Torres Seriously Injured, Cristiano Ronaldo Transitions to Center Forward

Compared with previous years, this season's Champions League knockout stage had not produced any particularly major upsets.

Just as Real Madrid defeated CSKA Moscow to reach the final four, Barcelona also beat Arsenal away from home once again, advancing powerfully to the semifinals with a 6:2 aggregate score.

In the other half of the draw the following day, Chelsea returned home and defeated Bordeaux 3:1, eliminating their opponents 3:2 on aggregate to become the third team to reach the final four.

The marquee clash of this Champions League round was the Double Red Derby between Manchester United and Liverpool. The two sides had a deep historical rivalry and had also been the teams least affected by Iceland's volcanic eruption in this knockout stage.

The outside world had been looking forward to an earth-shattering showdown between them, and their performance did not disappoint those expectations.

At Anfield, Liverpool were in blazing form, taking a 2:0 lead over Manchester United in the first half through goals from Torres and Gerrard.

Including the first-leg score, the aggregate stood at 3:2.

Liverpool not only held a substantial lead, but also had the advantage of an away goal.

By the end of the first half, almost everyone favored the Reds to advance to the semifinals.

Even the Reds themselves thought so. Their substitutes were celebrating happily in the locker room.

However, popping champagne at halftime was an easy way to invite disaster. Surely Liverpool knew that!

After the second half began, Manchester United launched a desperate counterattack.

First, Kaka charged through alone, racing from midfield to the penalty area on a counterattack and pulling the score back to 2:1.

Then Rooney stepped up as well.

In the 74th minute of the second half, Rooney received Giggs's cross and executed a difficult overhead kick inside the