There is nothing quite like Anfield Road on a major European night. And if you think you've seen another ground with a ferocious atmosphere – well that is probably because you never stood at the Spion Kop.

As usual, Liverpool's 12th man,  played its role in the demolition of Real Madrid on Tuesday night, but it was ultimately the eleven men in Red who dismantled Spain's best and left it lie in ruins on the turf.

A 5-0 aggregate destruction and one is left to wonder, is this really the best Spain has to offer? If the first leg in Madrid was an unjust 1-0 victory for Liverpool, given the Merseysiders' complete and utter domination, then the second leg at Anfield was one of those nights that will forever linger in the folklore of L4.

Spanish wonder kid Fernando Torres was ruthless yet mersmerising in the way he disposed off his old adversaries with a clinical 14th minute first goal,  and propelled Liverpool into fifth gear, which the Reds maintained throughout the night, battering the Spaniards into unconsciousness.

Hailing from Atletico Madrid, the arch enemy of Real Madrid, Fernando Torres rose to the occasion after nursing injury and had one of his best matches in a Liverpool shirt, spearheading  a Liverpool surge forward  that once again have established the English side as one of the main forces in European football.

Inspirational captain  Steven Gerrard then slotted in Liverpool's second from the spot 11 minutes after the opening goal,  after Gabriel Heinze clumsily and needlessly handed the ball in the box and then theatrically thought he might get away with it.

Real were so savagely outclassed by Liverpool – a Reds side that rarely had displayed such football this season, in Europe or in England. The aggressive wall of noise emanating from all over Anfield didn't help the Spaniards either, but the Red's vast superiority was painfully apparent when Gerrard slammed the third goal, right on front of the Kop end, a mere minute after the replay, setting the tune for further bashing to come.

Gerrard was subbed by Spearing and Torres for Dossena in a loud standing applause. If Real though that with the substitutions of those two players their nightmares were over, they had another thing coming. Three minutes into the game and Dossena delivered the final knock out, 4-0 for the Reds and onto the quarterfinals.

Real Madrid were humiliated, helpless. But this raises other questions. Where was this sort of football in the last two months, and why did Liverpool struggle domestically, yet again?

Speaking to reporters after the game, the Reds boss admitted the special Anfield atmosphere helped his team to such an emphatic victory but insisted his players and staff deserve credit for the historic result.
 
"We did really well and kept on playing right up until the end," said Benitez. "I am pleased for everyone - for the players, the fans and the club as a whole. The team had a lot of confidence and approached the game in the right way. I think that the atmosphere helped us a lot as well so there are many positives, it was a fantastic all-round performance.
 
"Fernando and Stevie played very well, but I don't like to talk too much about just one player. The whole team - every player and all the staff, from the doctors and the coaches to the physios, everyone was very good. I thought we did very well for the fans.


Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Skrtel, Carragher, Aurelio, Alonso (Lucas 60), Mascherano, Kuyt, Gerrard (Spearing 74), Babel, Torres (Dossena 83).

Goals: Torres 16, Gerrard 28 pen, 47, Dossena 88. 

Real Madrid: Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Cannavaro (Van der Vaart 64), Pepe, Heinze, Robben (Marcelo 46), Lassana Diarra, Gago (Guti 77), Sneijder, Raul, Higuain.