One special night we'll never forget

Ask anyone exactly what they did and how they felt a decade ago to the day and you're unlikely to get a precise answer. One may be able to remember whether they were at school, university, who your partner was or where you worked - but not your exact actions and emotions.

For Liverpool fans though today is different. Almost every supporter will be able to tell you they were either inside Anfield, in front of the television or glued to a radio, and that the evening was one that shredded the nerves but ultimately ended with joy as Rafael Benitez's team overcame Chelsea 1-0 to reach the Champions League final in Istanbul.

The first leg at Stamford Bridge had been a stalemate and indeed cagey affair as both defences were on top. Despite the draw in London it was Chelsea who were deemed as marginal favourites with the bookies having been crowned Premier League champions the week before.

Liverpool in contrast were a work in progress, as Benitez began rebuilding the team on a budget the fraction of the size of the one provided to Jose Mourinho by Roman Abramovich, and with Spanish maestro Xabi Alonso watching from the stand suspended the Reds needed inspiration.

The Anfield faithful sensed the team needed extra help and the atmosphere at Anfield was incredible. Many people said the 1977 European tie with St Etienne was the loudest noise Anfield has ever heard but maybe this night surpassed it.

After just four minutes of the decisive second leg the complexion of the tie changed with a goal that remains famous to this day.

Steven Gerrard played a lovely dinked ball over the top of the Chelsea defence for Milan Baros, who knocked the ball past Petr Cech. His finish did not have the power to go in, but Spanish ace Garcia, who had the habit of netting on the big occasion, nipped in to fire Liverpool ahead.

Chelsea were furious, believing that the ball did not cross the line before William Gallas cleared it into the night. The Reds though could point to the fact that Baros had been floored by Cech in the penalty area while attempting his finish and the goalkeeper would have been shown a straight red card.

The arguments were academic - Liverpool were 1-0 up and as it stood heading to Turkey.

It was past the hour mark before Liverpool keeper Jerzy Dudek had a real save to make, as Chelsea were unable to find their usual rhythm due to the work of Steven Gerrard and Didi Hamann in midfield.

With Jamie Carragher magnificent at the back alongside Sami Hyypia, Mourinho's men were kapt at bay. When the Blues threatened it was from a Frank Lampard free-kick - beaten away by Dudek.

The odd half chance for Didier Drogba couldn't mask the fact that Liverpool were largely in control, but it would only take one moment of brilliance or a blunder to send Chelsea to Istanbul rather than the Reds.

When the fourth official signalled there would be six minutes of injury time, the Anfield crowd held its breath as they implored the referee to put a stop to the agony of being so close to a first European Cup final in 20 years, but at the same time knowing it could be snatched away at any moment.

Fears that Chelsea might steal it were not unfounded. The Londoners were bombarding the Liverpool box, and in the last minute of stoppage time Dudek flapped at a John Terry header and gifted Eidur Gudjohnsen the best chance of the night. However, the Iceland internationl was off target and it was at that moment Liverpool knew their plane to Istanbul was calling.

Recalling that last-gasp miss by Gudjohnsen, Carragher said in his Daily Mail column: "It missed me and Drogba by centimetres. How close was it? I felt the ball graze the top of my legs as Drogba and I dived towards it. A fraction lower and we wouldn't have gone to Istanbul."

On the final whistle, Gerrard, inspirational throughout the Champions League run that season could barely contain his joy as he hugged Alonso who had run down from the stands to join in the celebrations.

The Kop found itself overcome with emotion, cheering with scarves raised high breaking into a haunting version of 'You'll Never Walk Alone' with a feverence which hadn't been seen in years.

Ten years on, whatever you are doing today, it's a game and a feeling that few will forget.

However, even that tense, fraught encounter would ultimately be eclipsed in folklore by what came next in Istanbul.