Klopp and Liverpool channel spirit of Istanbul

Famous, dramatic European nights are woven into Liverpool folklore. From Internazionale Milano in the 1960s, taking in St-Étienne in the 1970s, right through to Olympiacos in the 2000s, the Merseyside club have long produced stirring comebacks on the grandest stages.

It was, though, Liverpool’s most famous European revival – the UEFA Champions League triumph in Istanbul in 2005 – that Jürgen Klopp referenced during his half-time team talk on Thursday night, with the Reds 2-0 down after Borussia Dortmund's scintillating first-half display.

"He [Klopp] did mention Istanbul," said James Milner, Liverpool's captain for the evening. "He said that it was a great night in this club's history, that it was from a similar position and that we had nothing to lose so to go out and go for it."

"The coach said that we had to create a moment to tell our grandchildren and make a special night for the fans," said Divock Origi.

"It was not only talking about Istanbul," said the manager. "But of course it was part of the half-time speech because it's obvious. It's a good, good, good example for special moments in football, so of course we used it. It was much easier to say it than to live it like the lads did in the second half, especially after [going] 3-1 [down]."

Indeed, despite Origi's calm finish making it 2-1 on the night in the 48th minute, Marco Reus quickly restored the visitors' two-goal cushion. The German international's brilliant finish left Liverpool with 32 minutes to score three times to keep their UEFA Europa League dreams alive – a similar scenario to Istanbul 11 years ago, when they trailed AC Milan 3-0 at the break.

"In football, as in life, that is the moment where you have to show character," said Klopp of going 3-1 down. "That's what the lads did. It was pretty cool to watch."

The fightback started with a brilliant finish from Philippe Coutinho in the 66th minute, a strike of the highest quality on a night full of high-quality finishes. Twelve minutes later it was Mamadou Sakho's turn, the towering centre-back stooping lowest in the box to head Daniel Sturridge's flick-on past Roman Weidenfeller.

Liverpool had 12 minutes to complete another comeback for the ages, with the famous Kop end roaring the Reds towards a winning goal. "Every supporter in the ground seemed to know there would be a lucky punch right at the end," said Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel. "It was as if it was meant to be."

It took until added-time, but that 'lucky punch' came when Dejan Lovren rose highest to meet Milner's pinpoint cross and power a header past Weidenfeller, sending the Kop into raptures. "We never stopped believing," said the match-winner, with goalkeeper Simon Mignolet running the length of the field to join in the celebrations.

"It was the first time I've done it, but it was the moment for it I guess," said Mignolet. "It was great to be part of that, a great moment."

Klopp summarised the dramatic turnaround in a way only he could: "A few things happened at the end and [it was] 4-3 Liverpool." And, as simply as that, there was another chapter woven into club folklore.

Jürgen Klopp celebrates Liverpool's win©Getty Images