The Reds last triumphed in the eternal city 25 years ago next May and they could yet mark the anniversary with trophy number six after the forward's 118th minute goal ensured Rafael Benitez's will progress to the lucrative Group Stage - albeit after a huge scare against the Belgian champions.

The Dutchman, who was playing his 100th game for the club, celebrated the landmark in style as he arrived at the far post to fire home substitute Ryan Babel's left-wing cross.

It sparked mass celebrations throughout the stadium after what had been nearly two hours of frustration.

The opening exchanges of the encounter were a montage of nearly moments for the hosts as intricate play between Fernando Torres, Yossi Benayoun and Robbie Keane almost gave the Spaniard a clear sight of goal while Dirk Kuyt could have done better with his first touch after Fabio Aurelio's raking 30 yard pass had picked him out on the edge of the penalty area.

But it wasn't all Liverpool and Pepe Reina, who produced heroics in the first-leg in Belgium a fortnight ago, was at it again on seven minutes when he pulled off a magnificent save to keep out Dieumerci Mbokani's 25-yard screamer.

It was developing into an intriguing battle both on and off the pitch as the visiting support did their best to upstage Anfield's famous 12th man with a catalogue of anthems throughout the 120 minutes.

The Kop needed some inspiration to help silence the buoyant Les Rouches faithful and on 16 minutes they thought they had it when Yossi Benayoun raced on to Steven Gerrard's through ball, only to scuff his effort well wide of Aragon Espinoza's right-hand post.

It did little to dampen the spirit of the visitors though, who were growing in stature with each passing moment and Reina was again called into action midway through the half when he reacted well to turn away Igor De Camargo's acrobatic attempt.

It was anyone's game as both sides took it in turns to attack and Xabi Alonso was next to tease the crowd with a superb dipping volley that bounced narrowly wide before Marcos Camozzato responded with a vicious 30-yarder that had Reina scrambling towards his right-hand post.

In their previous five Champions League qualifiers the Reds have never been involved in a tie so finely poised and the nervous energy in the stands began to transmit to the players as the visitors pushed for a crucial away goal.

An angled ball into the box just shy of the half hour mark caused anxiety in the home defence as Oguchi Onyewu beat both the offside trap and Reina to the ball, only to see it ricochet to safety.

The final 15 minutes of the half were in-keeping with the pattern of play that had been established previously with both sides going close through Aurelio and Steven Defour respectively - but there was still no breakthrough to give the fans some much-needed half-time cheer.

As the clock ticked towards the hour mark the Kop gave a fierce second-half rallying cry to try and create some form of response from Rafael Benitez's side. But the end to end pattern that had made the first-half so entertaining had now developed into a close tactical battle, with both sides anxious not to make the mistake that would result in almost certain elimination.

On occasions like this a manager's substitutions can so often prove decisive and Benitez reacted by bringing Ryan Babel back into the fray in place of Benayoun.

It could have paid immediate dividends too but Torres opted to shoot into a crowded area instead of picking out the Dutchman who was free on the left edge of the Liege box.

Extra-time began to loom ever closer as Liverpool probed without truly creating any chance of note and Kuyt had the best effort of what was left of normal time when he drilled just wide after picking up a loose ball 30 yards from goal.

And so to extra-time in which the Reds continued to enjoy the majority of possession without managing to test Espinoza in the visitors' goal.

Gerrard's over-hit cross was the closest they came in the first period while Alvaro Arbeloa's sizzling strike from distance and substitute Nabil El Zhar's penalty appeal was the best we could muster until Kuyt pounced with his late winner to break Liege hearts.