Liverpool's Champions League dream is still alive after Pepe Reina's first-half penalty save secured a goalless draw with Standard Liege in a tense third round qualifying tie at the Stade Maurice Dufrasne.
Rafael Benitez's side struggled to impose their game on the Belgian champions throughout a tight contest and will now head into the second-leg at Anfield in two weeks time knowing victory is imperative if they are to progress to the group stage of the competition.
Ahead of the match the Reds were greeted by a wall of noise as the Liege faithful did their best to imitate Anfield's famous 12th man, a fact boldly highlighted by the 'Kop Rouches' banner that was decked across one of the stands of the 'Chaudron de Sclessin'.
It was a reception that illustrated the level of respect they have for a club with such similar traditions to their own, although they did not allow themselves to be overawed by the 2005 winners as they set about making life uncomfortable for Rafael Benitez's side from the start.
Indeed, it was the Reds of Belgium who were playing with the authority that had been expected from the Merseysiders and within seven minutes they left Liverpool shaken when a free-kick from the left was whipped into the penalty area allowing Marouane Fellaini to ghost in unmarked and bounce a free header against the post; with Pepe Reina performing miracles to somehow palm the rebounding ball to safety.
It was a warning for the visitors but one they did not take heed of and three minutes later they conceded a spot-kick when Wilfried Dalmat's cross from the right was harshly adjudged to have been handled in the area by Andrea Dossena - although the Italian's protests that the incident took place outside the area seemed more than justified.
A 35-yard Xabi Alonso free-kick that curved onto the roof of the net was the best Liverpool had to show for their first-half efforts and Benitez must have been relieved to get his side in at half-time with the game still scoreless.
The visitors needed to silence the buoyant home support with a more sustained spell of possession in the second period but it was Laszlo Boloni's men that continued to look the more threatening.
Reina twice had to be alert to deny Dieu Mbokani after it looked like the long ball over the top would set him free, while only an offside flag prevented Dirk Kuyt's last-ditch block on Igor De Camargo from being more meaningful.
It was one-way traffic in terms of chances and only De Camargo will know how he failed to give the Belgians the lead just past the hour mark when he contrived to guide Dante's delightful cross inches wide of the far post.
The five-times winners of the competition were in need of some inspiration, and it came as no surprise when Steven Gerrard, who had been a doubt ahead of the match with a thigh strain, emerged from the bench with just over 20 minutes remaining to replace Keane alongside Torres.
It didn't take long for the England man to get amongst it either and within minutes he had sent a curling 25-yard free-kick just wide of Aragon Espinoza's right-hand post.
However, not even a player who has so often been Liverpool's hero over the years could turn the match in the away side's favour and they will now head back to England determined to put the record straight at Anfield where the Belgian side will come face-to-face with the real 12th man. Teams
Liverpool: Reina, Dossena, Carragher (captain), Agger, Arbeloa, Benayoun, Alonso, Plessis, Kuyt, Torres, Keane. Subs - Hyypia, Pennant, Insua, Cavalieri, El Zhar, Voronin, Gerrard
Standard Liege: Espinosa, Bonfim Costa, Mikulic, Sarr, , Witsel, Defour (captain), Fellaini, Dalmat, Mbokani, De Camargo. Subs - Goreux, Ingrao, Benko, Dembele, Nicaise, Toama, De Vriendt
Referee: Tom Henning Ovrebo (Nor)
Conditions: Windy
Attendance: Unknown
Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Pepe Reina
Breakdown
19:05 GMT : Match Starts
1 min : Liverpool kick off wearing their new green European kit
2 mins : Great atmosphere inside the stadium in the early stages
5 mins : Keane is muscled out of possession on the touch-line. No chances to speak of so far
6 mins : Arbeloa concedes a cheap free kick, giving the home side the chance to get the ball into Reina's area
8 mins : Feillani comes within inches of opening the scoring with a header from 6 yards which hits the post and appears to cross the line before Reina palms it away
9 mins : Alonso goes for goal from a free kick but strikes the ball into the wall
10 mins : Dossena concedes a penalty with a handball inside the area
11 mins : Dante's spot kick is poor and Reina saves with a dive away to his right hand side
15 mins : Feillani heads tamely wide from a corner as the home side continue to ask the early questions
19 mins : Liverpool have a free kick in a great position on the edge of the area after foul on Benayoun
19 mins : Alonso curls in the kick but Dante is well placed to head clear
24 mins : De Camargo goes on a mazy run but is well tracked by Alonso who recovers possession
26 mins : First Booking: Xabi Alonso: Late challenge earns a yellow card
30 mins : First Booking: Marcos : Bad tackle on Torres - Liverpool win free kick 22 yards from goal
31 mins : The free kick comes to nothing as Alonso strikes the wall with his effort
40 mins : Torres drives the ball into the area but it comes to nothing as the home side clear
42 mins : Torres is fouled again as Liverpool win another free kick on the left
19:52 GMT : Half Time Reached
20:08 GMT : Second Half Begins
46 mins : The home side get the second period underway
47 mins : Darfour floats in a free kick which Reina deals with, but he's fouled and we have a free kick
50 mins : De Camargo has a chance clear in the area but can't make proper contact with his shot
54 mins : Arbeloa concedes a corner as the home side pour forward again to pose us problems
58 mins : Torres almost latches onto a long ball forward but the home 'keeper is out quickly to smother the danger
62 mins : Alonso finds Keane who wins a corner - chance for us
63 mins : Alonso's corner is well defended by a well organised home defence
65 mins : Another chance for Liege goes begging as De Camargo heads wide with only Reina to beat
67 mins : Substitution: Steven Gerrard for Robbie Keane:
68 mins : Gerrard's corner is punched away as far as Alonso who shoots wide, but he's fouled as he shoots as we win a free kick on edge of the box
71 mins : Gerrard bends the kick over the bar
73 mins : Reina does well under pressure to deal with another dangerous situation in his area
74 mins : Alonso is down and needs treatment as the game comes to a stop
82 mins : Substitution: Nabil El Zhar for Dirk Kuyt:
87 mins : First Booking: Tomislav Mikulic:
90 mins : Gerrard goes for goal with a late free kick which is easily saved
20:56 GMT : Match Over
