Grobbelaar inspired Liverpool to European Cup glory against Roma 21 years ago after a penalty shoot-out, and in Istanbul Dudek did the same against AC Milan.

The Pole’s heroics capped an historic night which saw Liverpool come from 3-0 down at half-time to draw 3-3, before the game was decided by spot-kicks.

Dudek copied Grobbelaar’s bizarre tactic from the Reds’ last European Cup win by waving his arms around and wobbling his legs as the Milan penalty takers approached.

Serginho missed Milan’s first penalty before Dudek saved from Pirlo and Ukrainian star Andriy Shevchenko.

“He did a much better job than I did,” said Grobbelaar. “He looked like a starfish with jelly legs to me but it worked.

“This must be a hell of a high for him, and the double save against Shevchenko in extra-time was one of the best I’ve ever seen.”

Of the victory, Grobbelaar told Sky Sports News: “This is much better than anything we did. No-one has ever come back like that in the European final.”

Dudek revealed after last night’s match that defender Jamie Carragher suggested before the spot-kicks he copy Grobbelaar’s stance.

Grobbelaar told BBC Radio Five Live: “Apparently he was told to do what Bruce Grobbelaar did in 1984 and the boy did it.

“The rules have changed, the ‘keeper can go across the line, and he put the first one (Serginho) off and saved two critical penalties.”

The Zimbabwean also admitted it was then Liverpool manager Joe Fagan who gave him the idea in Italy 21 years ago.

“Joe Fagan said to me ‘we can’t stop them hitting the target from 12 yards, if they don’t they shouldn’t be playing’,” said Grobbelaar.

“As I was walking away, he said ‘you’ve done your job, we’re not going to blame you, just try to put them off’, and that stuck in my head.

“The two people who I did put off were Italian internationals Bruno Conti and Francesco Graziani. If they didn’t take the pressure then it’s not my fault.

“The Italians last night, the guys that missed the penalties, you could see in their faces they were not confident of hitting the target and they didn’t. Dudek saved two and put the first person off. It was magnificent.”

Dudek has been at Anfield since 2001 and has experienced a mixed four years, occasionally making crucial errors.

He is expected by some to leave the club this summer and Grobbelaar said: “I’ve heard rumours he might be going.

“I wish him all the very best if he goes, we must think about the fact he helped Liverpool win the Champions League. And hopefully UEFA will allow Liverpool to defend it next year.

“You must say it must be the most magnificent comeback in the history of the Champions League. Three down at half-time and you bring on a person that I regard should have started, (Dietmar) Hamann, which stabilised the midfield and gave (Steven) Gerrard the freedom to get forward.

“And look what happened, he (Gerrard) gets the first one and he played absolutely magnificently second half.”

Grobbelaar insisted, though, that the victory differed from the European Cup triumph he played in in 1984.

“You cannot really compare that. The one we played we went to Rome, played in Rome and to go in the lion’s den against the home team, it was awesome,” he said.

“But this, away from home, a neutral ground, 3-0 down at half-time and all of a sudden in the 58th minute it is 3-3, it was absolutely magnificent football in the second half.”