LIVERPOOL, England (AP): Captain Steven Gerrard scored twice as Liverpool stormed into the quarterfinals of the Champions League with a 4-0 victory over Real Madrid on Tuesday.
Protecting a 1-0 first-leg lead, Fernando Torres paved the way for a comfortable night by finding the target after 16 minutes before Gerrard scored either side of the break on his 100th European appearance.
In the last minute, Andrea Dossena rounded off a comprehensive victory that prevented Madrid from reaching the last eight for the fifth consecutive season.
It will renew manager Rafa Benitez's hopes of repeating the 2005 title triumph to deflect attention from his inability to end the club's 19-year wait for an English title.
The commanding display will also raise Benitez's stock at Madrid, where he served in coaching roles for a decade.
Ramos, whose contract runs to the end of the season, shrugged off any lingering embarrassment after overseeing Madrid's worst result in the competition, instead finding fault with the Torres' goal and the penalty from which Gerrard scored Liverpool's second. "We are very disappointed indeed and sad because we are out of the competition," Ramos said through a translator. "We conceded two early goals which had their doubts.
"There might have been doubt about the lead up to the first goal and the penalty wasn't clear."
Pepe appeared to be dragged to the ground by Torres as the ball deflected off the defender and broke to Dirk Kuyt, who turned it back to the unmarked Torres to slot home from six meters (yards).
While Pepe was booked for his protests, the former Atletico Madrid player relished the opportunity to celebrate his goal in front of fans from his former crosstown rivals.
Torres had only been expected make a late cameo if it was essential, but he started two weeks after sustaining an ankle injury thanks to painkilling injection.
"I was working to try and get fit because it was very important for me to play in this game because of my past with Atletico," said Torres, who played more than 80 minutes. "It does not matter the pain for games like this."
Liverpool's second goal in the 27th also contained an element of controversy after a penalty was awarded against Gabriel Heinze for handling, despite Arbeloa appearing to chest the ball onto his shoulder.
Gerrard blasted the penalty past Casillas and then took his tally for the season to 17 goals 70 seconds into the second half.
Ryan Babel beat Ramos on the left flank, and cut the ball back for Gerrard, who met the pass with an unstoppable half-volley.
The nine-time champions could find no way back and their misery was compounded when Javier Mascherano's cross was turned home by Dossena in the final minute.
"I know people in Spain think that my teams don't attack, but look at this result and look at the 119 goals we scored last season _ that says something different," Benitez said. "We are ranked the number one club in Europe and to show this against a great club like Real Madrid is very pleasing."
Benitez hopes Liverpool's impressive form will continue into the Premier League campaign, with the Reds going to Manchester United on Saturday trying to reduce the defending champions' seven-point lead.
Liverpool ripped Madrid apart from the outset. After deftly turning Fabio Cannavaro in the third minute, Torres was only denied by the outstretched right boot of goalkeeper Iker Casillas.
Applying the early pressure Madrid had feared, Casillas rescued the visitors again inside a minute, tipping Javier Mascherano's volley from the resulting corner onto the crossbar.
After Torres began the rout, Casillas produced a low diving save to stop Martin Skrtel's header from a cross from Alvaro Arbeloa, who returned after a hamstring injury, and then blocked a sliding shot from Gerrard after Torres had sped past Sergio Ramos to set up the England midfielder.
Madrid showed glimpses of a possible fight back before half time with Wesley Sneijder - the only change from the first leg - twice coming close.
Pepe Reina's flying save thwarted Sneijder's swerving free kick on the half-hour and again in the closing minutes of the half.
Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano picked up a yellow card for kicking the ball away that rules the Argentina midfielder out of the next European fixture.
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STEVEN GERRAD IS THE MANN !
A good father .
A good husband.
And a good captain.
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