Will Steven Gerrard and his Liverpool manage to beat AC Milan in this year’s Champions League final? Click here for the latest odds!

Steven Gerrard says Liverpool are are determined to return from the Champions League final as heroes.

The Merseyside club face Milan in Athens in a repeat of the memorable European Cup final of 2005, which Liverpool won after a penalty shootout.

Gerrard said: “We want to be heroes and come back as winners.

“To win one final was absolutely magnificent – to do it twice would be really special. It will put us up there with the great European teams.”

Liverpool came from 3-0 down at half-time to draw level before beating Milan on penalties, and it was Gerrard who kick-started their second-half comeback with the first goal.

Liverpool will be outsiders to win tonight, but Gerrard said they are much more confident of victory this time.

He added: “Two years ago everything was a surprise. We pulled off a series of great results against the odds, but accepted we were not necessarily the best team in Europe.

“We even shocked ourselves by what we achieved. This time it’s been a different feeling all the way through.

“We’ve come on so much as a team and don’t see reaching this stage as a bonus any more.

“I actually expected us to be challenging to win it.

“The Premiership table says we are still behind Manchester United and Chelsea in England and I’d accept that.

“But over three years in Europe we have played all the best teams and come out on top. That tells you how good we’ve been.”

Will Steven Gerrard and his Liverpool manage to beat AC Milan in this year’s Champions League final? Click here for the latest odds!