Britain's government got involved in the row, with Sports Minister Richard Caborn contacting European football's governing body to argue it would be "a travesty" if Liverpool were excluded.

Clad in the red shirts of their team and hoarse after all-night celebrations, they awaited their heroes' return. And the party was set to switch to northwest England as the team were due to fly back to their home base in the late afternoon.

The party went on long into the night in faraway Istanbul after Liverpool had hit back from 0-3 down at half-time to defeat mighty AC Milan on penalties in a famously gripping Champions League final.

And the festivities were set to continue at a two-hour victory parade in the city, which was scheduled late in the afternoon, with skipper Steven Gerrard and manager Rafael Benitez leading the way.

Advance parties of the 30,000 Liverpool fans who travelled to Turkey to support their team were already arriving back at the city's John Lennon Airport draped in flags and banners chanting and singing their delight at one of the greatest victories in the club's long history.

But amid the joy, there was growing anger against the decision by European football's governing body UEFA to stick by its rules which bars Liverpool from defending the glittering trophy which the club won for the fifth time.

The Merseysiders' lowly fifth place finish in the English Premiership means that they have not qualified for next season's competition according to the UEFA rule book.

Title-holders do not qualify automatically to defend the trophy.

UEFA spokesman William Gaillard said that despite the emotion surrounding Liverpool's win, UEFA had no plans to change the rules at the moment.

Gaillard insisted the precedent set in the 2000-01 season, when Real Madrid defended the cup despite finishing fifth because the Spanish football federation decided to hand them Real Zaragoza's place, would make no difference.

"The rules are what they are," Gaillard told BBC Radio.

"They were used already once when Real Madrid won...... and actually were not among the qualifiers in the Spanish league.

"The Spanish FA told us they would replace the fourth-placed team - Real Zaragoza - with Real Madrid.

"It is a tough decision to make but it is not for us to make, it is for the (English) FA and they told us Everton would be the fourth English club.

"Rules are rules and they were passed for a very good reason."

The English FA, however are likely to step up the pressure on the Geneva-based organisation to persuade them to allow an unprecedented five English teams in Europe.

However, Caborn said he had discussed the issue with UEFA, as had FA chief executive Brian Barwick and chairman Geoff Thompson.

"I have raised the matter with UEFA's chief executive Lars-Christer Olsson and said it would be a travesty if Liverpool were not allowed to play in next year's competition, particularly after such an amazing final," Caborn said.

"They should re-think this issue and I think they will have to. Nothing is set in stone and it seems only right that the winners should have automatic re-entry rather than having to qualify through the domestic system. It is only common sense."

The final decision is expected to be made at the UEFA executive committee meeting in Manchester on June 17.

Reaction to the stunning Liverpool win continued to pour in, with British Prime Minister Tony Blair labelling it "unbelievable, incredible, brilliant".

Liverpool manager Benitez paid tribute to his team's fans, saying: "I already knew we had the best supporters in England, now I am sure they are the best in Europe.

"I just want them to enjoy themselves. I want to see the faces of people smiling all the time. This is a day for enjoying, not for talking."

He said he had been up for a few hours celebrating with players and supporters at the team's hotel after the match.

One of the Spaniards first jobs will be to convince inspirational skipper Steven Gerrard to stay at Liverpool, his hometown club.

There has been a question mark over Gerrard's future all year with the England midfielder threatening to leave if the board's ambition failed to match his own.

However, after the greatest night of his life, Gerrard, who received death threats when it was thought he was going to leave last summer, vowed to stay with the club he joined as a schoolboy.

"We're going to talk really soon, but how can I leave after this," he said.

"It's the greatest night of my life. After half-time I thought it was going to end in tears of disappointment," added Gerrard.

Much of Liverpool was nursing a hangover on Thursday, with an organisation representing private businesses estimating that 20 percent of the city's workforce had taken the day off work.

As well as ailing Liverpool fans, supporters of local rivals Everton were also lying low, said Frank McKenna from Downtown Liverpool in Business.

"Obviously, you have got the Liverpudlians ringing in with sore heads but there are also a fair few Evertonians taking the day off as well to avoid the gloating from their colleagues," he said.