The 2006-07 campaign was a season of immense European drama for Liverpool as The Reds, led by manager Rafael Benítez, charged all the way to the UEFA Champions League Final in Athens, ultimately finishing as runners-up to AC Milan in a dramatic rematch of the 2005 final. Despite the heartbreak, the team secured a vital 3rd-place finish in the Premier League and lifted the FA Community Shield at the start of the season. Spearheading the league attack was the tireless new signing Dirk Kuyt, whose 12 goals proved crucial, while the sensational mid-season arrival of Javier Mascherano alongside the leadership of Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso cemented the team's status as a European force. It was a historic year that also saw the club's sale to American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, marking a pivotal turning point in Liverpool's modern history.