Fernando Torres scored twice to help Liverpool overpower Benfica at Anfield and set up an Europa League semi-final clash with Atletico Madrid.
The Reds levelled the tie on aggregate when Dirk Kuyt met Steven Gerrard's corner and his header was allowed to stand after initially being ruled out.
Lucas ran clear to make it 2-0 before Torres added a third on the break.
Oscar Cardozo's drilled free-kick gave Benfica hope but Torres made sure of victory late on with a cool finish.
The Spanish striker can look forward to returning to his former club Atletico in the last four after keeping alive Liverpool's last hope of silverware this season but, in the meantime, his side will resume their bid to secure fourth place in the Premier League with added confidence after an impressive display.
Torres's eventual contribution more than justified Rafael Benitez's decision to replace him during Sunday's 1-1 draw with Birmingham to rest a knee injury, but initially he appeared to be struggling against the Portuguese champions and was in some discomfort.
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At that stage, Benfica were well on top and caused the Reds plenty of problems in the first 20 minutes with their sharp passing but without forcing Pepe Reina into action.
Liverpool, however, gradually imposed themselves on the game and had enjoyed a decent spell of pressure themselves by the time Kuyt opened the scoring on 28 minutes.
There was confusion when his header was initially - and wrongly - ruled out for offside before referee Bjorn Kuipers allowed the goal to stand.
Things got even better for the home side when Gerrard slid Lucas clear and he rounded Benfica keeper Julio Cesar before slotting home.
Benfica were still creating chances but Cardoza's skidding free-kick was comfortably saved by Reina and Sidnei's shot across the face of goal was deflected wide.
And Torres gave his side more breathing space with his first goal of the night just before the hour mark, rounding off a swift breakaway move by sweeping home Kuyt's superb first-time cross from the right.
Liverpool were cruising but Cardoza's low free-kick, which fizzed through a gap in the wall, quickly changed the mood and left the visitors needing just one more goal to progress on away goals.
Cardoza came within a few inches of doing just that when another free-kick from an identical position hit Torres and flew narrowly wide.
But Torres settled Liverpool's nerves with eight minutes left when he raced into the area and lifted the ball over substitute keeper Moreira, who had replaced the injured Cesar moments earlier.
The Merseysiders now face Atletico, who beat Valencia on away goals, with the first leg in Spain on 22 April with the return at Anfield on 29 April.
Live text and stats
Thursday, 8 April 2010
Europa League
| Home Team | Score | Away Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liverpool | 4-1 | Benfica | FT |
| (HT 2-0)(agg 5-3) | |||
|
| ||
Hide team line-ups and match stats
Liverpool
- 25 Reina
- 02 Johnson
- 05 Agger
- 16 Kyrgiakos
- 23 Carragher
- 08 Gerrard (Aquilani 88)
- 15 Benayounyellow card (El Zhar 90+1)
- 20 Mascherano
- 21 Lucas
- 09 Torres (Ngog 86)
- 18 Kuyt
Substitutes
Benfica
- 13 Julio Cesar (Moreira 79)
- 04 Luisao
- 23 David Luiz
- 27 Sidnei
- 05 Ruben Amorim
- 06 Javi Garcia
- 08 Ramires
- 10 Aimaryellow card (Fabio Coentrao 86)
- 17 Carlos Martins (Alan Kardec 66)
- 20 Di Maria
- 07 Cardozo
Substitutes
- 01 Moreira,
- 14 Pereira,
- 02 Airton,
- 18 Fabio Coentrao,
- 24 Felipe Menezes,
- 31 Alan Kardec,
- 32 Eder Luis
Show all live text
- Final Result
- Full Time
- 90:00+2:58 The match has reached full-time.
- 90:00+2:10 Free kick awarded for a foul by Oscar Cardozo on Leiva Lucas. Free kick taken by Jose Reina.
- 90:00+0:20 Angel Di Maria restarts play with the free kick.
- 90:00+0:20 Substitution Nabil El Zhar is brought on as a substitute for Yossi Benayoun.
- 90:00+0:20 Daniel Agger challenges Angel Di Maria unfairly and gives away a free kick.
- 88:36 The referee blows for offside against Yossi Benayoun. Jose Moreira takes the free kick.
- 87:13 Substitution Alberto Aquilani joins the action as a substitute, replacing Steven Gerrard.
- 86:50 Javier Mascherano takes a shot. Comfortable save by Filipe Ruben Amorim.
- 85:24 Substitution Alexandre Fabio Coentrao comes on in place of Pablo Aimar.
- 85:24 Substitution Fernando Torres leaves the field to be replaced by David Ngog.
- 83:34 Free kick taken by Daniel Agger.
- 83:34 Booking Pablo Aimar is booked.
- 83:18 Javier Mascherano fouled by Pablo Aimar, the ref awards a free kick.
- 81:35 Assist by Javier Mascherano.
- 81:35 GOAL - Fernando Torres:Liverpool 4 - 1 Benfica Fernando Torres gets on the score sheet with a goal from inside the box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Liverpool 4 (5)-(3) 1 Benfica.
- 78:35 Substitution Jose Moreira on for Jacobi Julio Cesar.
- 77:02 Outswinging corner taken by Steven Gerrard from the right by-line played to the near post, Marinho David Luiz makes a clearance.
- 76:55 Dirk Kuyt produces a cross, clearance made by Francisco Javi Garcia.
- 75:41 Angel Di Maria takes a inswinging corner to the near post, Francisco Javi Garcia has a headed effort at goal from close in which goes wide of the left-hand upright.
- 74:34 Oscar Cardozo shoots direct from the free kick.
- 74:34 Booking The referee cautions Yossi Benayoun for unsporting behaviour.
- 74:25 Free kick awarded for a foul by Yossi Benayoun on Nascimento Ramires.
- 73:15 Corner taken by Steven Gerrard played to the near post.
- 72:59 Steven Gerrard takes a shot. Francisco Javi Garcia gets a block in.
- 70:30 Daniel Agger fouled by Junior Alan Kardec, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Daniel Agger.
- 69:13 GOAL - Oscar Cardozo:Liverpool 3 - 1 Benfica Oscar Cardozo hits the back of the net with a goal direct from the free kick from just outside the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Liverpool 3 (4)-(3) 1 Benfica.
- 68:26 Unfair challenge on Nascimento Ramires by Dirk Kuyt results in a free kick.
- 67:47 Centre by Javier Mascherano, Jacobi Julio Cesar makes a comfortable save.
- 67:10 Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Steven Gerrard.
- 66:35 Pablo Aimar takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line played to the near post, save by Jose Reina.
- 65:53 Anderson Luisao takes the indirect free kick.
- 65:53 Substitution (Benfica) makes a substitution, with Junior Alan Kardec coming on for Jorge Carlos Martins.
- 65:53 The referee blows for offside against Fernando Torres.
- 64:00 Foul by Pablo Aimar on Jamie Carragher, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Jose Reina.
- 61:26 Steven Gerrard fouled by Nascimento Ramires, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Steven Gerrard from left wing, clearance made by Filipe Ruben Amorim.
- 61:00 Fernando Torres fouled by Filipe Ruben Amorim, the ref awards a free kick. Steven Gerrard takes the direct free kick.
- 60:26 Corner taken left-footed by Angel Di Maria to the near post, Fernando Torres makes a clearance.
- 59:54 Corner taken by Angel Di Maria from the right by-line played to the near post, clearance made by Fernando Torres.
- 58:16 Assist on the goal came from Dirk Kuyt.
- 58:16 GOAL - Fernando Torres:Liverpool 3 - 0 Benfica Fernando Torres finds the back of the net with a goal from inside the box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Liverpool 3 (4)-(2) 0 Benfica.
- 58:07 Dirk Kuyt crosses the ball,
- 57:08 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Angel Di Maria by Javier Mascherano. Free kick crossed right-footed by Jorge Carlos Martins from left wing, Glen Johnson makes a clearance.
- 56:16 A cross is delivered by Filipe Ruben Amorim, clearance by Sotirios Kyrgiakos.
- 55:40 A cross is delivered by Filipe Ruben Amorim, Sotirios Kyrgiakos manages to make a clearance.
- 53:48 Steven Gerrard produces a cross, Rechel Sidnei manages to make a clearance.
- 52:48 Francisco Javi Garcia concedes a free kick for a foul on Steven Gerrard. Free kick taken by Jamie Carragher.
- 51:00 Shot by Marinho David Luiz from just outside the area goes over the net.
- 50:35 Leiva Lucas is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick. Jorge Carlos Martins delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from right channel, clearance by Sotirios Kyrgiakos.
- 49:28 Dirk Kuyt is ruled offside. Indirect free kick taken by Rechel Sidnei.
- 48:10 Leiva Lucas concedes a free kick for a foul on Jorge Carlos Martins. Anderson Luisao takes the free kick.
- 47:19 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Angel Di Maria from the right by-line to the near post, clearance made by Jamie Carragher.
- 45:46 The assistant referee flags for offside against Fernando Torres. Rechel Sidnei takes the indirect free kick.
- 45:01 The game restarts for the second half.
- Half Time
- 45:00+1:08 The referee calls an end to the first half.
- 43:04 Corner taken by Jorge Carlos Martins from the right by-line played to the near post, clearance by Leiva Lucas.
- 42:40 Rechel Sidnei takes a shot. Blocked by Leiva Lucas.
- 42:08 Free kick awarded for a foul by Javier Mascherano on Nascimento Ramires. Jorge Carlos Martins takes the free kick.
- 40:47 Shot from outside the penalty box by Jorge Carlos Martins goes wide right of the goal.
- 38:59 Foul by Javier Mascherano on Jorge Carlos Martins, free kick awarded. Jorge Carlos Martins restarts play with the free kick.
- 38:43 Francisco Javi Garcia fouled by Dirk Kuyt, the ref awards a free kick. Anderson Luisao restarts play with the free kick.
- 37:08 Sotirios Kyrgiakos gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Oscar Cardozo. Oscar Cardozo has a direct shot on goal from the free kick, save made by Jose Reina.
- 35:55 Nascimento Ramires crosses the ball.
- 33:29 The assist for the goal came from Steven Gerrard.
- 33:29 GOAL - Leiva Lucas:Liverpool 2 - 0 Benfica Leiva Lucas scores a goal from inside the box low into the middle of the goal. Liverpool 2 (3)-(2) 0 Benfica.
- 32:57 Free kick awarded for a foul by Pablo Aimar on Jamie Carragher. Free kick taken by Jose Reina.
- 30:08 Angel Di Maria is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick. Jose Reina takes the free kick.
- 28:36 Corner taken by Angel Di Maria from the right by-line, save by Jose Reina.
- 27:07 The assist for the goal came from Steven Gerrard.
- 27:07 GOAL - Dirk Kuyt:Liverpool 1 - 0 Benfica Dirk Kuyt fires in a goal from close range low into the middle of the goal. Liverpool 1 (2)-(2) 0 Benfica.
- 26:19 Corner taken right-footed by Steven Gerrard from the left by-line,
- 23:14 Pablo Aimar takes the inswinging corner, Jamie Carragher manages to make a clearance.
- 22:24 Jorge Carlos Martins takes a outswinging corner to the near post, Jamie Carragher makes a clearance.
- 22:05 Corner taken left-footed by Angel Di Maria, clearance by Dirk Kuyt.
- 21:48 Drilled right-footed shot by Jorge Carlos Martins. Sotirios Kyrgiakos gets a block in.
- 20:58 Dirk Kuyt takes a shot. Francisco Javi Garcia gets a block in.
- 18:58 Glen Johnson crosses the ball, Headed effort from inside the area by Fernando Torres misses to the left of the target.
- 17:59 Foul by Filipe Ruben Amorim on Yossi Benayoun, free kick awarded. Steven Gerrard crosses the ball in from the free kick, clearance by Nascimento Ramires.
- 17:09 Angel Di Maria has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the left-hand post.
- 15:20 The assistant referee flags for offside against Fernando Torres. Free kick taken by Jacobi Julio Cesar.
- 15:06 The ball is sent over by Dirk Kuyt, Anderson Luisao manages to make a clearance.
- 14:33 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Steven Gerrard, Marinho David Luiz manages to make a clearance.
- 13:58 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Steven Gerrard by Nascimento Ramires. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Steven Gerrard from right channel, Filipe Ruben Amorim makes a clearance.
- 11:49 The ball is swung over by Angel Di Maria.
- 11:22 Angel Di Maria takes a short corner.
- 11:16 The ball is delivered by Nascimento Ramires, Sotirios Kyrgiakos makes a clearance.
- 9:12 Fernando Torres is ruled offside. Jacobi Julio Cesar takes the free kick.
- 6:43 Free kick awarded for a foul by Javier Mascherano on Marinho David Luiz. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Jorge Carlos Martins.
- 6:05 Free kick awarded for a foul by Rechel Sidnei on Fernando Torres. Glen Johnson takes the free kick.
- 3:43 Pablo Aimar takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line played to the near post, Effort from the edge of the area by Marinho David Luiz goes wide of the right-hand upright.
- 2:36 Jamie Carragher gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Pablo Aimar. Direct free kick taken by Pablo Aimar.
- 1:57 Filipe Ruben Amorim delivers the ball, Sotirios Kyrgiakos manages to make a clearance.
- 1:08 Fernando Torres is caught offside. Free kick taken by Rechel Sidnei.
- 0:00 The ref blows the whistle to begin the match.
