Champions League semi-final, second leg Liverpool 1 Chelsea 0 (Agg 1-1 AET; Liverpool win 4-1 on penalties):After a night of high tension Liverpool defeated Chelsea 4-1 on penalties to book their place in the Champions League final against the winners of tonight's other semi-final - Manchester United or AC Milan.

All four Liverpool penalties were successful while Pepe Reina saved penalties by Chelsea's Arjen Robben and Geremi to send Liverpool through to the final.

These sides grappled with one another so fiercely that it was as if neither would ever let the other go free to reach the Champions League final in Greece on May 23rd. Liverpool and Chelsea specialise in steeliness and each of them would have half-expected the need for extra-time.

Liverpool had soon levelled the tie with a goal here, but the going was hard for everyone in this second leg, even if the Anfield side were to hit the bar through Dirk Kuyt during the second half.

It needed every scrap of concentration to assemble so much as a modest spell of possession and the importance of the event was sometimes greater than its quality.

When two teams are each so desperate to keep a dream intact the game itself often falls to pieces. The opener from Daniel Agger that put Liverpool in front in the 22nd minute was the first composed piece of play and even then it had required the pause of a free-kick for thoughts to be gathered. It did ensure, all the same, that Chelsea had plenty on their minds.

No "ghost" goal here, as there had been when Jose Mourinho's team were knocked out at the same stage on this ground two years ago. The pattern that could be glimpsed in the short gaps between fouls was of Chelsea in a 4-1-4-1 formation.

The intention was that Salamon Kalou and Joe Cole should break out to link with Didier Drogba, but sightings of that were sporadic in the first half.

Hopeful as Rafael Benitez was then feeling, neither manager saw his intentions fulfilled perfectly. The Spaniard, having dropped his fellow countryman Xabi Alonso from the starting line-up, had to endure lax pieces of play from the holding midfielder he had preferred, Javier Mascherano. The scheming for this contest did function perfectly in the 22nd minute.

Joe Cole, a booking short of suspension, may have been relieved when the referee Manuel Mejuto Gonzalez did not wag a yellow card for his foul on Steven Gerrard, but the clemency ceased there.

Liverpool's punishment was draconian. With Chelsea, in the absence of the injured centre half Ricardo Carvalho, steeling themselves for a high ball Liverpool's sucker punch caught them flush on the chin.

Steven Gerrard pulled the free-kick back low and an onrushing Agger swept a shot low into the net at the near post with his left foot. The Liverpool centre half had suffered at Stamford Bridge and this was an ideal reprisal. His anxieties, all the same, were not completely at an end.

Drogba was around once more to keep him anxious. After 32 minutes, a pass from Mikel John Obi slipped the Ivorian in behind Agger, but his drive was hit from an angle and, strong as it was, there was no hope of getting it past Reina.

Andriy Shevchenko sat watching from the stands, the conjecture still swirling about the exact seriousness of the groin injury that had kept him out of the game.

With 59 minutes gone, John Arne Riise delivered from the left and Kuyt's header banged against the Chelsea bar.

Chelsea's alarm was great and that kind of incident gnawed at them, preying on their dread that the whole season is slipping from them as the Premiership appears to be.

In the 71st minute, John Terry misjudged a long ball that skidded off his head and Jermaine Pennant's drive ricocheted from the makeshift centre back Michael Essien for a corner. Chelsea remained in contention, but the feeling that they were in command had disappeared at Anfield.

Kuyt had a second goal ruled out for offside during extra-time, but would score the final penalty to give Liverpool their 4-1 winning margin.

• Guardian Service

LIVERPOOL: Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Agger, Riise, Pennant (Alonso 78), Gerrard, Mascherano (Fowler 118), Zenden, Kuyt, Crouch (Bellamy 106). Subs not used: Padelli, Arbeloa, Hyypia, Gonzalez. Booked: Agger, Zenden. Goals: Agger 22.

CHELSEA: Cech, Ferreira, Essien, Terry, Ashley Cole, Mikel, Makelele (Geremi 118), Lampard, Joe Cole (Robben 98), Drogba, Kalou (Wright-Phillips 107). Subs not used: Cudicini, Boulahrouz, Bridge, Diarra. Booked: Ashley Cole. Att: 42,554.

Referee: M Gonzalez(Spain).

Penalty shoot-out

Boudewijn Zenden (Liverpool) scored 1-0

Arjen Robben (Chelsea) saved 1-0

Xabi Alonso (Liverpool) scored 2-0

Frank Lampard (Chelsea) scored 2-1

Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) scored 3-1

Geremi (Chelsea) saved 3-1

Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool) scored 4-1