Rafael Benitez believes his skipper Steven Gerrard produced the moment of magic that has turned Liverpool's Champions League showdown with Arsenal significantly in the Merseysiders' favour.

On a glorious night of football theatre at the Emirates graced by players from 19 different nations, it was a home-grown star who Benitez felt really stole the show.

Liverpool had just conceded a crucial goal to Emmanuel Adebayor, the Togo international striker's 24th of the season, when Gerrard set off on a power run into Arsenal's box.

Gerrard got to the line and fired in a cross for Dirk Kuyt to force home his sixth European goal of the campaign, and 10th of the season.

And it was that moment stunning Gerrard quality, equally praised by Gunners chief Arsene Wenger, that changed the course of the tie.

Famously, Gerrard claimed in his autobiography that Benitez rarely praises him but on a night of drama and quality, the Spaniard praised his captain's influence.

"When you have top class players, they make the difference. Sometimes it is Torres, this time it was Gerrard," Benitez said.

"He is a player who can change a game on his own. And he certainly did that with his run into the box to create our goal.

"He changed the game. That goal we scored was the real difference for us, that one piece of quality, world class, that changed everything.

"Stevie can do such things. It was a run they could not stop. It could change the whole tie."

Now Benitez expects another famous Anfield night on Tuesday for the second leg, that can propel Liverpool into their third Champions League semi-final in three seasons.

He said: "When you play against Arsenal it is always difficult, they are a team with quality and can always score goals against you.

"But for us to score an away goal and then to have the prospect of them having to play against our fans at Anfield next, is extremely important for us.

"Anfield will be the massive difference. We will have energy, but also there will be great energy from our supporters, they will be on top of Arsenal.

"Between us we will have the strength to win, Arsenal will be playing our fans too.

"But we respect Arsenal. We know they are very capable of scoring away goals, they are such a good team. So we will need a massive effort from everyone to get through to the semi-finals.

"Arsene knows he has a good team and that they can be very effective on the counter-attack, but he knows that Anfield will be a very difficult place to play."

Benitez continued: "We know, though, that we need to score at Anfield because Arsenal are very capable of doing so.

"At 0-0 we would be happy, but Arsenal are a very, very offensive team and we know that if we are to beat them, we must score.

"The Emirates game was one of the hardest European games we have played. We knew that was going to be the case, you only have to look at the statistics to see that they had plenty of possession.

"But the idea is the create chances. We had one and we took our chance. They had two or three and they could not take them."

Benitez is likely to rest several players for the Barclays Premier League game at Arsenal on Saturday, after their lung-busting efforts.

He added: "Kuyt was outstanding, his work-rate is amazing. And Torres, too, was trying to do his job sometimes on his own.

"When Arsenal are pushing and pushing you, it is sometimes hard for the strikers because they do not have much support from the rest of the team.

"But Ryan Babel was working hard, and Gerrard always looking for the break and the crucial pass.

"All the players did a fantastic job. I was happy that we equalised quickly, against Arsenal if you do not do that you soon find yourselves two or three down because they are that good going forward.

"We also had chances. But they were wasted by playing the wrong pass or giving possession away at the vital moment in counter-attacks.

"But we were under so much pressure, doing so much work, it is hard for defenders and midfielders to have the time and energy to think of attacking as well.

"It is twice as hard to play 'without' the ball. Chasing and running, and a team like Arsenal play very, very quickly so it was crucial that Javier(Mascherano) and Xabi(Alonso) work hard."

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