The veteran Scot kept his cool following a handball from Patrick Kluivert to fire the Red Army into Dreamland, and thrust Liverpool to within an ace of rejoining the giants of Europe at the top table, by qualifying for the UEFA Cup Final.

The Dutchman’s folly with a minute of normal time left in the first half was too inexplicable for words, considering he was leaping under no pressure and seemingly would have had few problems in simply nodding away.

But his flick of a wrist was all it took for the Reds to claim their passport for Dortmund via McAllister’s expertly-placed spot-kick which found the roof of the net past rookie Barcelona keeper Jose Manuel Reina.

It could have been so different had Liverpool keeper Sander Westerveld not shown his dexterity in pushing over a pulsating strike from Brazilian superstar Rivaldo, which was bound for the top corner after seven minutes.

That opportunity was succeeded by a slippery goalbound run by Smicer, who slid the ball across the edge of the area to Owen, who beat keeper Reina, but failed to progress past Puvol.

Both sides had their chances in what was a much less cagey encounter than the scoreless first leg, epitomised by Luis Enrique’s stinging drive that brushed Westerveld’s post as the first half progressed.

Gerrard did likewise in the second half, which saw one heart-stopping moment for the home custodian, as he lost out a one-on-one challenge with Kluivert at the edge of the Liverpool box only for the ball to run wide.

Much for Liverpool to look back on with relief then, but Gerard Houllier will be satisfied with a determined display that showed that with all the pass-and-move strategy extolled by those within the walls of Anfield, there also lies a backbone of steel.

Liverpool will now meet Alaves in the finals on May 16 in Dortmund.

Liverpool: Westerveld, Babbel, Henchoz, Hyypia, Carragher, Gerrard, Hamann, McAllister, Smicer, Heskey, Owen. Subs: Arphexad, Ziege, Fowler, Murphy, Berger, Vignal, Wright.

Barcelona: Reina, Reiziger, de Boer, Puyol, Petit, Luis Enrique, Cocu, Guardiola, Overmars, Rivaldo, Kluivert. Subs: Dutruel, De la Pena, Xavi, Gabri, Dani, Simao, Zenden.

Referee: Urs Meier (Switzerland)