Atletico Madrid 1 Liverpool FC 0 - all hopes rest on Anfield recovery

Of course, any chance of appearing in the Champions League final across the city in the Bernabeu have long since disappeared, with the Anfield outfit unlikely to even be in the competition next season.

The Europa League has instead assumed priority. Benitez stated before last night's game that the recent Anfield comebacks against Lille and Benfica would have been praying on the minds of Atletico.

It didn't show. And almost inevitably, it was former Manchester United striker Diego Forlan whose ninth-minute strike proved the difference between the sides.

Liverpool must now produce a third successive recovery on their own turf next Thursday, but will at least will be heartened by the fact the previous three times they lost a first leg away in a European semi-final, they went on to reach the final.

For that to happen, Benitez's men will have to do significantly better than they showed here. Despite players lining up to state they couldn't use their lengthy journey to Madrid as an excuse for any failure, how else to explain such a lacklustre performance with so much at stake?

The danger had been evident in the warm-up when Javier Mascherano pulled up clutching his hamstring. And while the Mascherano was fit enough to last the full 90 minutes, it was clear all that time on planes, trains and automobiles had an adverse effect.

Indeed, the sparsely-populated away section illustrated how the ash cloud had also affected the travel arrangements of many Liverpool fans who abandoned hope of getting to the game in time altogether.

Those that made the trip were probably wondering why they bothered. Atletico have shipped 52 goals in 33 La Liga games this campaign but, sorely missing their former Atletico striker Fernando Torres, Liverpool couldn't manage one.

That said, they could rightly point to a Yossi Benayoun strike that was wrongly chalked off for offside. But Atletico goalkeeper David de Gea didn't have a save of note to make, in contrast to fine saves by Pepe Reina that ensured Liverpool have only a one-goal deficit to overcome.

Remarkably, Atletico had progressed to this stage of the competition despite winning only one of 12 European games this season.

However, any encouragement Liverpool may have gained from that statistic was surely tempered by an away record that now reads only seven wins from 27 games on the road this campaign.

It wasn't just the visitors who felt the absence of Torres last night. The striker's name still adorns club memorabilia on sale outside the Vicente Calderon and sections of the home support chanted his name before kick-off.

David Ngog, tasked with filling the Torres-sized hole in attack, worked hard before being replaced by Ryan Babel shortly after the hour but simply does not possess the goal threat of Torres.

Not so Forlan. The Uruguayan has revived his career in Spain, first at Villarreal and more recently with Atletico, after netting just 10 goals in 63 league appearances during a miserable spell at Old Trafford.

Two of those, though, came in a 2-1 win at Anfield in December 2002, and he again proved Liverpool's nemesis as Atletico capped a bright start with a ninth-minute opener.

It was a soft goal to concede. Jurado's cross from the left was begging to be nodded home, but Forlan completely hashed his initial header before the ball fortunately dropped back to his feet and he prodded it beyond Pepe Reina and Jamie Carragher's attempts to clear off the line.

Liverpool sought an instant response but, after being found at the far post by Glen Johnson's deep cross, Yossi Benayoun couldn't direct his header on target.

Benitez's side had been the victims of some debatable decision in the 2-1 defeat at Benfica in the previous round, and were on the wrong end of another here on 18 minutes.

Dirk Kuyt's throughball may have been miss-hit, but it fell invitingly for Benayoun who ran on to finish beyond Atletico keeper de Gea only for celebrations to be cut short by an assistant referee's flag for offside. Television replays showed the Israeli was clearly onside.

Moments later, an excellent pass from Lucas Leiva put Steven Gerrard into space inside the Atletico area but, with the angle narrowing, the Anfield skipper struck his shot into the side-netting.

Rocked by the blow of Forlan's early goal, Liverpool had taken a while to regain their composure but ended the half the stronger, enjoying the greater possession without ever giving de Gea any real scares.

But Atletico, although largely on the defensive, continued to be a threat and four minutes before the interval Tomas Ujfalusi scampered away from Daniel Agger before excitedly thrashing an angled effort wide.

Only a fine sliding tackle from Atletico centre-back Luis Perea prevented Gerrard from reaching the penalty area after a typically lung-busting burst shortly after the break.

But the second half belonged to the home side.

They came close on 52 minutes when, after Mascherano gifted possession to Jose Antonio Reyes, the former Arsenal man lifted a ball over the top to Forlan who made a complete hash of his attempt.

And Liverpool were indebted to their goalkeeper shortly afterwards, Ujfalusi crossing to the far post where Johnson slipped to allow Simao a drive Reina did well to turn over.

With the visitors struggling to make any inroads, Atletico finished the stronger and when Ujfalusi's shot was only parried by Reina, an alert Carragher produced a fine clearing tackle before Forlan could pounce.

Now Benitez's side must produce a third Anfield fightback in a row to guarantee Hamburg and not Madrid is where they European campaign reaches its conclusion.