Liverpool and AC Milan have a storied rivalry in European football, primarily highlighted by their clashes in UEFA Champions League finals. Key matches include the 2005 final where Liverpool came back from 3-0 down at halftime to win 3-3 on penalties, and the 2007 final where AC Milan secured a 2-1 victory. Overall, in official competitive fixtures, they have faced each other five times: Liverpool has won twice, AC Milan has won twice, and one match ended in a draw.

Liverpool won the 2005 UEFA Champions League Final against AC Milan. After trailing 3-0 at halftime, Liverpool scored three goals in the second half (through Steven Gerrard, Vladimir Smicer, and Xabi Alonso) to level the match 3-3. The game went to a penalty shootout, which Liverpool won 3-2, with Jerzy Dudek saving Andriy Shevchenko's decisive penalty.

The last official match between Liverpool and AC Milan occurred during the 2007-2008 UEFA Champions League group stage. On September 18, 2007, they drew 1-1 at Anfield, and on December 4, 2007, AC Milan won 2-1 at San Siro. There have been no official matches scheduled since then.

Key players from Liverpool include Steven Gerrard, who scored crucial goals in their meetings, and Jerzy Dudek for his penalty saves. For AC Milan, Paolo Maldini, Andriy Shevchenko, and Kaka were instrumental in their performances during the finals and group-stage matches.

In their five official competitive matches, a total of 15 goals have been scored: Liverpool has scored 8 goals, and AC Milan has scored 7 goals. The highest-scoring game was the 2005 final, which ended 3-3 before penalties.

The 2005 UEFA Champions League Final between Liverpool and AC Milan was hosted at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey, attracting over 70,000 spectators and becoming one of the most iconic venues in football history.

Liverpool's comeback in the 2005 final was driven by tactical changes from manager Rafael Benitez, who introduced substitutes like Dietmar Hamann at halftime to strengthen the midfield. This allowed Liverpool to press higher, exploit AC Milan's fatigue, and score three quick goals in six minutes to equalize.

Memorable moments include Steven Gerrard's header in the 2005 final to start Liverpool's comeback, Jerzy Dudek's "spaghetti legs" save in the shootout, and Filippo Inzaghi's brace in the 2007 final for AC Milan, securing their seventh European title.

Rafael Benitez managed Liverpool during the 2005 victory, employing defensive solidity and counter-attacking strategies. Carlo Ancelotti managed AC Milan for both the 2005 and 2007 finals, focusing on a possession-based approach with experienced players like Maldini and Pirlo.

AC Milan won the 2007 final 2-1 against Liverpool, with Filippo Inzaghi scoring both goals—one from a deflection and another from a counter-attack—in the first half. Liverpool's Dirk Kuyt scored a late header in the 89th minute, but Milan held on to claim their seventh European Cup.

Managers involved:

- 2005 final: Rafa Benítez (Liverpool) vs Carlo Ancelotti (AC Milan).

- 2007 final: Benítez (Liverpool) vs Ancelotti (AC Milan).

- Recent: Jürgen Klopp (Liverpool) and Stefano Pioli (AC Milan) in 2021-22.

Their tactical duels defined the matches' outcomes.

Goalscorers in the 2005 final:

- AC Milan: Paolo Maldini (1st minute), Hernán Crespo (39th and 44th minutes).

- Liverpool: Steven Gerrard (54th minute), Vladimír Šmicer (56th minute), Xabi Alonso (60th minute).

The match ended 3-3 after extra time, with Liverpool winning the penalty shootout 3-2.

Liverpool FC and AC Milan have a storied rivalry in European football, notably in the UEFA Champions League.

Key matches include:

- 2005 final: Liverpool came back from 3-0 down to win on penalties.

- 2007 final: AC Milan won 2-1 for revenge.

- Group stage meetings: Occasional clashes with mixed results.

Overall, this rivalry is defined by dramatic finals and global fan interest.

European trophy comparison:

- Liverpool: 6 UEFA Champions League titles (including 2005), 4 UEFA Cups/Europa League.

- AC Milan: 7 UEFA Champions League titles (including 2007), 2 UEFA Cup Winners' Cups.

Domestically, both have multiple league titles, but Milan leads in UCL wins.

Liverpool and AC Milan have met eight times in official competitive matches as of 2023:

- Two finals: 2005 and 2007 UEFA Champions League.

- Six group stage matches across various seasons.

Head-to-head record: Liverpool won 3, AC Milan won 3, and 2 draws.