Steven Gerrard's first-half goal, on his return from injury, proved enough to deliver a 1-0 win over Marseille at Anfield on Wednesday evening that ensured the Reds will join Atletico Madrid in the last 16 of the competition.
It was also a night to remember for Liverpool's manager. Benitez's 66th European match in charge of the club saw him eclipse Bill Shankly's record, while a 39th victory on the European stage saw him draw level with Bob Paisley on that count.
But the Spaniard acknowledged that his side had not been at their best and had lived dangerously at times, as Marseille pressed in search of an equaliser that would have kept their own campaign alive. The French side's commitment to attack ensured an open contest, but Liverpool failed to display their usual cutting edge on the counter-attack with the final ball designed to release Fernando Torres repeatedly mislaid.
Worryingly for Benitez, Wednesday's performance had echoes of the below-par display in Saturday's goalless draw with Fulham which cost his side the chance to pull clear of Chelsea at the top of the Premier League. "Clearly we need to improve our possession, to keep and pass the ball better," Benitez said. "We are giving the ball away too easily."
Gerrard, who has now scored five goals in his five Champions League appearances this season, also admitted it had been a frustrating night for a squad that appears to have gone off the boil since their victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge a month ago.
"It was a nervy match but still a job well done," said the Liverpool captain. "We wanted all three points and a clean sheet and we got both of those, but it was a frustrating second half for us. We lost control a bit and there are a few things that need looking at. They are organised and fighting to stay in the competition. We knew that it would be a difficult tie, but we stuck together and hopefully in a few days the second-half performance will be forgotten."
After a two-week lay-off, Gerrard returned at the expense of Robbie Keane and revelled playing in the slipstream of Torres. "Playing behind Fernando is great for me," Gerrard said. "His runs are great. Tonight I scored the goal but I'm sure if the manager keeps playing us together I will provide him with a few."
Gerrard's deployment in an attacking role allows Xabi Alonso to pull the strings in midfield, and it was the Spaniard's well-judged cross that allowed Gerrard to steal in unchallenged at the back post to head Liverpool's winner mid-way through the first half.
Marseille had a string of chances after the break but could not quite manage to find the final pass or moment of inspiration that would have delivered an equaliser. "We'll have a few regrets because we had chances up to the last minute, but the only thing that makes me unhappy was the result," said Marseille coach Erik Gerets. "I was quite happy with the performance. For the first time in a long time, we played as a unit and with the kind of desire that everyone said we were missing."
Marseille will now aim to take something from their final match, at home to Atletico, to ensure they edge out PSV Eindhoven for third place in the group and a spot in the UEFA Cup. Ultimately it was the sloppy marking that allowed Gerrard to score that snuffed out Marseille's last chance of progress to the last 16. But Gerets' men could also count themselves unfortunate not to have enjoyed the breaks that would have enabled them to take something from the match.
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