His first came on the stroke of half-time after a free-kick from Andrea Pirlo struck the striker and sent goalkeeper Pepe Reina the wrong way.

It was a cruel blow from which the Reds never recovered and gave Milan the revenge they craved after losing this trophy to Steven Gerrard’s men in Turkey two years ago.

Gerrard missed a great chance in the second half and that proved a costly miss because eight minutes from time Inzaghi went round Reina to score from the narrowest of angles and put this final beyond Liverpool.

It was a bitter ending for the Reds. Dirk Kuyt gave Liverpool fans something to cheer after 89 minutes but it was too little too late.

A disappointed Gerrard said: “We controlled the first half but credit to AC Milan, they’re a top, top side and they probably just about deserved it. But we will bounce back from this, make no mistake this team is going places and we’ll be back for another final.”

AC Milan celebrate their revenge for the final two years ago