Rafa Benitez didn't win Champions League for Liverpool, Steven Gerrard did - Sam Allardyce

New Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce doesn't accredit Liverpool's 2005 Champions League win to Rafa Benitez. The Spaniard was hailed as a hero by Liverpool fans for helping to mastermind the club's penalty shoot-out triumph over AC Milan in Istanbul, the fifth time they had won Europe's premier club trophy.

Liverpool recovered from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 at the end of extra-time. with Steven Gerrard scoring the first goal, before Jerzy Dudek performed heroics in the shoot-out. Read Allardyce words after the cut

 However, Allardyce, who is a long-term Benitez critic said in his new autobiography:

"He thought he was superior. Of course he can say he won the Champions League with Liverpool, which is something I never did. But it was nowt to do with him. Steven Gerrard took that final by the scruff of the neck and dragged Liverpool back from 3-0 down. I don't blame Benitez for claiming credit, but as managers we know the truth. It's like when you make a substitution in desperation and it comes off. You get all the credit for your tactical brilliance when it's often just luck."