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Rafael Benítez last night saluted the last-gasp heroics of his Liverpool team after another late, late show propelled the club into the lucrative group stage of the Champions League. Drama is now so ingrained in the Anfield woodwork that few can have been truly surprised by Dirk Kuyt’s 118th-minute goal, but the Spanish manager admitted that his primary emotion was one of sharp relief.

While Liverpool have won both of their opening matches in the Barclays Premier League, their form has been mediocre and over two legs against Standard Liège they came desperately close to taking their leave of a competition that served them well since Benítez’s appointment in 2004. Kuyt’s heroics at one end of the pitch — and José Manuel Reina’s at the other — proved the difference.

Defeat would have thrust the club, already suffering from tense relationships within its hierarchy, into crisis. It was a prospect that Benítez either chose or preferred to ignore. While his analysis was not incontrovertible, Benítez recognised signs of improvement from his team. The other side of the argument is that they still have some way to go.

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“I feel relief, of course,” Benítez said. “We had to work really hard until the end. The most positive thing is that we played a bit better against a team that was really sharp. We scored towards the end of the game, which means the team was always working really hard. I’m also really, really pleased that Kuyt scored the winning goal. His effort is amazing in every game.”

A sixth European Cup remains a possibility, no matter how weak on present form. “For us to have the possibility to be winning trophies is amazing and really important, and also in terms of the money,” Benítez said.

“Pepe Reina was clearly the key player for us in the first game, but we cannot just talk about one player tonight. We have to talk about all of them.”

For Laszlo Boloni, the Liège coach, the first leg had brought echoes of the famous “ghost goal” in Liverpool’s Champions League semi-final against Chelsea in 2005. He was phlegmatic in defeat. On this occasion, Standard had been denied.

“We are a bit angry with the referee, who was influenced by the bigger names, but that’s not really important,” Boloni said. “We had many chances and didn’t take them. Liverpool physically weren’t really that strong.

“What’s important is that against a big team like Liverpool, we have played 90 minutes twice and haven’t conceded a single goal. José Mourniho is my friend. We have played 90 minutes and scored a goal in Liège, but it didn’t count. I will have to call Mourinho.”

Liverpool’s close shaves

April 5, 1992 - Liverpool 1, Portsmouth 1 (FA Cup semi-final) Liverpool are all but out when Ronnie Whelan scores in the last minute of extra time to force a replay, which they win.

April 16, 2001 - Everton 2, Liverpool 3 (Premier League) Gary McAllister’s 45-yard free kick in the 94th minute keeps them on course for Champions League qualification.

Dec 8, 2004 - Liverpool 3, Olympiacos 1 (Champions League group match) Needing a two-goal victory to reach the knockout rounds, Liverpool score twice in the last ten minutes.