Worries about the Portugese champions-elect proved unfounded as Benfica were comprehensively demolished in front of an exhuberant Anfield crowd.
Despite a slow start, the reds powered in to life – easily overturning the 10 man 2-1 defeat in the first leg.
Fernando Torres, despite looking tired late on, was key with two cute second half-goals – after a first half with goals from Dirk Kuyt and a fine goal from Lucas Leiva.
The Kop roared the Brazilian’s name at numerous times through the game and the player acknowledged the support from the fans.
It’s important to remember that the reds were faced with some difficult decisions pre-match. Torres had come through a fitness test, but both Insua and Babel were suspended. Maxi Rodriguez, again missing because he is cup-tied.
The reds opted to use Agger at left back, keeping Kyrgiakos as a partner for Carragher.
In contrast to the first leg when Liverpool had a blistering start, it was Benfica who looked sharper in the first 20 minutes, although Benfica failed to create any chances in this spell.
But as the first half wore in Liverpool settled in to the task at hand in overcoming the 2-1 first leg defeat.
The referee and his 4 assistants were having a nightmare – giving some terrible decisions against the reds – everything from throw-ins and handing Atletico corners that were clear goal kicks.
Their decision making looked suspect as they initially ruled out Dirk Kuyt’s perfectly legal 28th minute headed goal for offside. The referee eventually took the sensible advice from the assistant and awarded the goal. It was a bizarre moment.
Within 6 minutes the reds had doubled their lead – Steven Gerrard passing the ball through to Lucas Leiva who scored a goal belonging in Fernando Torres’ locker.
The chants of his name from the Anfield crowd were as much in recognition of some of the over-the-top stick he has taken from the media and some section of Liverpool’s fanbase, as the goal itself.
Second half and the reds looked even more determined. No longer were they even allowing Benfica to pass the ball – constantly closing down the Portugese side and the third goal arrived with a magnificent break. Some superb passing eventually saw Torres slot home for his first of the night.
Benfica, who scored twice from the spot last week, needed another set-piece and from a free kick were handed a fortunate goal.
The Liverpool players looked far less fazed by this Benfica goal than the fans were – and another fine set of quick passing and movement saw Torres cooly send the ball over Benfica’s second keeper of the night.
The fans celebrated at the final whistle as another European semi-final appeared on the horizon.
The Kop also had time for a determined half-time and post-match protest at the owners who had flown in for tonight’s game. As far as we know – they left at half time under police advice. They shouldn’t have bothered to come at all. Tonight’s win was despite them, not because of them.
Rafa Benitez will be aiming for his 6th European final in 7 seasons when Torres faces his old club Atletico Madrid in the semi-finals.
Man of the Match: Lucas Leiva
Post Match Comments
Rafa Benitez
“We have two targets now and we will try to do both. We will try to win every game, starting by trying to beat Fulham on Sunday.”
“It was a good game and because the other team was very good you can say four goals was a fantastic performance, but I think we have played better this season.
“Any win is important, especially at this stage of a competition. If we can get to the final and win the final we will be very pleased.
“Hopefully we can play well, score goals, get closer to the top four and get to the final.”
- LFC Player StatsUpdated
warning to you all untill these con men go we are in huge trouble,,, please get together and get with the club.
join the spirit of shankly please and send emails to rbs bank asking for your money back, what these con men have done with lfc is banned in most if not all other countries, please join in getting these con men out,
YANKS OUT, GET OUT OF OUR CLUB, YOU LYING B$ST$RDS, GET OUT OF OUR CLUB…. OUT NOW, WHAT DO WE WANT,,,,, NOW,,, OUT
ALL in all thursday was a masterclass in how rafa operates in europe and if and when we manage to win the europa cup ( remembering that ATHLETICO still stand in our way) it would be a great achievement given everything that has happened this season.
But please people don’t get ott and think we can have our cake and eat it ! ‘ it’s the europa league OR ‘fourth place’ not both because our squad is just not good enough even with so fiew games left . The games ether side of this great victory show a truer reflection of this team at the moment … stuttering against the likes of birmingham and fulham still show me that poor ell rafa has a mountain to climb with reguards to creating a great squad ( but ofcourse we know this )
What i hope is t
like the reds from last year. everyone one working togrether that greek guy what a steal. he is true grit. perhaps we can win the last remaining games and get forth
Fernando Torres was incredible
anfield online, well said, what ever we do at the moment even though we as a club are having a hard old time of it,, why people post on here about rubbish i just have had enough, liverpool is having a very hard time, and behined the doors of anfield it is huge pressure to get it right, and thats why rafa and torres and gerrard and even reina are speaking out, if we as a club can a win a cup this year then i would be greatfull, again we are known all over the world and yes, we want to be in the best leagues and cups but we are not at the moment and to then go on and win the europa cup then that would be great for rafa the players and the fans and the club in general. imran take your fake support for this great club and go.
Good performance but one must remember that it’s a micky mouse cup!.I’d happily sacrafice it for finishing fourth but sense that the exact opposite will happen.
I’d happily sacrifice 4th to win a record 4th UEFA Cup.
Crawl back under your hole. Liverpool exists to win trophies. Not to ensure we can pay back ridiculous loans to banks.
Let’s hope Rafa lands his 5th European Trophy in 6 European Finals in 7 seasons.
Are you Rafa’s wife in disguise!!!?.We have to be in the champion’s league in order to attract investment required for signing new players or even a complete takeover.
Grow up and act your age!!
You mean like the no player investment last year when we finished 2nd and qualified for the Champions League?
You enjoy the open-top bus tour when we finish 4th.
I’ll go to the one if we win in Hamburg.
AND NO THANKS TO RAFA YET AGAIN, ALL WE HERE ABOUT IS THE ENGLISH MEDIA ABOUT HOW WELL FULHAM HAVE DONE,, THIS COUNTRY IS A SHITE HEAP, THEY WANT LIVERPOO, TO DO WELL FOR THIS COUNTRY AND WHEN WE DO, ITS OH WELL LFC HAVE WON, NOW LETS HAVE A GO AT RAFA AGAIN,
insua was out, so he shiffted agger to left back , the greek tower was yet again amazing at times and for how much ! 1.5 million, and someone of the fake lfc fans think rafa is bad in the market? and lucus is and will be a great player if he keep going in that forward role, and still i havent seen any lfc fan or paper say well done to rafa, buy the way babel was out too, maxi was out and kelly and skrtel and we dont even play reira, so well done to SIR RAFA, if rafa goes lfc goes,
when Rafa signed kyrgiakos, I said who??, but he has really proved his worth, I hope to see him stay at the end of the season and it was good to see Lucas in a more attacking role again. I would prefer to see Aquilani a bit more but I understand there are financial reasons for for not playing him too much this season Kuyt was as usual a 100% workhorse, it just all worked well, lets keep it up to the end of the season and hope City & Spurs splutter
P.S Aaaawww wasn`t it a pity Manure got knocked out
congratulations…i`ll have my birthday tomorrow ,i`ll have a lot of gifts but you Liverpool send me the best gift what i ever had in my live and that is you victory thnxx you a lot of i`ve you in my Hearttt GerrNandO
Well done the RED!!! Keep up the good work !!!
For me Kuyt was the Man of the Match. Opening goal and an assist from another world.
well this doesnt happen very often but everyone had a good game. kuyt was oustanding,torres was oustanding the defence was awesome. it was hard to pick a man of the match