Kuyt rescues Rafa's rabble: Reina holds his nerve to keep the Reds alive

Rafa Benitez's £12million outlay on Dirk Kuyt has been questioned more than once over the past two years, but the Holland striker repaid every last penny as Liverpool took their customary route to victory at Anfield last night.

Despairing Liverpool followers were beginning to brace themselves for the unthinkable of Champions League elimination, as extra time neared a tension-filled finale, but they should have known better.

High as a Kuyt: Dutchman celebrates winner

Winning goals do not normally come much later than the 94thminute strike from Steven Gerrard that floored Middlesbrough on Saturday, but anything is possible with this Liverpool side.

They may be some aspects of their general play that have been found wanting so far this season, but persistence is clearly not one of them. Kuyt illustrated as much with a close-range 118th-minute finish that carried Liverpool into today's group stage draw, just as a penalty shoot-out seemed inevitable.

Liverpool may have fond memories of spot-kicks, after their famous 2005 triumph over AC Milan in Istanbul, but they would not have relished a rerun after being outfought and outmanoeuvred for much of a nervy Champions League third qualifying round return leg.

The Belgian champions would have fancied their chances, just as they had throughout both games, but they were denied the opportunity by the sort of dramatic finish that has become Liverpool's trademark in Europe.

Winner: Kuyt scores for Liverpool

Left-back Bonfim Dante failed to sense the danger as Kuyt darted in behind him at the far post to meet a cross from substitute Ryan Babel. It was the only time a resolute Liege defence had faltered all night, but it proved decisive as Kuyt stuck out a boot to leave keeper Aragon Espinoza flat-footed and an Anfield full house ecstatic with relief.

Kuyt has had his critics since arriving from Feyenoord two years ago, but who can quibble with the fee Liverpool paid after he guaranteed them at least £12m for entry into the lucrative group stage?

Benitez may have interpreted the outcome as job done, but there were questions galore for him to wrestle with after a continuation of his side's spluttering early-season form.

Talk of a crisis may seem at odds with a Barclays Premier League record of two wins out of two, but there is plenty to occupy Benitez's thoughts as he looks back on two thoroughly unconvincing wins over Sunderland and Middlesbrough and two wretched performances against Standard.

Down but not out: Fernando Torres is brought to his knees

Albert Riera is on is way from Espanyol, after chief executive Rick Parry flew to Barcelona yesterday to tie up an £8m, but not even the most fervent of Anfield optimists can pretend his arrival will suddenly solve all Liverpool's ills. Benitez put on a brave face and claimed his side had improved discernably, but there was little hard evidence to back it up during a tortuous two hours in which the outstanding Pepe Reina was again the busier of the two keepers.

Riera will belatedly provide width and balance on the left flank, but there are deficiencies in other areas that were conspicuously apparent throughout. Not least, the lack of a goal threat, once Fernando Torres had been effectively shackled by an uncompromising central defensive pairing of Oguchi Onyewu and Mohamed Sarr.

Robbie Keane again looked £20m poorly spent, Kuyt grafted tirelessly but to no great purpose down the right, prior to his goal, and Yossi Benayoun again flitted in and out on the left before giving way to Babel.

This is supposed to be the season when Babel at last comes into his own, but he once more looked afraid of his own shadow, let alone the one tracking his every move up and down the left flank.

While Liverpool floundered in attack, they fared little better at the back as giant striker Dieumerci Mbokani threatened to run them ragged with his pace and power.

The Congo front-runner announced his intentions in only the seventh minute with a fiercelystruck left-foot volley that brought the best out of Reina. Many a keeper may have been caught out by the suddenness of Mbokani's delivery, but Reina was alert to it as he plunged to his left to push it round the post.

Liverpool's attacking limitations were laid bare in the 75th minute when Gerrard and Alvaro Arbeloa combined in what finally resembled a cohesive move, only for Keane to miscue the full-back's low cross with the goal at his mercy.

How Liverpool almost paid for it as Igor De Camargo headed narrowly wide from an inviting position in the 90th minute, sending the tie into extra time and emotions into overdrive as tempers flared on the touchline over Liverpool's refusal to return possession from a throw-in after Espinoza had found touch to allow an injured team-mate to have treatment in the 95th minute.

Benitez and opposite number Laszlo Boloni stood toe-to-toe in a blazing, finger-pointing exchange, before the fourth official stepped in to restore order.

It was a sign, perhaps, of how much Benitez was feeling the strain of what was at stake as his side increasingly looked in danger of throwing away their group stage jackpot and leaving their manager to field awkward questions from the club's disbelieving owners.

He was spared that ordeal by Kuyt, but it was a lot closer than he would have liked.