Dudek returns to scene of triumph

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has confirmed Jerzy Dudek will be given the opportunity of an emotional return to the stadium that made him a world star.

Eighteen months ago goalkeeper Dudek was the hero of Liverpool’s Champions League final victory over AC Milan in Istanbul’s Ataturk Stadium.

Now with his Liverpool contract ending in the summer, the Polish star desperately wants to play on Tuesday when Liverpool return to the Ataturk to face Galatasaray in their final group C match.

And boss Benitez said: “We will use youngsters and different squad players in Istanbul, but Jerzy will play.”

There is nothing but pride and prize money riding on Liverpool’s return trip to Turkey, having already clinched top spot and Dudek will be given a rare first-team spot in the stadium that made him an Anfield legend after his heroics against AC Milan.

Dudek shot to world-wide fame 18 months ago when he saved Andriy Shevchenko’s penalty in the shoot-out triumph that gave Liverpool their fifth European Cup on May 25, 2005.

But for Liverpool new boy Dirk Kuyt, a £9m summer signing for Liverpool, there is the realisation he missed out on something his new Anfield team-mates will remember for the rest of their lives.

Kuyt can only remember watching the final on TV with his Holland team-mates while away on international duty.

Kuyt says: “I would have loved to have been part of the Liverpool team that night. It is what it is all about. You want to play at the highest level and win trophies.

“The Champions League is one of the most beautiful trophies you can ever win. It would be a dream for me to do what some of our players achieved that night.

“I was away with the national side at the time and we sat down to watch the final, and when it was 3-0 to AC Milan at the break everyone was saying what a great side they were.

“But then it all started to change and Liverpool produced that amazing comeback. We all sat around saying ’what on earth happened there then?’ It was a memorable occasion.”

Dudek will relish the chance to step in for Jose Reina in Istanbul.

He said: “You never know whether you are going to play. For me and for everyone it would bring back fantastic memories.

“I am just waiting for the chance and training hard, I am always available to play.”

Returning to the Ataturk will be memorable, too, for skipper Steven Gerrard, who produced a world-class performance to force his side back into the final.

Gerrard recalls: “I was probably more grateful than anyone that Jerzy saved Shevchenko’s penalty, because I was next in line. I was our fifth penalty taker but my legs were dead, and I could hardly walk let alone shoot.

“When the game went into extra-time I was praying for penalties because most of us had nothing left to give. But as the shoot-out continued I could see it coming down to me. Thankfully Jerzy saved it, just like he had from Shevchenko in the final minutes of normal time.

“That was an amazing double save. I was right behind the shot and felt it was a certain goal, but somehow Jerzy got it up and over the bar. Amazing. It was only at that point that I really started to believe we could do it.”

And Gerrard adds: “We won’t have to face that sort of drama on Tuesday, but we are going to the Ataturk with the same attitude we took with us when we played Milan.

“We’ve won four out of five group games and we badly want to make five out of six and make it a triumphant return to the scene of the best night of my football life.”