Almost floundering after an 80-minute onslaught at the hands Valencia, Liverpool staged one of the best comebacks of their glorious European history.

Simon Brotherton reports for Radio 5 Live

With only 10 minutes of the game left and 1-0 down, they hit back with two goals through Steve McManaman and Patrik Berger to take the lead.

But the dramatic turn-around was ruined in the last minute when both McManaman and Paul Ince were sent off along with Valencia's Amedeo Carboni.

Incident led to bookings

The Italian had hit McManaman, who retaliated, then Ince rushed into the melee and was also sent off.

Liverpool were under intense pressure from the start in the intimidating atmosphere of the Mestalla Stadium.

Romanian ace Adrian Ilie and Argentinian Claudio Lopez tormented Liverpool's back line relentlessly.

Lopez could have had a hatful. First he latched onto a Steve Staunton slip, raced into the box, and sent a cross-shot wide of the far post.

But then Liverpool nearly scored. McManaman strode onto a Patrik Berger lay-off after eight minutes and drove a 20-yarder against the post.

The ball bounced out, hit keeper Santiago Canizares in the back and broke for Berger to blast the rebound wide.

But the troubled Liverpool back line could not cope. Jamie Carragher lost the ball after 13 minutes, and Ilie put Lopez through.

David James was alone in the box as the Argentinian World Cup star ran on, but the Liverpool keeper kept his nerve, stayed on his feet, and the striker pushed his shot wide of the upright.

A minute later, another Staunton error let in Lopez again, but James made a superb save to his left.

Liverpool troubled

Liverpool were in desperate straights, and Redknapp was finally booked for his fifth foul, bringing down Carbone after 35 minutes.

Shortly after, Vegard Heggen was cautioned for tripping Ilie.

Heggen was in action at the other end, producing a run and cross that Fowler rose to head wide.

The Spanish goal finally came in first-half injury time when Ilie lashed a shot against the post, and Lopez drove in the rebound.

McManaman. Ince and Carboni are sent off

All that was left was for Ince to get himself booked in the dying seconds of a tortured half.

It seemed only a matter of time before Valencia scored again.

Owen's pace seemed to be about Liverpool's only real option, and the youngster who was left out of the first leg ran himself ragged up-front trying to catch defenders lacking concentration.

Ilie was Liverpool's tormentor in chief, his control, refusal to be knocked off the ball, and breathtaking ability were constant dangers.

Fowler was the next Liverpool man to be booked. After being penalised, he stupidly turned to sarcastically clap the French referee.

But Valencia opted to sit back and defend their lead, and that was a criminal error.

Carragher, Owen and Fowler all had chances as Liverpool grew in confidence.

Owen cross

Then Owen won possession on the right, crossed superbly to the far post, and McManaman steamed in to head Liverpool level.

They were now through on the away-goals rule if the score remained equal, but with four minutes left, Berger put this most improbable result beyond doubt with a stunning left-foot drive to give Liverpool the lead.

In the dramatic final minutes - almost seven over normal time - Valencia pulled one back when a Claudio Lopez free-kick hit a post, bounced back to hit James, and then span over the line.

Despite the tense finish it is Liverpool that is now heading into the third round.

Teams

Valencia: Canizares, Djukic, Mendieta, Lopez, Schwartz, Illie, Bjorklund, Carboni, Popescu, Angulo, Soria. Subs: Bartual, Juanfran, Camarasa, Farinos, Lucdrelli, Milla, Tellez.

Liverpool: James, Staunton, McManaman, Fowler, Owen, Redknapp, Heggem, Berger, Ince, Bjornebye, Carragher. Subs: Friedel, Kvarme, McAteer, Leonhardsen, Harkness, Dundee, Thompson.