Babel sealed the win with his stoppage time goal to finally ease the tension at Anfield which was almost unbearable throughout an absorbing, enthralling encounter.

Midfield control

ARSENAL made a blistering start, putting Liverpool under pressure from the kickoff with Alexandr Hleb and Cesc Fabregas taking control of the midfield.

Liverpool coach Rafa Benitez appeared to have got his team selection wrong by playing skipper Gerrard wide out on the left.

The strike partnership of Fernando Torres and Peter Crouch also failed to click at first and it was not until Gerrard moved into a more familiar central position after 25 minutes that Liverpool began to come back into the game.

Blues scramble win

IN London, Chelsea reached their fourth semi-final in five seasons when goals from Michael Ballack and Frank Lampard gave them a nervy 2-0 win over Fenerbahce, 3-2 on aggregate. Avram Grant’s side had suffered a surprise 2-1 first-leg defeat in Istanbul. They attacked early to put things right when Ballack rose at the near post to head home a free kick from Lampard in the fourth minute.