Liverpool are just one victory away from lifting the European Cup for the sixth time.

Rafael Benitez masterminded their last Champions League triumph in 2005, when the Reds miraculously came from 3-0 down to beat AC Milan on penalties.

Liverpool had to advance through the qualifying rounds to make it to that final in Istanbul - and they did the same this season, too.

Here, we've compared the Reds' journeys to Istanbul and Kiev...

Qualifiers

2004-05: Beat Grazer AK 2-1 on aggregate

A brilliant Steven Gerrard brace in Austria put Liverpool in a strong position after the first leg against Grazer AK. 

However, the return leg was not all plain sailing.

The Reds were given a scare when Mario Tokic’s effort midway through the second half flew in off the bar. It was a nervy encounter but Benitez’s men held on to secure their place in the group stage.

2017-18: Beat TSG Hoffenheim 6-3 on aggregate

Liverpool kicked-off their 2017-18 Champions League campaign back in August, facing Bundesliga club Hoffenheim in a two-legged play-off.

Trent Alexander-Arnold opened the scoring in Germany with a wonderful long-range free-kick to net his debut LFC goal in supreme style.

James Milner’s deflected effort doubled the advantage before Hoffenheim, who had missed a penalty earlier in the game, got a goal late on through Mark Uth to provide them with hope for the return leg.

But back at Anfield, a quick-fire burst of goals from Emre Can (two) and Mohamed Salah saw Liverpool claim an impressive 3-0 lead early on. Despite conceding twice, the overall performance was comprehensive, and Roberto Firmino made sure of the Reds’ progression shortly after the hour mark.

Group stage

2004-05

Liverpool made an encouraging start to the group stage, as strike partners Djibril Cisse and Milan Baros both netted to secure a respectable 2-0 triumph over AS Monaco in the opening game.

However, the Reds next matches, against Olympiacos and Deportivo La Coruna, would yield just one point.

In the reverse fixture versus the Spanish team at the Riazor, Liverpool claimed a hard-fought 1-0 triumph when Jorge Andrade inadvertently turned in John Arne Riise’s cross after 13 minutes.

But in the penultimate group fixture, Liverpool were defeated 1-0 in Monaco and their qualification for the knockout stages was in serious jeopardy. They needed to beat Olympiacos by two clear goals at Anfield to progress. 

Those hopes took a major hit when Rivaldo's free-kick found its way past Chris Kirkland to give the visitors the lead. The Reds now required three goals. 

Florent Sinama-Pongolle provided hope shortly after the interval as he pulled one back - and a grandstand finish then followed. Neil Mellor made it 2-1 when he bundled in from close range, before he then teed up Gerrard, who rifled home from outside the area in the 86th minute.

Liverpool turned the game in remarkable fashion to qualify from Group A in second place.

2017-18

Liverpool’s first group stage game of this season saw them cede a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at home to Sevilla.

Another draw followed a fortnight later when Klopp’s men endured a testing evening against Spartak Moscow in Russia, but their first win of the group stage arrived in style in matchweek three.

The Reds humbled Maribor 7-0 away from home as Salah and Firmino both bagged braces. There was no let-up in the reverse fixture either, with Jürgen Klopp’s men running out 3-0 victors at Anfield.

The goals kept flowing in the next match too as the Reds raced into a 3-0 lead at Sevilla. However, the hosts mounted second-half fightback and secured a 3-3 draw.

The final game of the group saw Spartak come to Anfield with the Reds requiring a win to be sure of progression. They did it with aplomb; securing their second 7-0 victory of the campaign.

Round of 16

2004-05: Beat Bayer Leverkusen 6-2 on aggregate

 

Liverpool were comfortable winners in their first-leg tie with Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen. The Reds took the lead at Anfield through Luis Garcia, then a Riise free-kick extended the advantage before Dietmar Hamann added more gloss with a late goal.

In Germany, the scoreline was repeated, with Garcia's double and Baros' goal earning a comprehensive victory.

2017-18: Beat FC Porto 5-0 on aggregate

Klopp's men were emphatic in the first leg at the Estadio do Dragao Stadium. The attacking trident of Firmino, Salah and Sadio Mane were in ruthless mood as they gave the Porto defenders a torrid time.

Mane took home the match ball after he bagged a sublime hat-trick, while his two accomplices completed the rout.

With the tie all but over after the result in Portugal, the sides played out a low-key stalemate at Anfield.

Quarter-finals

2004-05: Beat Juventus 2-1 on aggregate

Sami Hyypia volleyed home from inside the box to give Liverpool the lead in a closely contested quarter-final first leg at Anfield.

Garcia then doubled the Reds’ advantage when his sumptuous half-volley from outside the area looped over Gianluigi Buffon and into the top corner.

Fabio Cannavaro snatched a late goal to provide hope for the Old Lady going into the second leg, though neither side could find the back of the net in Turin and Rafa's Reds rolled on.

2017-18: Beat Manchester City 5-1 on aggregate

Klopp's men had beaten City 4-3 at home in the Premier League earlier in the season and there was a sense of déjà vu as they stormed to a 3-0 first-leg lead amid a raucous atmosphere inside Anfield.

The second leg was a more nervous affair. 

Gabriel Jesus found the back of the net inside two minutes to put City back in contention.

But Salah and Firmino made sure there was to be no dramatic finale, as they scored after the break to seal a resounding 5-1 aggregate triumph.

Semi-finals

2004-05: Beat Chelsea 1-0 on aggregate

After a cagey and uneventful first meeting with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, all was still to play for on Merseyside and the second leg of this all-English tie.

And there was no shortage of drama at Anfield.

Garcia, who had been such an influential figure during the European campaign, broke the deadlock inside four minutes with his most famous goal for the Reds.

The Liverpool No.10 poked the ball into the net from a few yards out before William Gallas desperately hooked it away. Was it in, or wasn't it? 

Lubos Michel, the match referee, said it was, Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho disagreed. But the scoreboard said 1-0 and Liverpool were on the way to Istanbul.

2017-18: Beat Roma 7-6 on aggregate

A Champions League semi-final at Anfield. The type of night experienced fans craved and the uninitiated were desperate to taste.

Salah was in scintillating form and fired in two goals against former club before half-time to raise the roof in L4.

After the interval, another quick-fire burst of brilliance saw the Reds thunder home three goals in the space of 15 minutes. Liverpool were 5-0 up by the 68th minute.

‘Allez, Allez, Allez’ rang out around the stadium. Anfield had come alive.

Roma were struggling to get a foothold in the game, but Edin Dzeko and Diego Perotti scored a pair of morale-boosting away goals for the visitors to give them a chance.

In Rome, further drama unfolded.

Mane's opening goal made the score 1-0 on the night and 6-2 on aggregate. Surely there was no way back now? 

James Milner's own goal provided hope, but Gini Wijnaldum's header looked to have all but ended the contest. Roma staged a late fightback, but it was Liverpool who advanced to their first final in 11 years.

In 2005, the journey ended like this:

And, if all goes to plan, Jordan Henderson will emulate Gerrard by lifting Old Big Ears at the NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium on Saturday.