The drama, with nine goals, two red cards and an own goal sealing victory just three minutes from the end of extra-time, could not have been better scripted.

In Hollywood, they would have accused you of making it up.

Liverpool had twice led by two clear goals and were 3-1 ahead at half-time only for two defensive lapses just after the interval to cost them dearly, with Alaves punishing their weakness in the air.

It still seemed as though Robbie Fowler, whose future was said to be in doubt after being left out of the FA Cup team, had dramatically sealed victory when he came off the bench with 18 minutes left to put Liverpool 4-3 up.

However, with just one minute and 35 seconds of normal time remaining, who else but a former Manchester United player, Jordi Cruyff, should equalise with a header from a corner and force extra-time.

With Alaves down to first 10 men and then nine, but penalties still beckoning, Gary McAllister sent over a late free-kick which midfielder Delfi Gelli headed into his own net.

It was heart-breaking for an Alaves side who had given their all, battling back into the game with remarkable bravery.

But Liverpool were not going to have this chance of making history taken away from them when it was within touching distance.

They may have been accused of being cautious and defensive in their semi-final against Barcelona, but they have now played in three cup finals and won them all.

Each of them has gone to the wire, with penalties in the Worthington Cup final, a dramatic late comeback in the FA Cup final and now a golden goal winner.

The over-riding fact, however, was that the deposed kings of Europe finally had a crown back again, 17 long years after their last European success.

This may not have been the European Cup and Liverpool's main priority for the season - reaching the Champions League - has not yet been attained.

But amid a tumultuous atmosphere in Dortmund's Westfalenstadion, a typically English ground, with Liverpool fans making up three-quarters of the near-capacity crowd, none of that really mattered.

They had finally started to exorcise those European ghosts of the past, whose tremendous legacy has weighed down upon this latest generation.

With just one change - McAllister for Vladimir Smicer - Liverpool began at the frenetic pace that they finished off the FA Cup final.

After just three minutes, it was McAllister who swung over a free-kick that Markus Babbel rose to glance just inside the post.

And, soon afterwards, Liverpool capitalised even further on the incredible amounts of space on offer.

Michael Owen made the most of a quick break and while initially delaying his ball, he picked out Steve Gerrard galloping through the centre, leaving his marker trailing, before driving a shot underneath keeper Martin Herrera.

Alaves looked there for the taking, as they were defending too deep, conceding control of midfield and allowing Gerrard the freedom of the pitch.

Coach Jose Manul Esnal could wait no longer. On came striker Ivan Alonso for defender Dan Eggen, the tactics were switched to a back four and the change was as immediate as it was dramatic.

Within four minutes of his 22nd-minute arrival, Alonso had risen above Babbel to head home a superb cross by dangerous full-back Cosmin Contra.

Alaves may have conceded 15 goals in their previous 12 UEFA Cup ties, but they had also scored 32 times and left Liverpool hanging on for dear life.

It was certainly fraught and frantic, but with Sander Westerveld denying Moreno from point-blank range after he had turned Stephane Henchoz inside out, Houllier's side survived to come again themselves.

Alaves were playing a risky offside trap, two minutes before half-time, Owen made the most of it as he timed his run onto Dietmar Hamann's pass to perfection.

Owen went round Herrera only for the keeper to trip him up and while he escaped a red card due to the presence of a covering defender, McAllister, whose penalty had beaten Barcelona, made no mistake again from the spot.

That should have been game over but back came Alaves.

Two minutes after the restart, Contra, who had helped Romania to victory against England at Euro 2000, twisted and turned his way round Jamie Carragher to deliver another superb cross.

This time it was Moreno who rose above Gerrard to head past Westerveld and just three minutes later, the plucky Spanish side were actually level.

Henchoz conceded a free-kick on the edge of Liverpool's penalty area despite a suspicion of a dive and Moreno fired his dead-ball under the jumping defensive wall and past the static figure of Westerveld.

Houllier's response was to bring on Smicer for Henchoz, who had been pulled to pieces, and move Babbel into central defence, with Gerrard switching to right-back.

Fowler also replaced the disappointing Emile Heskey with 26 minutes left.

The stage was set for the striker, who also scored their only goal in their Worthington Cup final victory, and he did not disappoint this time either.

Nine minutes after his arrival, he was put through by McAllister and after lining up his angle on the edge of the area, picked his spot inside the far post.

Again, Liverpool should have been home and dry. But with under two minutes of normal time left, Pablo's corner was headed home by Jordi, who had evidently learned the comeback art at Old Trafford.

So to extra-time. Alaves' task was increased hugely when they were reduced to 10 men when substitute Magno was sent off, but that just encouraged the Spanish to sit back and try to hang on grimly.

Liverpool were faced with a wall of defenders and in their tiredness, had lost some of their sharpness.

But with four minutes left, Alaves were reduced to nine men when captain Antonio Karmona was dismissed and from the ensuing free-kick came the dramatic late winner.

The stadium was a sea of red scarves as Liverpool lifted a European trophy again. It was long overdue but amid the raucous celebrations, it was almost as if they had never been away.