Benitez savours final after shootout win

By Trevor Huggins

LIVERPOOL (Reuters) - Liverpool's latest European triumph over Chelsea has left manager Rafael Benitez relishing a Champions League final and Jose Mourinho looking back on four days that are set to haunt the Blues for years.

Though it took a penalty shootout to beat Chelsea on Tuesday, two years after another 1-0 win over the Londoners at Anfield had sent them to a victorious final with AC Milan, Liverpool again proved the team with the steadier nerve.

Argentine midfielder Javier Mascherano, unrecognisable from the player seen fitfully at West Ham United earlier this season, topped a list of Reds who worked tirelessly to secure victory.

Captain Steven Gerrard, in his favoured central midfield role, strikers Peter Crouch and Dirk Kuyt, who converted the decisive shootout penalty, keeper Jose Reina, who saved two spot-kicks, and defender Daniel Agger were outstanding.

Agger not only cancelled out Chelsea's 1-0 first-leg win with his 22nd-minute goal but did much to render the league champions' 31-goal striker Didier Drogba a largely empty threat on the biggest night of the season for Mourinho's men.

There was also another memorable performance by what Benitez calls Liverpool's 12th man, the often deafening Anfield crowd who sang and cheered their side on before, during and after the match.

As Liverpool players left the pitch with the club anthem "You'll never walk alone" ringing in their ears, the only uncertainty was the identity of their opponents in the Athens final on May 23, a rematch with Milan or a north-west derby with arch rivals Manchester United.

United have an edge going into Wednesday's semi-final second leg at San Siro after a pulsating 3-2 win at Old Trafford last week.