Just when a poor match was drifting towards a goalless conclusion, an 85th-minute header from Luisão, the Brazilian defender, gave Benfica the advantage going into the second leg in a fortnight and left Liverpool needing to call on their reserves of passion and power play if they are not to surrender their title with indecent haste.
No matter that Benfica had eliminated Manchester United at the group stage. This was regarded as a favourable draw for Liverpool, but their evening went anything but smoothly. Steven Gerrard spent the majority of it nursing a dead leg on the bench, while Mohamed Sissoko was unable to join his team-mates on the flight home because he was kept in hospital with an eye injury after being caught by a boot of Beto.
Equally alarming was a lack of punch in attack — with Moretto, the Benfica goalkeeper, not tested once — and, finally, another goal conceded from a set-piece.
There seemed little danger when Petit floated the ball into the penalty area with five minutes remaining but, while others stood and watched, Luisão climbed highest to head the ball past José Manuel Reina. “It is a free kick we have seen many times,” Benítez said. “We talked about it and we watched it on the video, so it is a pity.” More than that, it is a mystery. Liverpool’s defence looked impregnable at setpieces as they went 11 matches without conceding a goal earlier in the season, but recent aberrations against United, Portsmouth, Birmingham City, Chelsea and now Benfica have called into question Benítez’s devotion to zonal marking.
“We haven’t conceded a lot, I promise,” the manager said. “I think it is less than anyone else in the Premier League, but it was an important goal, so this is the situation.”
Perhaps it is a result of tired minds in the Liverpool ranks. Their defence of the European Cup began in mid-July and the games have come thick and fast. Standards have dropped in recent weeks and, if three consecutive 1-0 victories seemed to have given them fresh vigour, their lack of attacking inspiration last night will remind Benítez that there are shortcomings that are proving hard to address.
Ronald Koeman, the Benfica coach, said that Liverpool were tougher opponents than United, whom his team beat 2-1 in the group stage at the same venue in December, but scoring goals remains a problem for Benítez’s side.
Last night, Robbie Fowler and Fernando Morientes were paired in attack, but neither was able to test Moretto. Their only attempt on target was a speculative Fowler flick that was blocked by Luisão, although Benfica were no better until the belated introduction of Giorgios Karagounis, who gave them some much-needed impetus in the closing stages.
For long periods, Liverpool could just about claim to have been in control — a Benítez watchword — but there was never any indication that they would seize the initiative. Benfica were unable to muster anything like the spirit that accounted for United, but they did pose the odd question of Liverpool as the interval approached, with Reina forced to rush from his goal in the 26th minute to dive at the feet of Sim ão after the Benfica captain had evaded the offside trap to race on to a clever pass by Laurent Robert, the former Newcastle United and Portsmouth winger.
Simão, whom Benítez tried to sign in August and again during the January transfer window, was ineffective for the most part, as were most of the attacking players on view, but at least two of his team-mates succeeded in enhancing their reputations. Luisão was excellent in defence, while Petit eclipsed Xabi Alonso as the most effective midfield player.
It was fitting in one way that those two players should combine to create the only goal of the evening, one that has left Liverpool hanging on to their beloved European Cup by their fingertips.