Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry has challenged UEFA to allow Liverpool back into the Champions League next season.
The Champions League winners are not guaranteed automatic entry into next season's competition and because they finished outside the Barclays Premiership's top four Liverpool have to play in the UEFA Cup next season.
Even the penalty shoot-out win over AC Milan after being 3-0 down and drawing 3-3 has not earned Liverpool a place in the Champions League next season.
The debate has raged for months over whether a special wild card should be introduced to allow champions to defend their crown, regardless of domestic qualification.
But after witnessing the historic penalty shoot-out victory over Milan, Parry said: "As it is our fifth European Cup triumph, we now get to keep the trophy for good, and keeping the cup is special, it is ours now and they can't take it back."
Parry admitted he had not directly asked UEFA about being allowed to take part in next season's competition but he hoped they would be in.
"I haven't asked UEFA about that, but you would expect that the world would want to see us have the opportunity to defend it after that," said Parry.
"We do tend to specialise in dramatic cup finals that entertain the whole continent."
UEFA will make a decision in early June, but it is believed they will make provision for Liverpool to defend their crown next term.
