Crouch's tap-in came moments after PSV's Dirk Marcellis was sent off and completed a 4-0 aggregate victory that capped a memorable week for English teams.

Crouch admitted the match had been a bit of a damp squib.

"It wasn't much of a spectacle but we did what we had to do. It was a strange game but nevertheless all the lads were up for it."

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez said it had been hard to get the players motivated.

"We had more control in the second-half especially after the sending-off," said the canny Spaniard.

His PSV counterpart Ronald Koeman agreed that the sending-off had been pivotal in giving PSV any chance of getting back into the tie.

"We did better than last week," said the former Dutch international defender.

"We gave nothing away to Liverpool. The sending-off was an incredible decision.

"I told him (Marcellis) don't be disappointed because you did fantastic. I don't understand the referee, it was a yellow card but not a red one. However, Liverpool were too strong for us over the two games."

Liverpool followed Manchester United and Chelsea's victories - the latter beating Benitez' former club Valencia - on Tuesday to become the third Premiership club to reach the last four.

It is only the third time a single country has had three clubs at this stage of the competition. But Benitez's side will be focused on emulating their 2005 Champions League semifinal victory over Chelsea, which was the prelude to a fifth triumph in Europe's elite club competition.

Liverpool and Chelsea are becoming familiar opponents on football's grand occasions and this will be the increasingly bitter rivals' third semifinal meeting in three seasons.

The chance to secure a trip to Athens for the final in May would be enough to ensure a ferocious encounter. But extra spice is added by Luis Garcia's controversial Champions League winner against Chelsea two years ago - a goal that still rankles with Blues manager Jose Mourinho.

"It will be a special occasion against Chelsea, and hopefully it will be the same outcome (as in the semifinal two years ago)," said Crouch, who is a season ticketholder with Chelsea.

Benitez said that the previous semifinal showed that they could beat the Premiership champions.

"At least we know we can beat Chelsea when we are at our level.

"It could be an advantage playing away in first leg (Liverpool go to Stamford Bridge). Could also be an advantage that they are playing in more competitions but they have a very good and big squad."

PSV had been woeful in the first leg and Koeman had conceded there was little hope of PSV becoming the first team ever to overturn a three-goal Champions League deficit away from home.

An early goal was vital if the visitors were to have any chance and they were quickly on the offensive, with Jefferson Farfan's header bringing a good stop from Jose Reina.

Liverpool suffered a blow when Welsh striker Craig Bellamy was stretchered off after he suffering a knee ligament strain while trying to charge down a corner in the 16th minute.

PSV had nowhere near enough firepower to trouble Liverpool, who were content to maintain a grip on possession without over-committing to rash attacks. PSV keeper Gomes was finally tested in the 27th minute when Crouch met Jermaine Pennant's cross with a volley that the Brazilian pushed over the bar.

That miss was as close as the Anfield crowd got to real excitement in the first half, although Boudewijn Zenden was narrowly off-target with a curling free-kick from 25 yards just before the break.

If PSV had the slightest belief they could get back into the tie, it was extinguished by Italian referee Roberto Rosetti after 64 minutes.

Marcellis' lunge at Zenden was rash but hardly a serious danger to the Dutch winger, but it still brought the 18-year-old debutant right-back an immediate red card from Rosetti.

Liverpool went for the kill straight away and got their reward in the 68th minute.

Crouch looked to have wasted the chance when he failed to connect cleanly with John Arne Riise's left-wing cross. But Robbie Fowler turned the ball back into the six yard box for Crouch to shoot past Gomes for his fifth goal in four games.

Fowler is likely to leave Liverpool at the end of the season and it was fitting that the striker, a hero to the Anfield faithful, played a part in the winner on what will be one of his last European nights for the club.

But this victory ensured he still has a chance to write one more chapter in the Liverpool history books against Chelsea later this month.