IF this doesn’t earn Rafael Benitez respect for his European achievements at Liverpool, then surely nothing will.

Having bemoaned the lack of appreciation for his exploits in the Champions League at Anfield, the Spaniard’s side produced one of their finest performances of his tenure last night.

This demolition of Real Madrid didn’t just send Liverpool emphatically through to the quarter-finals of the competition for the fourth time in five years.

It delivered the message that while domestic accolades continue to elude Benitez, there are few better managers in Continental combat.

So much for the supposed negative tactics of which Juande Ramos had accused Liverpool of only being capable.

As in the Bernabeu, Benitez comprehensively outsmarted his Madrid counterpart, the fallout of which will inevitably prompt renewed speculation of him returning to the club where he spent 16 years as player and coach.

Such debate, though, is for another day.

After gaining a stranglehold of the tie through Yossi Benayoun’s late winner a fortnight ago, there was never any chance of Liverpool letting go as they reduced the nine-time European Cup winners to a quivering, squabbling wreck.

Madrid may well complain with some justification at the pair of contentious first-half decisions from referee Frank De Bleeckere that paved the way for their elimination in this first knockout round tie. But that would serve only to detract from Liverpool’s awesome display that in the first half echoed the one which blew away Juventus en route to the final in 2005.

The years of torment Fernando Torres suffered at the hands of Real while an Atletico player came rising to the surface as the Spaniard shrugged off doubts over his fitness and the close attentions of the Madrid defence – and Gabriel Heinze in particular – to score once and run his former adversaries ragged.

Steven Gerrard was similarly inspired, netting from the spot before putting the game beyond doubt shortly after half-time to mark his 100th European appearance in some style. Watching England coach Fabio Capello nodded in approval.