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Garcia on 'ghost goal' - You can bet it crossed the line!

Luis Garcia's 'ghost goal' against Chelsea sent Liverpool to the 2005 Champions League final © Getty Images

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Jose Mourinho may insist to this day that Luis Garcia's "ghost goal" for Liverpool against Chelsea in their 2005 Champions League semi-final never crossed the line - but the man who scored it is still having none of it.

Garcia spent three seasons with Liverpool from 2004-2007, and recently announced his retirement from football aged 35.

However his most famous moment came against Mourinho's Chelsea almost nine years ago, with his goal settling the tie and sending Liverpool to Istanbul, where they came back from 3-0 down against AC Milan to claim their fifth European crown.

Mourinho still believes the goal should not have stood, with Chelsea defender William Gallas appearing to hack the ball off the line.

But in a question and answer session with Liverpool's official Twitter account, Garcia responded in playful mood to a fan's query on whether the ball did in fact go in.

@LFC @LFC4Lyf05 you can bet, son!! saw it perfectly ;)

— Luis Garcia (@LuchoGarcia14) January 23, 2014

Garcia added that it was probably his favourite goal he scored for the club. He said: "The Chelsea semi-final goal would be the most celebrated for me. Juventus [in the quarter-finals] could be one, what a goal! What a night!"

Garcia also recalled that stunning victory in Istanbul, admitting he will never forget the events of May 25, 2005.

"I still do [get emotional watching highlights of the final], it's something nobody can take from us," he said. "Time passes but our memories are always there, and that one was a special one.

"I didn't sleep until the 27th! There were long days of celebrations."

Garcia revealed he is still an avid Liverpool fan, and plans to attend a match at Anfield before the season is out.

"I support every Liverpool game from home but I'm hoping to be there soon, in March or April for sure," he added.

"I think that the main target is to be in the top four, but I'll say they can be fighting for more until the end of the season.

"I want to be close to football of course but I'm not in a rush to do something right now. I want to enjoy family and friends."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd