Bentinez endorses Klopp for a life changing experience if he could lift the UCL

Former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez said winning the Champions League with the club changed his life and believes doing so will have a huge impact on Jurgen Klopp's stature at Anfield.

The Spaniard guided the club to a famous penalty shoot-out win over AC Milan in 2005 after they trailed 3-0 at half-time.

This season, the Reds will look to emulate that success when they take on Real Madrid in Saturday's final and the memories of that night in Istanbul have been brought up again 13 years later. 

And Benitez feels the period had a huge effect on him, suggesting replicating it will change a lot for Klopp, too.

"It changed my life in England," the Newcastle United manager told reporters.

"To win the league with Valencia in Spain after 31 years changed my life. To win the UEFA Cup with Valencia changed my life, it changed everything.

Benitez is still lauded by Liverpool fans for his success, but believes the current squad are stronger than the team he won the competition with.

"I think this one is better," he said. "We achieved what we achieved – we talk about the 'Miracle of Istanbul', but this team is better.

"We had Stevie [Gerrard], of course, also some players with experience and quality, [Xabi] Alonso and [Dietmar] Hamann. We had players who worked hard; we had a very good balance.

"This team also has good balance, but the front three can make a difference on their own."

Liverpool's run to the final in 2017-18 has thrilled many and Benitez insists they could go one step further and lift the trophy again.