Snap shot: Liverpool's 2001 UEFA Cup glory

Liverpool are no strangers to drama in European finals, but even by their lofty standards the 2001 UEFA Cup final took some beating. Deportivo Alavés were surprise finalists but proved their mettle in fighting back from 2-0 and 3-1 down to take the match into golden-goal extra time. Liverpool finally saw off the Spanish side, who were reduced to nine men, 5-4. UEFA.com looks back on a shap shot of a memorable night.

1. Jamie Carragher
A one-club man, Bootle-born Carragher made over 700 Liverpool appearances between his 1997 debut and his retirement at the close of 2012/13. The 2005 UEFA Champions League triumph was the highlight of a career that brought two FA Cups, three English League Cups, the UEFA Cup and two UEFA Super Cups. Winner of 38 England caps, he was tempted out of retirement for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and has proved equally assured as a television pundit and columnist.

2. Danny Murphy
A product of Crewe's youth set-up, Murphy was 20 when, in 1997, he joined boyhood team Liverpool. As a central midfielder, the presence of Steven Gerrard and Dietmar Hamann meant he was often used in a wide position, but three winning goals at Old Trafford in four seasons secured his place in Koppite hearts. Murphy, capped nine times by England, left in 2004 for Charlton, Tottenham and then for five seasons at Fulham – he was key to their run to the 2010 UEFA Europa League final. Retired since 2013 and now 39, he is a respected pundit on British TV and radio.

3. Robbie Fowler
Fowler was the childhood Everton fan who earned the nickname 'God' at Anfield. He burst onto the scene at 18, scoring 12 goals in his first 13 games including five in one match against Fulham. Over the next nine seasons his rate was better than a goal every two games. He left in 2002 in a €15m move to Leeds, the start of a nomadic existence that ended in Thailand a decade later. Having invested shrewdly in property and horses as a player, Fowler continues to pursue business interests alongside coaching and TV work.

4. Steven Gerrard
Synonymous with the club and particularly the 2005 final, the ex-England captain joined LA Galaxy last summer, bringing an end to his 16-year Anfield career. Man of the match in Istanbul (his header sparked the revival), Gerrard had dragged the Reds into the last 16 with a late matchday six thunderbolt against Olympiacos. He scored twice in the following year's FA Cup victory and won it all for Liverpool except the Premier League – having been a runner-up three times.

5. Sami Hyypiä
The heart of a defence that conceded just five goals en route to the final, Hyypiä arrived from Willem II in 1999 and became a fans' favourite over the next decade. He had two seasons at Bayer Leverkusen before retiring in 2011 and moving into coaching with the German club – initially alongside Sascha Lewandowski – guiding them to third in the 2012/13 Bundesliga. He then took sole command, before returning to England with Brighton for a short spell. He took over as boss of Zürich in August, steering them to the Swiss Cup final on 29 May, though was dismissed earlier this month after his side slipped to the bottom of the table.

6. Gary McAllister
A league champion with Leeds in 1992, the Scottish midfielder was a surprise Liverpool signing in July 2000 at the age of 35. Proved his worth with five Premier League goals the following season, and added two crucial UEFA Cup strikes; the only goal of the semi-final with Barcelona from the penalty spot and another spot kick in the final against Alavés. Left Anfield at the end of 2001/02 to become player-manager at Coventry before a short spell in charge of Leeds in 2008. Has since had short spells as a coach at Middlesbrough, Aston Villa and Liverpool, where he is also a club ambassador.

7. Emile Heskey
Signed from Leicester in March 2000, the powerful striker's first full season at Anfield was his best, bringing 14 league goals. Heskey added three more in the UEFA Cup and formed an effective partnership with Michael Owen for club and country over the next few seasons. Departed for Birmingham in 2004, and spells at Wigan and Aston Villa followed before a 2012 move to Australia looked set to be the last of his career. Heskey returned to England with Bolton two years later, however, making 30 Championship appearances in 2015/16.

8. Markus Babbel
Having won the Bundesliga three times with Bayern München, where he also won the UEFA Cup (1996) and reached the 1999 UEFA Champions League final, the Germany defender's experience proved invaluable in his first Liverpool campaign. Guillain–Barré syndrome (an autoimmune disease) effectively brought an end to his Anfield career. Babbel returned home to sign for Stuttgart in 2004 and hung up his boots at the end of 2006/07 to become Stuttgart's assistant coach, stepping up to the top job in 2008. Left in 2009 and has since had short spells at Hertha Berlin and Hoffenheim; has been in charge of Swiss side Luzern since 2014.

9. Vladimír Šmicer
The Czech stalwart's last Liverpool outing turned out to be his most memorable. Brought off the bench for Kewell midway through the first period of the 2005 UEFA Champions League final, he scored Liverpool's second goal and final penalty. He left for Bordeaux in France, where he had won the championship with Lens, before collecting back-to-back titles at first club Slavia Praha. He worked as assistant to Czech coach Michal Bílek on retirement, had a brief dalliance with politics and is now on the board at Slavia, where his son is on the books. He plays a lot of golf.

10. Stéphane Henchoz
Formed a formidable partnership with Hyypiä at the heart of Liverpool's defence before a series of injury problems. Left for Celtic in 2004/05 and then spent time at Wigan and Blackburn before retiring in October 2008. He has since studied coaching, completing his UEFA Pro Licence in 2014.

11. Pegguy Arphexad
A perennial reserve goalkeeper, Arphexad collected five major winner's medals at Liverpool, all as an unused substitute. Played for Coventry and Notts County after leaving Anfield before moving into the sports insurance business – not, as some colourful internet rumours would have it, adult entertainment.

12. Grégory Vignal
Made 11 league appearances over three years with Liverpool before a much-travelled career encompassing spells in his native France, Spain, Scotland, Germany and Greece. Now president of French amateur club Palavas.

13. Sander Westerveld
Joined Liverpool from Vitesse in 1999 and was the club's No1 for his first two seasons, including the treble-winning campaign of 2000/01. Pushed down the pecking order by the arrival of Jerzy Dudek, the Dutchman spent four years in Spain with Real Sociedad. After a brief return to England with Portsmouth and Liverpool's local rivals Everton, he had stints at Almería (Spain), Sparta (Netherlands), Monza (Italy) and Ajax Cape Town (South Africa), where he became goalkeeping coach after retiring in 2013. Now works as an agent.

©Sportsfile

14. Gérard Houllier
Having spent a year studying in Liverpool in the late 1960s – when he became a regular on the Kop – the Frenchman returned as manager in summer 1998, initially alongside Roy Evans before taking sole charge that November. The cup treble looked to be the foundation for more success but Houllier fell ill at half-time in a game against Aston Villa in October 2001, leading to the discovery of a heart condition and an emergency operation. Returned to lead Liverpool to the 2003 League Cup but was replaced by Rafael Benítez the following year; went on to win two league titles with Lyon.

Michael Owen scores in '98©Getty Images

15. Michael Owen 
Owen was 18 when he announced himself with a sensational goal against Argentina at the 1998 World Cup. Blessed with electrifying pace, he scored 118 goals in 216 league games for Liverpool – and won the 2001 UEFA Cup – before a season at Real Madrid. Injuries took their toll during subsequent spells with Newcastle, Manchester United and Stoke, and he retired in 2013. England's fifth highest scorer, Owen has become a successful racehorse breeder and owner, and a TV pundit.

Dietmar Hamann (out of shot)
The German was introduced at half-time for Steve Finnan during the 2005 UEFA Champions League final and was a key catalyst for the comeback. He converted the Reds' first penalty of the shoot-out and enjoyed one more season before spells at Manchester City and MK Dons. He called time on a stellar career – which included two Bundesliga titles and the UEFA Cup at Bayern, plus 59 Germany caps – before trying his hand at coaching. Now works as a columnist and TV pundit in Britain and Ireland.

Patrick Berger (out of shot)
Signed after winning the Bundesliga with Dortmund on the back of his sterling performances at EURO '96 in England, Czech midfielder Berger won six trophies in seven seasons at Anfield. An attacking presence, he was noted for his powerful left foot, surging runs and, sadly, injury problems. It did not stop him playing until he was 36, by now back in his homeland at Sparta Praha, before knee problems forced his retirement in 2010 – although he still plays on an amateur basis alongside Šmicer for Dolni Chabry.

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