Daniel Agger's clever backheel gave Liverpool the lead in a controversial first half of their Europa League quarter-final first leg against Benfica in Lisbon.
The Dane produced the perfect start in the ninth minute by converting Steven Gerrard's low free-kick but Ryan Babel was sent off on the half hour for pushing Luisao in a melee started by the Brazilian centre-back.
Midfielder Lucas Leiva returned to the starting line-up for Liverpool's Europa League quarter-final first leg against Benfica in the Estadio da Luz.
With Maxi Rodriguez unavailable, the Brazil international returned to the team with Steven Gerrard moving to his more usual advanced midfield position, and Dirk Kuyt switched back to the right.
Defender Jamie Carragher made his 621st Liverpool appearance, moving above Alan Hansen to eighth on the all-time list, while Jose Reina featured in goal for the 250th occasion.
Benfica were without former Barcelona striker Javier Saviola, who sustained a toe injury in the weekend victory over Braga which is also likely to keep him out of the second leg.
The cacophonous noise inside Benfica's impressive ground was silenced as early as the ninth minute with virtually Liverpool's first attack.
Maxi Pereira's foul on Gerrard gave the Liverpool captain a chance to whip in a dangerous free-kick from just left of the penalty area.
However, with the hosts massed around the six-yard area the midfielder fooled everyone by rolling a low pass in towards the penalty spot where Daniel Agger produced a classy backheel into the corner of the net.
It was reminiscent of a similar move which saw the Denmark defender score in the Champions League semi-final against Chelsea in May 2007, although that one was hit with more power.
Benfica's European top scorer this season, Oscar Cardozo, could not show the same control from Fabio Coentrao's left-wing cross three minutes later as he deflected the ball over the crossbar.
The Paraguayan then nodded Angel di Maria's free-kick wide and headed another Coentrao effort straight at Reina from eight yards.
Benfica's barrage continued but Pablo Aimar's first touch for once let him down as he looked to beat Reina.
Chances continued to come and go for the hosts with Ramires next to head over at the far post from a cross by Di Maria, whose shot from 25 yards fizzed just over Reina's crossbar in the 28th minute.
Chaos descended in the on the half hour as referee Jonas Eriksson lost control.
Centre-back Luisao took exception to a tackle by Ryan Babel and subsequently hacked right through the back of Fernando Torres.
A melee ensued in which Luisao continued his protest at Babel and the Dutchman responded by pushing the Brazilian in the face.
The Swedish official showed the Benfica defender a yellow and then flashed a red at the Holland international - sparking wild protests by Liverpool's entire team.
After much argument the decision stood and Babel trudged off.
David Luiz was next to go into the book for clattering Torres in the 37th minute and the Spain striker thought he had exacted the perfect revenge.
Gerrard's free-kick was weakly punched by Julio Cesar and Torres volleyed it home only for an offside flag to go up.
Emiliano Insua was booked for pulling back Di Maria just before the break, ruling him out of the second leg.
Within four minutes of the restart Cardozo planted one header straight at Reina and the other over from five yards and you sensed just maybe it was going to be Liverpool's night.
There was a brief stoppage in play when a firework was thrown close to the fourth official next to Reina's goal and Eriksson made a point of mentioning it to the UEFA delegate in the technical area.
Cardozo's 59th-minute free-kick rattled back off Reina's right-hand post but when Aimar went down under Insua's tackle chasing the rebound Eriksson pointed to the penalty spot.
This time Cardozo finally hit the target to beat Reina.
In the 76th minute Torres had a glorious chance to put his side back in front - and score his first Liverpool goal on foreign soil since March 11 2008 - but with only Cesar to beat he dragged his shot wide from Kuyt's pass.
It was to prove costly as two minutes later Di Maria's cross hit Carragher as he slid in to tackle and the fourth official signalled a penalty for handball.
The defender was booked and Cardozo scored his second spot-kick of the night.
After more hefty challenges Torres was withdrawn for David Ngog to make an appearance on his 21st birthday.
With more fireworks raining down behind Liverpool's goal towards the end Rafael Benitez's side were fortunate to leave Lisbon with just a one-goal deficit.
The Dane produced the perfect start in the ninth minute by converting Steven Gerrard's low free-kick but Ryan Babel was sent off on the half hour for pushing Luisao in a melee started by the Brazilian centre-back.
Midfielder Lucas Leiva returned to the starting line-up for Liverpool's Europa League quarter-final first leg against Benfica in the Estadio da Luz.
With Maxi Rodriguez unavailable, the Brazil international returned to the team with Steven Gerrard moving to his more usual advanced midfield position, and Dirk Kuyt switched back to the right.
Defender Jamie Carragher made his 621st Liverpool appearance, moving above Alan Hansen to eighth on the all-time list, while Jose Reina featured in goal for the 250th occasion.
Benfica were without former Barcelona striker Javier Saviola, who sustained a toe injury in the weekend victory over Braga which is also likely to keep him out of the second leg.
The cacophonous noise inside Benfica's impressive ground was silenced as early as the ninth minute with virtually Liverpool's first attack.
Maxi Pereira's foul on Gerrard gave the Liverpool captain a chance to whip in a dangerous free-kick from just left of the penalty area.
However, with the hosts massed around the six-yard area the midfielder fooled everyone by rolling a low pass in towards the penalty spot where Daniel Agger produced a classy backheel into the corner of the net.
It was reminiscent of a similar move which saw the Denmark defender score in the Champions League semi-final against Chelsea in May 2007, although that one was hit with more power.
Benfica's European top scorer this season, Oscar Cardozo, could not show the same control from Fabio Coentrao's left-wing cross three minutes later as he deflected the ball over the crossbar.
The Paraguayan then nodded Angel di Maria's free-kick wide and headed another Coentrao effort straight at Reina from eight yards.
Benfica's barrage continued but Pablo Aimar's first touch for once let him down as he looked to beat Reina.
Chances continued to come and go for the hosts with Ramires next to head over at the far post from a cross by Di Maria, whose shot from 25 yards fizzed just over Reina's crossbar in the 28th minute.
Chaos descended in the on the half hour as referee Jonas Eriksson lost control.
Centre-back Luisao took exception to a tackle by Ryan Babel and subsequently hacked right through the back of Fernando Torres.
A melee ensued in which Luisao continued his protest at Babel and the Dutchman responded by pushing the Brazilian in the face.
The Swedish official showed the Benfica defender a yellow and then flashed a red at the Holland international - sparking wild protests by Liverpool's entire team.
After much argument the decision stood and Babel trudged off.
David Luiz was next to go into the book for clattering Torres in the 37th minute and the Spain striker thought he had exacted the perfect revenge.
Gerrard's free-kick was weakly punched by Julio Cesar and Torres volleyed it home only for an offside flag to go up.
Emiliano Insua was booked for pulling back Di Maria just before the break, ruling him out of the second leg.
Within four minutes of the restart Cardozo planted one header straight at Reina and the other over from five yards and you sensed just maybe it was going to be Liverpool's night.
There was a brief stoppage in play when a firework was thrown close to the fourth official next to Reina's goal and Eriksson made a point of mentioning it to the UEFA delegate in the technical area.
Cardozo's 59th-minute free-kick rattled back off Reina's right-hand post but when Aimar went down under Insua's tackle chasing the rebound Eriksson pointed to the penalty spot.
This time Cardozo finally hit the target to beat Reina.
In the 76th minute Torres had a glorious chance to put his side back in front - and score his first Liverpool goal on foreign soil since March 11 2008 - but with only Cesar to beat he dragged his shot wide from Kuyt's pass.
It was to prove costly as two minutes later Di Maria's cross hit Carragher as he slid in to tackle and the fourth official signalled a penalty for handball.
The defender was booked and Cardozo scored his second spot-kick of the night.
After more hefty challenges Torres was withdrawn for David Ngog to make an appearance on his 21st birthday.
With more fireworks raining down behind Liverpool's goal towards the end Rafael Benitez's side were fortunate to leave Lisbon with just a one-goal deficit.
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