Liverpool win 4-0 on aggregate

At the other end, Crouch fired a speculative effort well wide after being fed by Momo Sissoko, while John Arne Riise was similarly off target with a hopeful punt following a delightful nutmeg.

Any hope of a PSV comeback evaporated when Marcellis, an 18-year-old making his senior debut, was rather harshly given a straight red by referee Rosetti for a challenge on Zenden which, while studs were showing, was a cautionable offence at the most.

Sissoko has never scored for Liverpool. The Malian came close with a shot against the crossbar in the previous game against Barcelona, and had a clear opening taken off his toes by Fowler after more good work from Pennant.

Crouch, though, put PSV out of their misery on 68 minutes. Riise’s curled cross from the left was inadvertently fired towards his own goal by Carlos Salcido. An alert Gomes pulled off another fine save, but could only watch as Fowler retrieved the loose ball and provided a simple tap-in for Crouch.

It was so comfortable for Liverpool during the closing stages that Benitez decided to give Gabriel Paletta a first run-out since the horrors of Arsenal and the Carling Cup back in January.

Crouch spurned a free header in the 81st minute after another Riise cross, and then failed to control a teasing cross from substitute Mark Gonzalez.

Gomes then made a double save in the late double save to deny Pennant a deserved goal, but minds were already turning to Chelsea.

LIVERPOOL (4-4-2): Reina, Arbeloa, Hyypia, Agger (Paletta 78), Riise, Pennant, Sissoko, Alonso (Gonzalez 72), Zenden, Crouch, Bellamy (Fowler 17). Subs: Dudek, Gerrard, Mascherano, Carragher.
 
PSV EINDHOVEN (4-5-1): Gomes, Marcellis, Simons, Addo, Salcido, Feher (Sun 62), Cocu, Vayrynen, Culina, Farfan (Kluivert 62), Kone (Van Eijden 71). Subs: Moens, Da Costa, Tardelli, Ter Horst.
BOOKING: Salcido.
SENDING-OFF: Marcellis (64). 
 
REFEREE: Roberto Rosetti (Italy).
 
ATT: 41,447.
 
NEXT MATCH: Manchester City v Liverpool, Barclays Premiership, Saturday, 3pm