Reds duo earn Benítez praise

Amazing effort
Kuyt scored a dramatic extra-time goal with just two minutes to play, converting a superb cross from fellow Dutchman Ryan Babel to settle a match in which the Belgian champions had again set the pace. "I was really pleased because Kuyt scored the winning goal," Benítez said. "His effort is amazing every game. We knew it could be difficult. From the first minute they played well and we knew they would play well on the counterattack so we had to work really hard until the end.

'Final pass'
"For me the most positive thing is that we played a little bit better against a good team who are sharp and we scored at the end. That means that the team are working really hard. We had confidence and we kept pushing. We knew from the first game they are really good and [on Wednesday] they also played well. They were always a threat because you know you can concede from a free-kick or a corner. We were going forward well and controlling the game but were missing the final pass to make the difference."

Reina saves
Just as in the first leg of the third qualifying round tie that finished goalless, the 2005 winners needed goalkeeper Reina to keep them in the match. The Spaniard produced a superb save to deny Dieudonné Mbokani and was at full stretch again to stop Marouane Fellaini's volley in the opening half. "Pepe was the key player in the first game but today it is not about just one player, it is about all of them," said his manager.