Red win in style

Liverpool marched into their third Champions League semi-final in four years after a stunning triumph over Arsenal at Anfield. With seven minutes left, Arsenal looked like were through as the score stood at 2-2. But Steven Gerrard became the first Liverpool player in history to score in four successive home European matches to send his side ahead again from the penalty spot, before Ryan Babel's breakaway goal sealed a victory which sets up another semi-final clash with Chelsea.

Arsenal scored first through Abou Diaby, before Sami Hyypia and then Fernando Torres forced Liverpool ahead. Another Adebayor strike with seven minutes left looked to have finished off the Anfield men. But Gerrard's penalty and Babel's late break sealed another sensational night at this emotional old stadium.

The end of the week-long trilogy between these English giants saw one surprise selection, with Benitez opting for Peter Crouch. Alexander Hleb, in a central role supporting Adebayor, was a constant danger and they were ahead in the 13th minute. Anfield was stunned into silence as Hleb threaded a ball down the right for Diaby to surge into the box before crashing home a shot between Jose Reina and his near post.

The disbelief from the Kop made you wonder for a second whether the ball had gone in. But the delayed roar from Arsenal fans at the other end soon confirmed Arsenal's deserved advantage. With Gerrard deployed on the left, Arsenal were destroying Liverpool's midfield, and flying at a frantic defence. For 30 minutes Arsenal had been magnificent and Liverpool mesmerised by the quality swirling around them.

Somehow they needed a foothold in the game, just to draw breath if nothing else, such was Arsenal's superiority. And it came from veteran Hyypia. The 34-year-old, with a newly-signed contract this week, produced a towering header from Gerrard's corner that crashed into the net on the half-hour off Manuel Almunia's post. Suddenly Liverpool were alive. Gerrard flashed a 30-yard shot wide, Dirk Kuyt's drive was charged down and Philippe Senderos - already booked for a foul on the Liverpool captain - started to struggle against Crouch's height.

Then Arsenal suffered the blow of Mathieu Flamini being carried off after looking to have fallen awkwardly on an ankle. Gilberto came on after 40 minutes. By now Liverpool looked a changed side; steaming forward, their confidence restored. It was the Spain striker, quiet up to that point, who forced Liverpool ahead. Crouch's flick-on reached the Liverpool goal machine in the box, he turned Senderos with ease before firing his shot into the top corner.

Anfield erupted. Benitez, tie askew, urged his men on while Wenger replaced Diaby and Emmanuel Eboue with Van Persie and Theo Walcott, knowing another Arsenal goal would put them through. Adebayor missed when clean through, the tension by now could be cut with a knife. Babel came on for Crouch, who left the field to a standing ovation.

Liverpool switched back to their preferred system, with Gerrard working behind Torres while two holding players protected the midfield. But Liverpool were caught searching for more, and Arsenal caught them cold on the break. Walcott embarked on an amazing run from his own half before pulling the ball back for Adebayor to drill in the equaliser after 83 minutes.

Hyypia collapsed in anguish, all around Liverpool players could see the end of their dream. But astonishingly they rallied. Straight from the restart, some Gunners still celebrating it seemed, Babel surged into the box and was brought down by Kolo Toure. Swedish referee Peter Frojdfeldt pointed to the spot, and with the Kop in hushed agony, Gerrard drove the penalty high into the net.

John Arne Riise came on for Torres, Liverpool desperate for the end now. Another Gunners goal would again see them through. But with Arsenal all up in Liverpool's box for a free-kick, the ball broke from the mass of players to be belted forward for Babel to outpace Fabregas to gloriously drive home the fourth.

Alvaro Arbeloa came on for a tired Kuyt, and there was nothing left now from Wenger's men as Anfield celebrated.

Meanwhile, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger refuses to accept defeat by blaming the referee as the cause of their loss. A controversial penalty award by Swedish referee Peter Frojdfeldt for a tug on Babel by Toure saw Gerrard score the crucial goal to put Liverpool 3-2 ahead with five minutes to play. To rub salt into Wenger's wounds, Arsenal had an identical appeal for a penalty dismissed in the first leg at the Emirates Stadium last week when Liverpool held them to a 1-1 draw in London.