getty Images)

Benitez goes onto explain his half-time changes with Djimi Traore initially set to be replaced by Didi Hamann before Steve Finnan was unable to play through injury.

The Madrid-born coach said: "I wanted to play three at the back, with Hamann. I was finished explaining it to him and then I was walking around and then Dave Galley [Liverpool's physio] told me Finnan could not play 45 minutes.

"He could play but not for 45 minutes. So I then I think, one substitution Harry Kewell. A second about to be made, Hamann. I cannot change. But then quickly I changed and I put Traore on."

The pair go on to discuss how Liverpool triumphed on penalties due to Benitez's well thought out penalty plan.

Sky Sports' official MNF account on Twitter shared clips of the extraordinary and insightful discussion to social media which you can watch below.

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