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Diego Forlán inflicted greater hurt on Liverpool than he ever did in a Manchester United jersey. Rafael Benítez’s side had moved ahead 2-1 on aggregate in this Europa League semi-final when Yossi Benayoun took a fine pass from Lucas Leiva and finished confidently three minutes into extra-time. Atlético Madrid reacted, though, to ensure they would go through to a final against Fulham in Hamburg on 12 May when Forlán knocked in José Antonio Reyes’s cross after 102 minutes to decide the tie on the away goals rule.

Only nine seconds had elapsed when Daniel Agger’s long ball forward picked out Benayoun in the penalty area and his low shot from a narrow angle was turned behind by the Atlético goalkeeper David de Gea.

But despite that effort, and three corners for Liverpool inside the first couple of minutes, there had never been much prospect of a quick conclusion to the contest. Neither team had the initial sharpness to do serious harm and there was an absence of authority to much of the work. A seeming breakthrough after 32 minutes proved to be an illusion when Agger was rightly ruled to have been offside as the free-kick from which he bundled the ball home was taken.

Nonetheless, the incident contributed to Liverpool’s momentum and the tie was pulled level on aggregate a minute before half-time. The absurd ease of the build-up perhaps indicated that Atlético had become harassed. It took no more than a Javier Mascherano throw-in to send Benayoun turning past the defence, for a cut-back converted delightfully by Alberto Aquilani.

It was to be expected that some degree of patience would be essential. These, after all, are interlocking clubs who even chose to engage in a friendly on this ground in August. It is hard to separate them. The matches in last season’s Champions League group phase both ended in 1-1 draws and now they share a mood of anti-climax over their featureless domestic campaigns.

There are certain differences, all the same. Atlético’s disappointment has been even more marked since they stand 10th in La Liga at the moment. In the first leg at the Vicente Calderon, Quique Sánchez Flores’ side struggled for conviction even after an opener from Diego Forlán.

It was late in the evening before they were fully convinced that a more decisive win over Liverpool was feasible. The visitors survived those scrapes in the closing spell and could be relieved to have been beaten merely by that single goal.

A 1-0 loss, all the same, is still a poor result in an away leg. Atlético could also feel encouraged that the Argentine forward Sergio Agüero had completed his suspension in Madrid. Benítez had to be fearful of the striker. The presence of Agüero was enough to make him demote the stolid Sotiris Kyrgiakos to the bench and put Agger at centre-back in the hope that the Dane’s greater mobility would be telling.

In consequence, the defence had to be rejigged in other ways, too, Mascherano filled the right-back post as Glen Johnson was relocated to the left. With a deficit to be addressed, defending could only be a secondary issue for the side and as the first half developed Atlético began to be pinned down. Agüero then must have been exasperated. When he did slip into space with the aid of a good Raúl García pass his final ball drifted away harmlessly.

Benítez’s line-up was not ideal but an important ingredient was present. Since Fernando Torres has been lost to knee trouble for the remainder of the season it was important that Dirk Kuyt had overcome a calf strain to fill the role of centre-forward. It was not an encounter of particular distinction and each team seemed to hope that experience would search out a path to the final.

A single slip might after all have been enough to see one of them fall out of the competition. If the tie was in the balance, the visitors re-emerged to try and tip it back in their favour. Each team needed a goal to advance but Liverpool, with the crowd behind, seemed to have a confidence that matters would flow in their favour.

The immediate effect of parity in the tie was a booking apiece for Gerrard and, later, Paulo Assunção. There had been a certain

• Manager preparing side for first ever Europa League tie
• ‘You have to be positive and turn things in your favour’

Rafael Benítez has conceded disappointment with Liverpool’s lack of “fight” in the Premier League title race and Champions League but says his side will be taking the Europa League seriously as they prepare for their first match in the competition, on Thursday.

In seasons gone by Liverpool would be preparing for a last-16 Champions League tie now, but instead they will face Unirea Urziceni of Romania at Anfield prior to a league encounter with Manchester City on Sunday.

“Clearly I would prefer to be fighting for the title or for the Champions League but you must accept the situation,” said Benítez. “But you have to be positive and turn things in your favour. Now we have another opportunity [of playing in Europe] and we must try to keep playing better. We have got to keep progressing in the Europa League and aim to finish as high as we can in the Premier League.”

Liverpool are among the favourites to reach the final in Hamburg on 12 May but Benítez remains cautious about his side’s chances. “There are still big clubs involved,” he said. “If we can get through a couple of rounds, though, I’m sure the atmosphere will be really good because the fans want to see us winning trophies.”

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