The ears suffered and so did the nerves, but there was exquisite pleasure in the pain at Anfield last night as Liverpool rightly took their place in the Champions League quarter- finals. Whatever the new stadium in Stanley Park boasts by way of plush facilities, it may never recapture the glorious intensity of occasions such as this.

Thrilling for even the oldest Anfield fans, it must have been unforgettable for the club’s two new American owners. This was an atmosphere that you do not find regularly at the Montreal Canadiens or the Texas Rangers, or many places in the sporting world for that matter. For the visitors from over the Pond, there was also the novelty of celebrating defeat.

Liverpool were beaten on the night, but they were not second best in any other criteria. Eidur Gudjohnsen’s 75th-minute goal for Barcelona ensured a thrillingly fraught climax, but if Rafael Benítez’s men had dropped off in the second half, it was only because they had run themselves into the ground in the first 45 minutes. And the late anxiety only heightened the joy at the final whistle as Liverpool not only celebrated their progression but also the fact that it came at the expense of the European champions.

Liverpool deserved their place in the last eight for the boldness with which they approached both legs and even those who can play better, such as Mohamed Sissoko, could not have given more.

And so yet another famous scalp was claimed by Benítez, who saves his best for these nights. Two English clubs in the last eight should become at least three this evening and Liverpool might even regard themselves as the strongest of the Barclays Premiership’s representatives given Benítez’s magic touch in continental competition. The Spaniard has tapped into Liverpool’s European tradition and fitful progress in the Premiership will be forgiven as long as he keeps serving up these mighty triumphs in the Champions League.

While the Kop was on spine-tingling form, a huge placard in the away team’s section declaiming Juan Laporta, the Barcelona president, told of splits and turmoil at the Nou Camp. There has been an edginess about the holders for months and, just as in the first leg, Benítez had wisely decided to drive at those cracks. In his eyes, this was a game for winning, not for clinging on, and his players might easily have secured victory.

They set about Barcelona with fierce intensity and a half-time tally of ten shots to one in their favour might have been measured in more precious currency with a goal. Up front, Dirk Kuyt and Craig Bellamy were chasing even lost causes and the only complaint — a familiar one which will have to be addressed in the summer — was the lack of a finishing touch. Peter Crouch underscored the need for a reliable goalscorer when he missed the chance to equalise after coming on as a late substitute.

At the back, the expectation was that Ronaldinho would quickly grow frustrated if tightly shackled. Sure enough, the Brazilian hit a post in the second half but was mostly a peripheral figure.

Jamie Carragher had been heroic in his defiance of Manchester United on Saturday and he was back throwing himself into tackles with reckless disregard for his safety. As Deco drew back a foot on the edge of the area, it was Carragher who seemingly made a head-first challenge. At one point he pinched the ball off the toes of Samuel Eto’o with nonchalant ease.

Frank Rijkaard, the Barcelona coach, had begun with Eto’o out wide in the Champions League final against Arsenal last May and it made no more sense then. He had also lined up with a notably unsteady back three.

Indeed, Liverpool had wonderful opportunities to kill the tie by half-time, twice striking the woodwork. A dipping volley from John Arne Riise rattled the bar early on and then, just after the half-hour mark, Sissoko thought that he had scored his first goal for the club when he seized upon a terrible miskicked clearance by Víctor Valdés, the Barcelona goalkeeper. The midfield player shot first-time from 40 yards towards an empty goal, only to see his shot bounce off the top of the bar.

In between, Bellamy, Kuyt and Riise had efforts repelled in quick succession. Rijkaard could argue that he needed to gamble, but this was high anxiety.

Liverpool had earned the slice of luck that befell them early in the second half when Ronaldinho, finally, escaped his markers and hit a post. That chance signalled an increased momentum by Barcelona, who took off Eto’o after an ineffective performance. And inevitably it coincided with a dropping in Liverpool’s levels of aggression as the first-half exertions took their toll.

Possession was being surrendered just a little too easily and the defence was ten yards too deep, but, still, it seemed that they had kept Barcelona at bay until Gudjohnsen struck. Jeered for his Chelsea past as he came on for Lilian Thuram, he was played onside by Álvaro Arbeloa and rounded José Manuel Reina before scoring. But the champions had been lacking in both legs and a bout of blood-letting will follow with the futures of Rijkaard, Eto’o and Ronaldinho in the mix.

Liverpool (4-4-2) J M Reina — S Finnan, J Carragher, D Agger, Á Arbeloa — S Gerrard, X Alonso, M Sissoko, J A Riise (sub: F Aurélio, 77min) — C Bellamy (sub: J Pennant, 67), D Kuyt (sub: P Crouch, 89). Substitutes not used: J Dudek, S Hyypia, J Mascherano, B Zenden. Booked: Arbeloa, Sissoko, Pennant, Reina.

Barcelona (3-1-3-3) V Valdés — Oleguer, L Thuram (sub: E Gudjohnsen, 71), C Puyol — R Márquez — Xavi, Deco, A Iniesta — L Messi, S Eto’o (sub: L Giuly, 61), Ronaldinho. Substitutes not used: A Jorquera, G Zambrotta, Edmilson, Silvinho, J Saviola. Booked: Thuram.

Referee: H Fandel (Germany)