Andrea Pirlo: 'We didn't know what was going on' former AC Milan star remembers Liverpool's 2005 Champions League win

Liverpool completed a memorable comeback after being 3-0 down at half-time

(GETTY IMAGES)

Liverpool's legion of fans may remember it fondly, but former AC Milan star Andrea Pirlo looks back on the 2005 Champions League Final in a rather different light.

The Italian team were 3-0 up at half-time in Istanbul after a brilliant first 45 minutes that brought goals from Paolo Maldini and two from Hernan Crespo.

They thought the game as won, but, as we all know, Steven Gerrard and the Reds had other ideas after scoring three goals in a short spell to force the game into extra-time.

Pirlo had a penalty saved in the 2005 final (Getty Images)

Rafael Benitez's team eventually won on penalties, Pirlo missing Milan's second spot-kick with Jerzy Dudek saving.

"We played a spectacular first half with maybe some of the best football of recent years," Pirlo told the official Champions League magazine.

"But then something happened which shouldn't happen, and even we didn't really know what was going on there in those eight minutes. It was just unbelievable, but this is what can happen in football.

Pirlo's Juventus take on Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final (Getty Images)

"You though first that the match had been decided, but then it ended in a way that nobody could have forseen."

Pirlo is now at Juventus, who host favourites Real Madrid in the semi-final of the competition tonight, but he had his revenge over Liverpool two years later, when Milan met the Reds again in the final in Athens.

Pirlo's free-kick deflected off Pippo Inzaghi for the opener and Carlo Ancelotti's team eventually won 2-1.

Pirlo had his revenge in 2007 (Getty Images)

"There was the desire to lift that trophy again, which we could have won two years before," said the Italian, now 35.

"So it was a great feeling and a joy and it helped us forget that bad match from two years before.

"And we deserved it."