Europa League action featuring Liverpool and Fulham

At Anfield, Liverpool are trailing 2-1 from the first leg against Benfica after conceding two penalties in the wake of Ryan Babel's dismissal. A goal tonight would, however, hand Rafa Benítez's side the advantage in the tie ... Co-owner Tom Hicks (pictured) will be hoping for an early strike to appease the fans Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk His partner George Gillett is also in the directors' box tonight, sporting a glum expression at kick-off Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk Liverpool take the lead when Dirk Kuyt heads in from four yards after 28 minutes Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk The linesman controversially flags for offside, but it's a ludicrous assertion - the corner reached Kuyt without taking a touch off another player and, therefore, he can't be offside. Rafa Benítez has kittens on the sidelines before sense prevails and the referee overrules his assistant. Benfica's players are furious Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk Six minutes later, Lucas bursts through the centre and rounds Julio Cesar before scoring Liverpool's second goal. The goal, as is so often the case, was created by a slick, slide-rule pass from Steven Gerrard Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk Yossi Benayoun tries to snuff out a Benfica attack Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk David Luiz narrowly avoids a karate-kick from Kuyt as they leap for a high ball Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk Fernando Torres scores Liverpool's third goal of the night following a sweeping counter-attack. Benayoun and Kuyt pulled Benfica's defence apart as they raced from one end to the other; Torres supplied the coup de grace from close range Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk Kuyt must take his share of the credit for playing a perfect final ball across the face of the goalmouth Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk An animated Benítez gives instructions from the touchline Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk Torres hits the deck after being elbowed by Luisao Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk From a position of security, Liverpool are now in real danger ... Benfica's Oscar Cardozo scored from a free-kick to reduce the aggregate deficit to 4-3 Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk Glen Johnson and Lucas tackle Angel Di Maria as Liverpool try to stifle their opponents and close out the match. Ultimately, Torres adds another goal eight minutes from full-time to make it 4-1 on the night and thereby seal Liverpool's passage to the semi-finals. Torres will be pleased to discover that his former club, Atlético Madrid, will be Liverpool's semi-final opponents Photograph: Tom Jenkins Photograph: guardian.co.uk Over in Wolfsburg, Fulham are looking to extend their 2-1 first-leg lead over the German side. Their kits are seen hanging in the dressing room prior to the match Photograph: Joe Giddens/EMPICS Sport Photograph: Joe Giddens/guardian.co.uk British actor Hugh Grant is among the crowd at the Volkswagen Arena Photograph: Morris Mac Matzen/Reuters Photograph: Morris Mac Matzen/guardian.co.uk After just 22 seconds, Bobby Zamora's clever turn and shot gives Roy Hodgson's side an away goal Photograph: Peter Steffen/EPA Photograph: Peter Steffen/guardian.co.uk Edin Dzeko of Wolfsburg is momentarily blinded by Fulham defender Aaron Hughes Photograph: Joern Pollex/Bongarts/Getty Images Photograph: Joern Pollex/guardian.co.uk Zoltan Gera beats two Wolfsburg players with an overhead kick Photograph: Martin Rose/Bongarts/Getty Images Photograph: Martin Rose/guardian.co.uk Wolfsburg's Bosnian striker Dzeko gets the better of Fulham's Brede Hangeland Photograph: Ronny Hartmann/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Ronny Hartmann/guardian.co.uk Ashkan Dejagah is denied by Fulham's Simon Davies as the visitors hold on to the lead, surviving a disallowed goal, to win 1-0 and thereby progress to the semi-finals 3-1 on aggregate Photograph: Ronny Hartmann/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Ronny Hartmann/guardian.co.uk It's party time for Fulham - Dickson Etuhu leads the celebrations. Their European adventure will continue against another German side, Hamburg, in the semis Photograph: Joern Pollex/Bongarts/Getty Images Photograph: Joern Pollex/guardian.co.uk