Anfield has witnessed some memorable European evenings, from the visits of St-Etienne to Olympiakos, and next Tuesday promises to be another epic.
Benitez's side performed impressively here, sticking rigidly to his canny strategy of containment and counter-attack. Liverpool will need to open up more at Anfield and Chelsea will believe that they can score, particularly with Arjen Robben gaining in sharpness.
The one real frustration of the night for Liverpool was an unfortunate caution for the superb Xabi Alonso for a challenge on Eidur Gudjohnsen. The booking precludes the involvement of this deft, play-making Spaniard from the Anfield drama next week.
It was the one mistake made by Alain Sars, the French referee, who allowed a keenly fought, commendably clean game to flow, a match that saw the best contributions from those in red, like Alonso, Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher.
No feelings of inferiority had inhibited Liverpool, no alarm at the unflattering odds offered by bookmakers. Benitez has instilled a quiet belief in his players, who have responded to his clever tactical approach in Europe, a floodedmidfield policy that had drowned Juventus in the quarter-finals.
With Xabi Alonso and Igor Biscan sitting deep in front of a back four given such steely inspiration by Carragher, and Gerrard raiding to good effect, Liverpool's 4-2-3-1 approach sent shivers of concern through Chelsea in a scoreless, but absorbing first half. Frustrated by Liverpool's obduracy, Mourinho unleashed Robben and then Mateja Kezman in the second half.
Liverpool had given their fans plenty to sing about, other than the usual "You've got no history" invective towards Chelsea.
Only the remarkable reflexes of Petr Cech, who extends that huge frame so athletically and quickly, denied Liverpool a goal just before the break. Inevitably, Alonso and Gerrard were involved, the tempo-setting twosome combining out on the right, yards from their hugely vocal supporters. Alonso laid the ball off to Gerrard, who drilled over a cross towards the penalty spot.
Milan Baros, leaping well, kept the pace on the ball, but redirected it goalwards, seemingly out of the reach of even the tall Cech. Yet the Czech international thwarted his compatriot by stretching out a paw and fingertipping the ball around the post. Cech also saved well from John Arne Riise, Liverpool's hard-working left sided-midfielder who juggled the ball past Ricardo Carvalho to fashion a glimpse of goal instantly blocked by Chelsea's indomitable keeper.
Liverpool were impressing, playing without fear, allowing no Chelsea player a second of untroubled possession and clearly targeting Glen Johnson, Chelsea's defensive weak link. Gerrard was relishing the fray, thoroughly eclipsing Lampard in the opening half. Liverpool's captain adores the Champions League, spends his midweek evenings when not playing surfing the channels to catch all the early-season action from Moscow to Madrid.
As he walked down the tunnel before kick-off, this proud Merseysider looked down at the red carpet and noted the words that read "The Road to Istanbul, 2005". Some Liverpool fans even wore fezzes in anticipation. Yet John Terry, Chelsea's leader, was similarly inspired by the thought of a season's climax in Turkey. Withstanding a bruising early challenge from Baros, Terry sought to galvanise the champions elect.
So much class suffuses this team of Mourinho's. Not just Terry, the newly installed Player of the Year, but others such as Frank Lampard. Surprisingly, Chelsea seemed riven with nerves in the opening stages. Lampard, amazingly for someone so deadly this season, missed a marvellous chance from five yards after Joe Cole had brilliantly headed down William Gallas's cross. As the Shed End stood in anticipation of the usual Lampard coup de grâce, the England midfielder skied the ball into the stand. Chelsea fans rubbed their eyes in disbelief.
Lampard was not the only man in blue misfiring; Drogba miscued one shot horribly wide and then a great dribble by Cole was ended by the assured Sami Hyypia as the second half unfolded.
Mourinho sought to set Liverpool a new challenge on the hour, introducing Robben for Tiago, who had stepped in when Damien Duff failed a late fitness test on his injured hamstring. Robben's arrival allowed Gudjohnsen, hitherto subdued, to move into the more central role he has excelled in recently.
Robben was soon involved, releasing Drogba down the inside-left channel, but fortunately for Liverpool, Carragher had read the Ivory Coast striker's intentions and dispossessed him with a fine tackle.
Carragher was enjoying an outstanding evening, showing all the improved positional qualities and composure to his game. Twice Kezman came arrowing into Liverpool's box, danger doubling with every stride until Carragher intervened, clearing each time.
Still the Chelsea pressure continued, wave after blue wave rolling towards to Carragher and company. When Robben whipped over a free kick, Jerzy Dudek muscled his way confidently through a crowd of players to clutch the ball. On a night of surprises, Harry Kewell joined the action late on. And so to Anfield.