IT was a case of many happy returns at the Bernabeu last night. And for Liverpool , a significant stride towards the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

A goal from Yossi Benayoun eight minutes from time earned the Anfield outfit a deserved 1-0 victory over Real Madrid.

With that priceless away strike, Rafael Benitez’s side are now firm favourites to finish off the job and reach the last eight when the teams meet for the second leg on March 10.

To think Benayoun had only been playing because of the injury to Steven Gerrard that kept the Liverpool skipper on the bench until the game had already been won.

In the end, it was the right call by Benitez on an evening in which the Anfield manager comprehensively outwitted his counterpart Juande Ramos. Benitez, whose starting line-up contained seven players with La Liga experience, spent almost 17 years at Real as both a player and coach, and will have surely savoured this victory.

The Bernabeu now joins the Nou Camp and the San Siro as world-famous venues from which Liverpool have returned home with a victory in recent seasons.

The result was about the only positive of the night for Fernando Torres. Barracked with every touch given his close association with Real’s hated crosstown rivals Atletico, the striker appeared short of full fitness, was booked for a petulant foul and substituted shortly after the hour.

Torres might argue he was provided few decent openings to score his first-ever goal at the Bernabeu, but the Spaniard remains worryingly short of last season’s predatory form.

Hopes that Gerrard would be available to start proved ambitious given the skipper had not taken part in a full-blooded training session since his hamstring tear at Everton three weeks earlier.

Xabi Alonso was free to return, Liverpool having sorely missed his midfield creativity during the dismal 1-1 home draw with Manchester City four days earlier.

And the Spaniard was the game’s stellar performer last night, dictating the play and increasing his reputation in his home country.

But he was one of many fine performers as Liverpool , so poor at the weekend, again demonstrated their appetite for the European stage. With Jamie Carragher and Martin Skrtel dominant in central defence, Raul barely had a sniff.

This was only the second time Real had been beaten at home to English opposition with Liverpool having now lost only twice in 13 competitive games in Spain .