Drama in the final seconds sends Chelsea back to Stamford Bridge with an away goal and the tie all square after John Arne Riise turns Salomon Kalou's cross into his own net.
The semi-final was all set to begin its second leg the same as a year ago - with the home side chasing a single-goal disadvantage. That was after the Blues conceded a goal just before the break from some sloppy play after a disciplined start to the game.
Instead the first away goal in these Chelsea-Liverpool encounters has gone in to make the Blues favourites to make Moscow.
The return to fitness of Didier Drogba and Michael Ballack allowed Avram Grant to select a side reminiscent of many European away games this season.
That meant a recall for Florent Malouda on the left and the wise old feet of Claude Makelele anchoring defence.
Paulo Ferreira was preferred to Juliano Belletti at right-back with Joe Cole ahead of him on the right of the attacking three.
Liverpool gave Chelsea a free-kick chance 20 yards out within two minutes of the start when Carragher pushed Drogba. The fouled-against centre-forward took it but hit the middle of the wall.
A corner followed soon after and Chelsea were keeping possession well. It had been a settled start. A Gerrard shot that was never going to trouble Cech was all the home side had to show for their first ten minutes of endeavour.
There was trouble for the Blues on 12 minutes when a long ball was allowed to find Kuyt beyond the Chelsea defence but a combination of Cech and Carvalho eventually crowded the Dutchman out.
On 17 minutes, there was a sniff of an away goal after patient work from Ballack released Drogba for a low cross but neither Joe Cole nor Malouda could reach it.
Joe Cole then tried to play Lampard's lofted pass back into the centre when he could have brought it down for an effort himself. That moment arose from an unforced Arbeloa mistake.
Chelsea were playing to European refereeing better than Liverpool. In the first 30 minutes the home side commited six fouls to our three but importantly, referee Plautz from Austria was not moved to whistle when Drogba tangled with Carragher and went down on the edge of the penalty area.
On the half-hour mark came the best chance so far and it went to Liverpool. Carvalho's clearance was returned first time by Gerrard into the path of Torres but on the edge of the six-yard box, Cech stood his ground to beat out the shot with a fine piece of keeping.
Liverpool won their first corner on 36 minutes but Gerrard's dangerous ball to the back post was dealt with well by Ballack. Carvalho was then in the right place to clear after Ashley Cole, who up to that point had dealt well with Kuyt, allowed the wide-right player in the home side's 4-2-3-1 shape past him.
Then on 42 minutes came the moment Liverpool took a lead the balance of the game had not warranted. With the Blues having initially survived a quickly-taken free-kick, Lampard attempted something too complicated in an area too near his own box. Kuyt pounced, Mascherano miss-hit his ball in but it still fell behind Makelele for Kuyt to shoot past Cech.
So for the third time in these Champions League semi-final legs at Anfield, Chelsea went in a goal down at the break.
The second half instantly had more blood and thunder about it. It took Makelele's vigilance to snuff out an early chance for Torres. At the other end Makelele's pass found Drogba with a run on Carragher but his chest control let him down.
It was a frustrating passage of play for the Ivorian; with Liverpool doubling up well on him he was looking an isolated figure.
On 59 minutes, Babel struck a fierce volley that flew a couple of yards wide of Cech's post.
Two minutes later Liverpool were forced into a change when Aurelio pulled up with an injury and was carried off. Riise was the replacement.
On 62 minutes Avram Grant made a voluntary change - Kalou for Joe Cole.
Two minutes further on and Drogba and Lampard attempted to combine but the latter's touch was too strong when he looked to be in behind the defence. Ballack then headed powerfully on target from a Lampard free-kick but straight at Reina.
Liverpool this half had been playing better and with a higher tempo but Chelsea were coming back into it.
Quick Lampard thinking played Malouda in from the left to check inside and shoot but Carragher slid in to turn it behind.
Gerrard then manoeurved inside Makelele to unleash a rocket that Cech tipped over.
On 85 minutes Anelka was introduced with Ballack taken off, giving the Liverpool defence two strikers to think about in the closing minutes.
However, it was the home side that pressed more up to the final whistle, Ferreira, who had played well, tidying up on more than one occasion.
Two minutes into stoppage time Terry was booked for checking Mascherano's run and from the free-kick, Liverpool won a corner.
It found Torres at the far post to force a save from Cech.
The play switched for a final time and the referee had looked at his watch when a throw was made down the line to Kalou deep by the flag. Liverpool stood off, he crossed and under only nominal pressure from Anelka, Riise head past Reina to send the Chelsea fans at the opposite end wild.
Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Ferreira, Carvalho, Terry (c), A Cole; Ballack (Anelka 85), Makelele, Lampard; J Cole (Kalou 62), Drogba, Malouda.
Scorer Riise o.g. 90+2.
Booked Terry 90.
Scorer Kuyt 42.
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