Torres struck his first goal of the season by clinically converting a Dirk Kuyt cross from the edge of the box.

The Spaniard was denied a second when Baggies keeper Scott Carson blocked his far post shot at point-blank range.

The Reds were denied a late penalty for an apparent Gonzalo Jara handball before the visitors had James Morrison red-carded for a tackle on Torres.

The numerical advantage helped the Merseysiders close out the game as they were relieved to record their first league win of the season, albeit courtesy of a rare moment of quality in an encounter which had plenty going on before kick-off.

Liverpool’s new signing Raul Meireles was presented to the crowd and left-back Paul Konchesky was also at Anfield to finalise a proposed move from Fulham.

The arrivals, even though Javier Mascherano is set to leave for Barcelona, will have added to the air of optimism sweeping through Anfield, although the Reds have so far failed to mirror that sentiment with performances and results this season.

And, when the focus of attention switched to the pitch, it was the same again for the home side as the industry of the Baggies served to frustrate a Liverpool side playing like strangers.

The Reds were too pedestrian and predictable and seemed unsure in possession as opposed to a West Brom side who grew in confidence as each of Liverpool’s forward forays continually and harmlessly broke down.

The visitors had a penalty appeal waved away for Martin Skrtel pulling Jonas Olsson, while Torres thought he might have had a spot-kick for his shirt being tugged in the visitors’ box.

Skrtel fizzed a shot just high of the visitors’ goal but, while the Merseysiders were in sloppy mood, the Baggies could not capitalise as Marc-Antoine Fortune had a strike saved and were limited to speculative efforts from distance.

Torres had not scored in 10 games for club and country going into the match and was looking a shadow of his devastating best as he nursed his way back to match fitness from injury.

However, after the Reds survived a scare with goalkeeper Pepe Reina saving from Jara, Torres showed his quality and worth to his team by finishing off a Reds counter-attack with a volley from Kuyt’s cross.

The Spain striker almost added another when found by a Steven Gerrard cross to the far post only for Carson to block his far post strike.

The Anfield side are clearly a work in progress as manager Roy Hodgson reinforces his squad and, in tandem, tries to embed his style on the side.

However, buoyed by the goal Torres thought he should have had a spot-kick when Jara seemed to block his effort with his arm.

Torres was the target of an over-zealous, rather than malicious, challenge which resulted in Morrison being sent off before the home side negotiated some anxious late moments to earn their first three points under manager Roy Hodgson.

The Turkish side drew level 1-1 on aggregate when Teofilo Gutierrez slotted in from a Gustavo Colman shot.

David Ngog headed wide from six yards for the Reds but they got a crucial away goal when Giray Kacar put a Glen Johnson cross into his own net.

Dirk Kuyt completed the win when he slotted in after Daniel Pacheco’s shot had been parried into his path.

Liverpool’s goals came late on in the match as they eventually showed the character to negotiate their way past some awkward opponents.

Trabzonspor had beaten the Reds 1-0 the the first leg of a European Cup tie in the 1976/77 season before the Anfield side overturned the deficit to win the second round tie.

And Liverpool knew it would be a tough task to dispose of the Turkish side who were last beaten at home in December 2009 and had since won eight out of nine at their Huseyin Avni Aker stadium.

A banner in the crowd also read: ‘You’re Alone Here’ as it played on Liverpool’s famous You’ll Never Walk Alone anthem, with the Trabzonspor crowd giving the Reds the type of hostile welcome Turkish clubs have become renowned for giving opposing teams in Europe.

However, while the Reds were a vastly different side from the one beaten by Manchester City on Monday, they started off displaying the same lethargy and lacklustre qualities.

It appeared the visitors were lacking the appetite for the Europa League with Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson having left most of his leading players in England after stating the Premier League was this season’s priority.

And Liverpool quickly had their lead from the first leg cancelled out as Kuyt was dispossessed by Colman, whose attempted shot across goal was sidefooted in by Gutierrez.

Ibrahima Yattara wasted a chance to put Trabzonspor in front as the Reds failed to deal with a free-kick but the striker headed wide from close range.

Liverpool slowly started to work their way into the game and should have scored when the previously anonymous Joe Cole dinked a lovely cross to the far post where Ngog nodded the ball wide from six yards.

It was a glaring miss which the Frenchman almost atoned for as he turned and jinked his way to the edge of the box only to shoot just wide.

Liverpool were now showing a steel and determination that was missing in the first half and were duly rewarded when Johnson cut inside on the right and delivered a cross to the near post which Kacar diverted into his own net.

That left Trabzonspor needing two goals to turn the tie around and, in their efforts to perform an unlikely comeback, they left themselves in a vulnerable position.

Liverpool took advantage as Pacheco’s shot was palmed into Kuyt’s path by keeper Onur Kivrak and the Dutch striker gratefully applied the finishing touch to put Liverpool in the draw for the Europa League group stages on Friday.

Sheikh Mansour has changed the face of Manchester City since his takeover two years ago – and this latest expensively reconstructed version of Roberto Mancini’s squad provided evidence that they may be able to meet the expectations that will accompany his huge financial outlay. After a £130m summer spending spree, City needed to deliver a swift statement of intent and they duly obliged against a Liverpool team showing the extent of the work required by new boss Roy Hodgson.

James Milner marked his debut by setting up Gareth Barry for an early goal, and Carlos Tevez gave City breathing space from close range just after half-time, although Micah Richards may claim his colleague did not actually apply the crucial touch from his header.

Liverpool’s reaction was a shot from captain Steven Gerrard that struck the post, with City keeper Joe Hart saving superbly from David Ngog and Fernando Torres in the resulting scramble.

And City wrapped up a convincing win when Tevez scored from the penalty spot after Martin Skrtel hauled down the outstanding Adam Johnson.

Mancini will understandably keep the lid on expectations, but the way in which City mastered and out-muscled Liverpool in all areas, even with David Silva and Emmanuel Adebayor on the bench and Mario Balotelli out injured, will give him huge cause for optimism – and will have delighted the watching Abu Dhabi powerbrokers.

Sheikh Mansour received a predictably ecstatic reception from City’s fans as they expressed their gratitude for his lavish refurbishment of the club’s playing resources since his takeover.

And he was able to watch two of his most recent investments combine impressively as City took a well-merited lead through Barry after 13 minutes.

Yaya Toure made light of his giant frame with some fancy footwork to start a move that ended with Milner sliding a cross into the path of his former Aston Villa team-mate Barry, who passed the ball into the bottom corner out of the reach of Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina.

Johnson was a constant threat on City’s right flank, giving Daniel Agger a torrid time under the watchful eye of England coach Fabio Capello’s right-hand man Franco Baldini. He fired narrowly off target early on and pulled another effort just wide as the interval approached.

Liverpool, with Torres clearly working his way back towards full fitness, threatened only rarely, with Hart saving comfortably from Ngog and Gerrard demonstrating an uncharacteristic lack of accuracy when presented with two good shooting opportunities.

Boss Hodgson will no doubt have demanded greater urgency from his team after the break – but their hopes of a revival were effectively snuffed out as City doubled their advantage seven minutes after the restart.

Richards headed Johnson’s header towards goal, and even though Tevez wheeled away in celebration after appearing to get the final touch past Reina, it looked as if he was more of a crucial distraction than the actual goalscorer.

Hart’s elevation to City’s number one keeper ahead of Shay Given has been a source of debate, but he demonstrated why he is rated so highly by Mancini as Liverpool attempted to mount a swift response.

Gerrard rattled the post from 20 yards, and as Liverpool tried to take advantage of confusion in the City penalty area Hart saved magnificently from Ngog and Torres in quick succession.

And the value of those saves was underlined as City swept forward to add a third from the spot after 67 minutes. Skrtel’s rash challenge felled Johnson and Tevez completed the formalities from the spot.

Liverpool striker Torres, a summer target for City, was replaced to the ironic jeers of Eastlands with 15 minutes left – and City were able to see out time in comfort to record their first Premier League win of the season.

The Reds went ahead when Cole set up Ryan Babel to finish with aplomb.

The home side then dominated but after winning a penalty for a foul on Lucas Leiva, Cole saw his tame effort saved.

Reds keeper Pepe Reina impressively saved from Umut Bulut before Christian Poulsen was denied a goal for a dubious foul on keeper Onur Kivrak.

Liverpool’s failure to capitalise on their second-half chances will leave boss Roy Hodgson in rueful mood going into the return leg in Turkey next Thursday.

Hodgson, whose former club Fulham were losing finalists in last season’s Europa League, had stated his priority this season was the Premier League and had consequently sent out a Reds second string.

Steven Gerrard, Glen Johnson and Dirk Kuyt were not even in the home side’s squad and Trabzonspor coach Senol Gunes would have had high hopes of earning a measure of revenge over the Merseysiders.

Gunes was the Turkish club’s keeper when they were beaten by Liverpool in the second round of the 1976/77 European Cup as the Reds went on to claim their first victory in the competition.

The fact that Gunes is a Manchester United fan would have only added to his motivation.

His side certainly went into the game in good form after winning the Turkish Super Cup – the equivalent of the Community Shield in England – and opening their league campaign with an away victory.

And, apart from keeper Onur Kivrak palming away a Sotirios Kyrgiakos header, the visitors’ efforts were seeing them contain Liverpool.

The Reds were almost caught unawares when Burak Yilmaz stole in to win a corner to the near post but he could not get the direction to his header as the ball went harmlessly across the area.

There was a disjointed look about Liverpool in a game which was proving hard work before they broke the deadlock with a moment of inspiration on the stroke of half-time.

Cole produced a surging run from midfield and weighted a lovely pass into the run of Babel, who took a touch before sidefooting high into the far corner.

Babel was playing in his preferred striker role as opposed to his normal position on the wing under former Reds manager Rafael Benitez and took advantage of a rare chance which came his way.

However, that was his final action of the match as he was replaced by Fernando Torres at the break and the Spaniard had an immediate impact.

His snapshot forced Kivrak to palm wide and, from the resultant corner, an unmarked Lucas should have done better than to put a 10-yard header wide.

The hosts had now found their stride and their pressure earned them a penalty when Lucas was tripped by Serkan Balci.

Cole, rather than Torres, placed the ball on the spot with thoughts of netting his first goal for the club only to see his penalty parried away by the Trabzonspor keeper.

Milan Jovanovic was also denied his first goal for Liverpool when his low angled shot was saved low to his left by Kivrak.

Liverpool were almost punished for their profligacy and had keeper Reina to thank for maintaining their lead.

Reina’s mistake had cost them a late goal in the draw with Arsenal on Sunday but he atoned by getting a hand to Bulut’s shot from point-blank range.

Liverpool were denied what appeared to be a legitimate goal when a Kyrgiakos header was only parried against Cole by Kivrak and, despite Poulsen forcing the loose ball in, the goal was disallowed for a foul on the visiting keeper as Trabzonspor held on to keep themselves firmly in the tie.

Cole was red-carded for a lunge on Laurent Koscielny before David Ngog’s driven shot put Liverpool ahead.

The lead lasted until the last minute when Marouane Chamakh diverted a cross against the post and Reina spilled the rebound into his own net.

Koscielny was then sent off for a second bookable offence in injury-time.

The late drama capped a frantic finish to the game, with Reina the unlikely culprit as victory eluded a Liverpool side who had resolutely held Arsenal at bay.

Reina had produced two key earlier saves to help maintain Liverpool’s lead as the Reds had defended with discipline and determination to neutralise Arsenal after Cole had received the first red card of his career.

The arrival of Cole at Anfield on a free transfer had been heralded as one of the transfer coups of the summer, with Liverpool desperate for the kind of creativity and invention the playmaker would bring.

But, instead of the England international arriving to help restore Liverpool’s fortunes, his Premier League debut for the Merseysiders quickly turned into a nightmare.

He had been deployed in his favoured position in the hole behind striker Ngog but he cut a subdued figure as he failed to get into the game, with Arsenal quickly closing him down on the rare occasions he was in possession.

His afternoon got worse on the stroke of half-time when he produced a reckless challenge on Koscielny and referee Martin Atkinson wasted little time in producing a straight red card.

Koscielny was stretchered off, although he did come back out after the break.

Cole’s dismissal had come shortly after a Glen Johnson shot had been tipped over the bar by Arsenal keeper Manuel Almunia and an Ngog header from a Gerrard corner had been cleared off the line by Gael Clichy.

Those were rare chances in an opening half in which Arsenal had easily dominated possession and looked the more threatening.

It appeared the Gunners, with the numerical advantage of an extra player, would only add to the danger they posed but they were jolted out of any sort of complacency.

The visitors gave possession away on the edge of their area and Javier Mascherano seized on the loose ball to play in Ngog, who angled in a shot which Almunia will be disappointed to have let in at his near post.

Arsenal were shaken and the 10 men of Liverpool seized the initiative, with Ngog wasting a promising chance to add to the lead when he headed a Steven Gerrard free-kick over from six yards.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger had insisted beforehand that his side were ready to launch a title assault this season and this was an early test of their credentials.

The visitors passed and probed and went close as Thomas Vermaelen headed wide from a Tomas Rosicky cross, before Reina tipped a Theo Walcott free-kick round the post.

Reina also tipped a Rosicky strike just over the bar but Arsenal were frustrated by the fortitude of a Liverpool side showing the type of character and combativeness they hoped would secure a notable win – even with a groggy Daniel Agger struggling after being hit by a ball in the face.

However, when Rosicky whipped in a cross into the Reds area in the 89 minute, Reina’s normal assured manner deserted him and Arsenal were provided with a share of the spoils.

Cole’s curling cross after a corner set up David Ngog to nod in before the French striker soon created the second.

Ngog was hauled down by Fernando Lopes and the recalled Steven Gerrard poked home the penalty as half-time loomed.Rabotnicki’s best efforts came late on with Martin Kelly denying Marcio and Filip Petkovski hitting the right post.

Liverpool’s future ownership may remain uncertain, with several parties reportedly keen on replacing Tom Hicks and George Gillett, but on the pitch the team look in relatively healthy shape.

It may not be Europe’s premier event, but Roy Hodgson will be delighted with his team’s efforts on the night he strode into Anfield for his first home match as manager.

Hodgson said he would put out the “strongest team possible” and dutifully introduced his England quartet who sat out last week’s 2-0 victory in Skopje, with starts for Cole, Gerrard, Jamie Carragher and Glen Johnson.

It was Ngog’s double strike in the opening leg which set up his side’s easy passage on Thursday and although the 21-year-old French striker was on the scoresheet again, it was Cole – so often an observer in the World Cup for England – who caught the eye.

The former Chelsea star orchestrated most of Liverpool’s forward movement, and on 13 minutes he began a move that led to Ngog wasting a glorious chance when one-on-one as he casually allowed the keeper to swipe the ball from his feet.

Two minutes later, Cole’s clever curling through-ball fell to Dani Pachecho and again the Liverpool’s strikeforce proved negligent with the Spaniard too slow to react.

But Cole’s artistry was finally rewarded as he picked up Gerrard’s short corner and delivered a perfect bending cross for Ngog to head in from close-range.

With the Macedonian side increasingly pushed backwards as Gerrard and Cole dictated the pace and possession, the Anfield faithful were soon celebrating a second goal.

Lopes clumsily hacked down Ngog with five minutes to the break to leave Gerrard to coolly slot in the spot-kick for his 35th European goal for the club.

With the visitors restricted to one long-range free-kick from Nikola Gligorov in the first half, little changed after the break as the hosts continued to dominate with the ball.

They could even afford to bring on midfielder Alberto Aquilani for the impressive Gerrard on the hour, and Cole showed no signs in relinquishing his hunger for pressing goalwards.

Low saves from Martin Bogatinoc twice denied Cole before Ngog headed a Johnson cross narrowly wide.

But with just a few minutes left on the clock, Rabotnicki came close to scoring three times.

Gjorgi Mojsov had a reasonable penalty shout turned down and was booked for falling over Martin Skrtel’s challenge and then Kelly was forced into a desperate clearance with Marcio inches away from heading in a consolation.

The Macedonian outfit poured forward and Petkovski was unlucky with a half-volley crashing against the woodwork from 10 yards out.

David Ngog got the Roy Hodgson era off to the perfect start as Liverpool secured a 2-0 win over FK Rabotnicki in the Europa League third qualifying round on Thursday night.

The French star netted a clinical brace as the Reds produced a mature performance to ensure they will head into next week’s second-leg in the driving seat.

Alberto Aquilani hit the bar from close range for the visitors in the first half and Steven Gerrard slammed a shot against the upright late on.

The lively Mark Cullen wasted Hull’s best chance with a header just wide.

The result meant Liverpool finished seventh, their worst since 1999, while Hull end their two-year spell in the Premier League down in 19th place.

It was miserable fare for both sets of fans, but they will be far more concerned with the future of their respective managers – and key players – after such poor campaigns.

Liverpool chairman Martin Broughton has insisted neither Fernando Torres nor captain Gerrard need to be sold to ease the club’s mounting debts but question marks still remain over the future of boss Rafael Benitez, with Juventus persistently touted as a possible new club for the Spaniard.

A season without Champions League football next season may feel like the end of the world to some Liverpool supporters but Hull’s situation offers a touch of reality.

With debts of £35m and the threat of administration hanging over the club, Hull must now prepare for Championship football once again.

Whether or not Iain Dowie is still in charge of the team next season remains to be seen, but Hull can certainly take the positives out of a battling final-day display and particularly the performances of youngsters Tom Cairney, Mark Cullen and Will Atkinson.

Liverpool enjoyed a promising start with Nabil El Zhar, making his first start of the season for the Reds, forcing Matt Duke into a fine one-handed before George Boateng headed a Dirk Kuyt shot off the line.

Aquilani placed a shot just wide after an overhead ball from Ryan Babel was only half-cleared but Hull did create a chance of their own when Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink bulldozed through the Liverpool defence before heading straight at Pepe Reina.

Cullen, who scored his first Hull goal against Wigan on Monday, looked sharp again up front but wasted two golden opportunities to give his side the lead.

Firstly the youngster got the ball tangled up in his feet when through on goal and he then planted a header wide after a teasing cross from Atkinson.

A promising start from Liverpool had quickly faded and Benitez’s glum mood was not helped on the stroke of half-time when Aquiliani hammered against the bar before Daniel Agger sliced his follow-up effort towards the corner flag.

City also went close to going ahead moments after the break when a curling cross from the excellent Bernard Mendy only just eluded Vennegoor of Hesselink and an onrushing Cullen at the back post.

Cairney continued to work tirelessly in central midfield following the restart, often showing up Gerrard and Javier Mascherano, but Hull were unable to turn their industry into chances.

Liverpool brought on youth team star Jack Robinson, aged just 16 and eight months, who became the club’s youngster-ever first-team player but they failed to find a way through.

A powerful drive from Gerrard which cannoned against the post late on was by far their best chance in the second half, while Cullen had Hull’s final effort, powering a shot just over the bar.

Tigers chairman Adam Pearson and owner Russell Bartlett will now sit down to decide Dowie’s fate while Benitez is also set for further talks with chairman Broughton on Wednesday.

The season may be over but the drama is likely to continue at both clubs for many weeks to come.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez:
“We had a meeting last week which was positive. We will have another meeting on Wednesday next week.

“It is very clear what my situation is with the club. I have four years remaining on my contract and I have made a strong commitment to the club.

“I am really pleased to have been here for a long time and hopefully I can stay here if the conditions are right.”

Gerrard was left with his head in his hands in the 33rd minute after his attempted backpass to Jose Reina was seized upon by Didier Drogba, with the Ivory Coast international rounding the goalkeeper before slotting home.

Chelsea felt they should have had a penalty moments before the interval with Salomon Kalou going down after tangling with Lucas, but referee Alan Wiley was uninterested, much to the Blues’ fury.

Steven Gerrard’s astonishing blunder allowed Chelsea to take a giant stride towards the Premier League crown with a 2-0 victory over Liverpool at Anfield.

Gerrard was left with his head in his hands in the 33rd minute after his attempted backpass to Jose Reina was seized upon by Didier Drogba, with the Ivory Coast international rounding the goalkeeper before slotting home.

Chelsea felt they should have had a penalty moments before the interval with Salomon Kalou going down after tangling with Lucas, but referee Alan Wiley was uninterested, much to the Blues’ fury.

But they did not have to wait long to double their advantage after the interval with Frank Lampard sliding the ball home from close range after Nicolas Anelka’s low cross from the right.

Carlo Ancelotti’s men now boast a four-point cushion over nearest challengers Manchester United, who must beat Sunderland at the Stadium of Light later on Sunday to keep the title race alive, given the Blues’ superior goal difference.

Liverpool, who had more than matched their opponents until the opener, rarely looked like getting back into the match from that point and saw their faint UEFA Champions League hopes finally extinguished.

Chelsea were undoubtedly the better side in the end but the match may have turned out differently had they not been gifted a 33rd-minute lead in a moment which will allow the conspiracy theorists to have a field day.

Some fans had been suggesting all week they would rather Chelsea win at Anfield than beat the Stamford Bridge side and hand United the chance to eclipse the club’s tally of 18 league titles.

However, even they could not have prophesied the manner of Chelsea’s goal as Gerrard failed to notice Drogba when he passed back to Reina and the Ivory Coast international nipped in to score.

Prior to that, the early exchanges had been open. Lampard shot wide and Anelka forced Reina into a low save while Liverpool’s Maxi Rodriguez and Javier Mascherano, standing in at right-back because of Glen Johnson’s calf injury, saw shots deflected wide.

There were also three penalty claims in what was a bustling first half, with the two for Chelsea involving Kalou.

His first looked to be a dive in the ninth minute under Mascherano’s challenge but referee Wiley allowed that to go unpunished, and the official was again unimpressed after the tangle with Lucas just before the interval.

Alberto Aquilani had a 26th-minute penalty shout rejected as he went down under Branislav Ivanovic’s challenge as he raced on to Rodriguez’s chipped pass.

The loss of Rodriguez to injury just before half-time, when he was replaced by Ryan Babel, was a blow to Liverpool as the January signing had looked lively.

Six minutes into the second half Kalou muscled his way past Mascherano to drill a cross into the six-yard area, where Anelka failed to get the touch which would certainly have brought a second Chelsea goal.

But the Frenchman played a more influential role in the 54th minute when his cross picked out Lampard who bundled home from close range.

If that was not bad enough for Liverpool, they then lost Carragher to injury which meant 19-year-old Daniel Ayala was thrust into the action.

It would have been 3-0 in the 67th minute had it not been for Reina’s excellent one-handed save from Florent Malouda’s well-struck low shot.

David Ngog replaced Aquilani for the final 15 minutes but Liverpool were a spent force with only Reina keeping Chelsea at bay, punching away Michael Ballack’s 25-yard free-kick and then producing a smart double save from Anelka and then Kalou.

The defeat meant Liverpool will finish the season with their lowest points total in five years, since accruing 58 in Rafa Benitez’s first campaign in charge back in 2004-05.

Whether the Spaniard, strongly linked with Juventus, is around next season to rectify that remains in doubt.

Trailing 1-0 from the first leg in Spain, Liverpool levelled the tie when Alberto Aquilani converted Yossi Benayoun’s cross with a fine finish.

And they added a second early in extra time through Benayoun’s half-volley.

But former Manchester United striker Forlan fired home a Jose Antonio Reyes cross to confirm Liverpool’s exit.

The result will simply add to the gloom surrounding Anfield in what has been a miserable season on and off the pitch.

Rafael Benitez’s side suffered early exits in both domestic cup competitions and the Champions League, while they currently languish seventh in the Premier League.

Meanwhile, the club are carrying significant levels of debt, have been riddled by rumours of boardroom unrest and seem unwilling to put an end to constant speculation surrounding the future of Benitez.

In fact, the build-up to this match was somewhat overshadowed by the latest round of speculation linking the 50-year-old with a summer move to Juventus.

Benitez claimed no-one at the club had tried to talk him into staying and expressed frustration that a number of other managers had been linked with his job.

While there was no sign of disunity as the home crowd whipped up an electric pre-match atmosphere, Liverpool may regret failing to capitalise on their early pressure.

Only 10 seconds were on the clock when Dirk Kuyt flicked Daniel Agger’s long ball into the path of Benayoun, who saw his low drive saved by the legs of keeper David de Gea.

Atletico looked rattled and it seemed an opening goal was inevitable as Liverpool bombarded them with a flurry of corners, but the visitors held firm and soon asserted their authority on proceedings.

The superb Sergio Aguero returned from suspension to lead their attack and linked particularly well with Reyes, Simao and first-leg goalscorer Forlan.

It was, however, the less heralded Raul Garcia who had their first clear-cut opportunity with a skidding effort from 30 yards that was palmed around the post by the diving Pepe Reina.

Kuyt side-footed Javier Mascherano’s cross just over the bar following a delightful passing move, while Aguero was sent clear by Reyes but had nobody to cross to after rounding Reina.

Liverpool, bidding to reach a third European final in six years, thought they had taken the lead but Agger’s header was correctly ruled out for offside.

Fortunately for the hosts, nothing would deny them when Benayoun crossed from the right and Aquilani turned a superb first-time finish into the bottom corner shortly before half time.

Atletico settled quickest after the restart – passing, moving and retaining possession with a real swagger – but Liverpool’s defence was unmoved.

Simao and Paulo Assuncao put speculative shots off target, and at the other end Antonio Lopez made a vital interception with Benayoun ready to pounce on a Gerrard cross.

De Gea had to react well to tip a fizzing Johnson strike over the bar but Atletico were on top and Gerrard made a crucial clearance before Forlan almost latched on to a defence-splitting Simao pass.

Yet after an animated team talk from Benitez at full time, Liverpool were revitalised and deservedly doubled their advantage as Benayoun drilled a first-time half-volley into the bottom corner.

It felt like there was no way back for Quique Sanchez Flores’s men, but they ignored the deafening noise to regain the ascendancy and ensure there would be one final twist.

Reyes collected a long pass, ghosted inside Glen Johnson and crossed for the unmarked Forlan to lash past Reina and send the travelling supporters delirious.

Atletico are now within touching distance of their first major European trophy since the 1962 European Cup Winners’ Cup.