Remarkably for two clubs that share 14 European Cups between them, the pair had met only once before in the competition, with Alan Kennedy’s late goal securing a 1-0 win for Liverpool in Paris in 1981.

Liverpool were installed as slight favourites when the draw for this tie was made in December. But the Anfield outfit have subsequently seen their Premier League challenge flounder alarmingly, with Real going into last night’s game on the back of a nine-game winning streak.

Indeed, the build-up to the game had not been ideal for Liverpool . As well as the concern over Gerrard’s fitness, Benitez found himself at the epicentre of fevered speculation yesterday with some bookmarkers announcing they had suspended bets on the Spaniard departing Anfield by the end of the week.

Whether this was just some wild punting or a trademark European tactic to disrupt the Liverpool camp, who knows. But it was met with short shrift from the club.

Benayoun ostensibly filled the roaming role behind Torres that was vacated by the benched Gerrard before tactics soon switched to a 4-4-2 that matched Real’s formation.

Real haven’t reached the quarter-finals since 2004, and Raul’s meaty challenge on Alonso inside the first few seconds underlined the home team’s intent.

Raul forced the first save of the game with a fifth-minute snapshot repelled by Pepe Reina as Real, who netted six first-half goals against Real Betis on Saturday, enjoyed the better of the early possession.

But it was Liverpool who appeared the more threatening going forward during a lively opening 45 minutes, seeking to capitalise on Real’s glaring weakness in dealing with simple long, aerial balls.

On 20 minutes, Reina’s punt upfield was missed by the home defence, allowing Torres space to fire an angled drive that was turned over by Iker Casillas.

There was almost a carbon copy shortly afterwards when Reina’s goal kick caused confusion in the Real defence and Casillas had to race from his line to block from Benayoun.

Real had a goal rightly chalked off on the half-hour for offside when Gonzalo Higuain headed in from a corner, before Marcelo struck across the face of goal and Arjen Robben was twice wayward.

In the last action of the half, Alonso’s trademark audacious lob from inside his own area forced a back-pedalling Casillas to palm the ball over the crossbar.

Reina did well to hold on to a fierce drive from Sergio Ramos after the restart with Real again desperate to build some momentum.

But with Benayoun beginning to flit dangerously across the park, Liverpool remained a danger going forward.

Then came the game’s decisive moment eight minutes from time, when Fabio Aurelio’s inswinging free-kick from the right flank was met by Benayoun, who headed firmly beyond Casillas.

It even arrived in the same minute as Kennedy’s winner against Real 28 years ago.

And Liverpool can still dream of another European Cup triumph this morning.