Aggregate 2-2 (Liverpool win on away goals rule)

The main worry for Benitez was Liverpool’s failure to convert their chances into at least one goal would come back to haunt them.

And that fear intensified seconds after the interval when both Kuyt and Bellamy failed to connect with Gerrard’s teasing right-wing cross.

Carragher had warned it would only need one moment of magic from the Samba star to turn the tie, and it almost arrived on 53 minutes when Ronaldinho accepted a Deco pass, swivelled away from the Liverpool centre-back and past Arbeloa before hitting the outside of the post with only Reina to beat.

The two teams then began trading blows as Barca’s need grew more pressing, Liverpool dropping deeper and relying on the counter-attack. Gerrard dragged a shot wide from Kuyt’s searching through ball, Lionel Messi shot at Reina after being fed by Ronaldinho and Kuyt struck a speculative effort off target.

Liverpool were confidently closing out the game until Barcelona introduced Gudjohnsen in the 71st minute. And within four minutes, the Iceland international finished with aplomb by going around Reina after being found onside in an unmarked position by a clever Deco pass.

That set home nerves jangling, particularly when Reina had to hold a shot from substitute Ludovic Giuly soon after. But the spaces in the Barcelona defence gave Liverpool room to hit on the break, and Valdes did well to parry an angled Gerrard drive.

But Barcelona struggled to create anything during a tense finale and Liverpool should have earned a draw on the night when Peter Crouch blazed a volley over from six yards after fine work from fellow sub Jermaine Pennant.

The Barcelona supporters may have been singing along to ‘Hey Jude’ after the game, but it is Liverpool’s faithful – including their new owners – who will be in better voice this morning.

LIVERPOOL (4-4-2): Reina; Finnan, Carragher, Agger, Arbeloa; Gerrard, Sissoko, Alonso, Riise (Aurelio 77); Bellamy (Pennant 68), Kuyt (Crouch 90). Subs: Dudek, Hyypia, Aurelio, Crouch, Mascherano, Zenden.
BOOKINGS: Arbeloa (foul), Sissoko (foul), Pennant (foul), Reina (timewasting)

BARCELONA (3-1-3-3): Valdes, Thuram (Gudjohnsen 71), Marquez, Puyol, Oleguer, Xavi, Iniesta, Deco, Messi, Eto'o (Giuly 60), Ronaldinho. Subs: Jorquera, Zambrotta, Edmilson, Sylvinho, Saviola.
BOOKINGS: Thuram (foul)

REFEREE: Herbert Fandel

ATTENDANCE: 42,579

NEXT GAME: Aston Villa v Liverpool, Barclays Premiership, Sunday March 18, kick off 1.35pm