Liverpool through to semis

by setantasports.com staff , 08 April 2010

Liverpool are through to the semi-finals of the Europa League, after a 4-1 win at Anfield over Benfica.


Goals from Dirk Kuyt, Lucas and a brace from Fernando Torres gave Rafa Benitez's men a 5-3 aggregate win over the Portuguese side, though Oscar Cardozo had given The Reds a scare with a 70th minute goal.

Liverpool took the lead in the 27th minute.

After Yossi Benayoun had won a corner on the left, Gerrard crossed for Kuyt to head home from six yards out.

The assistant referee's flag was raised on the far side for an infringement, but the extra official behind the goal told the referee that the goal was valid.

Six minutes later it was 2-0, and an aggregate lead for The Reds, as Gerrard put Lucas through and in on goal with a through ball.

The Brazilian hoodwinked Cesar in the Benfica goal with a dropped shoulder before sidefooting the ball into the net for his first goal in 11 months.

At the other end, Cardozo fired a free-kick at Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina and Sidnei had a shot deflected for a corner.

Just before the hour mark, Torres made it 3-0 in the night when Benayoun broke quickly from a Benfica set-piece and set up Kuyt on the right, and the Dutchman unselfishly crossed for Torres to tap home.

That seemed like job done, but Cardozo made it 3-1 on 70 minutes with a free-kick that went through Javier Mascherano and Steven Gerrard in the wall and past a flat-footed Reina.

However, Torres produced a superb chipped finish with eight minutes remaining to round off the scoring, and set up a semi-final with Atletico Madrid.

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Pos
Team P W D L +/- PTS
1.
Man City
38
28
5
5
64
89
2.
Man Utd
38
28
5
5
56
89
3.
Arsenal
38
21
7
10
25
70
4.
Tottenham
38
20
9
9
25
69
5.
Newcastle
38
19
8
11
5
65
6.
Chelsea
38
18
10
10
19
64
7.
Everton
38
15
11
12
10
56
8.
Liverpool
38
14
10
14
7
52
9.
Fulham
38
14
10
14
-3
52
10.
West Brom
38
13
8
17
-7
47
11.
Swansea
38
12
11
15
-7
47
12.
Norwich
38
12
11
15
-14
47
13.
Sunderland
38
11
12
15
-1
45
14.
Stoke
38
11
12
15
-17
45
15.
Wigan
38
11
10
17
-20
43
16.
Aston Villa
38
7
17
14
-16
38
17.
QPR
38
10
7
21
-23
37
18.
Bolton
38
10
6
22
-31
36
19.
Blackburn
38
8
7
23
-30
31
20.
Wolverhampton
38
5
10
23
-43
25
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