Kuyt rescues Liverpool with extra-time winner

(CNN) -- Dirk Kuyt struck the extra-time winner that will be worth millions to Liverpool as they secured their place in the Champions League group stages with a 1-0 aggregate win over Standard Liege.

Kuyt has been Liverpool's lucky charm in such games, and this was his ninth goal in 15 European outings and came on his 100th appearance for the club.

Last season he scored seven times as Liverpool reached the semifinals, but none were worth more than the one he forced over the line tonight with two minutes of extra-time left.

Rafael Benitez's side had been unconvincing all evening and the game appeared destined for penalties when Kuyt struck with a far post volley from Ryan Babel's deep cross.

For Liverpool, twice finalists in the previous seasons and winners of the competition in 2005, the goal brought relief after a stuttering display that will have reinforced their manager's determination to bring in new faces during the remaining five days of the transfer window.

Benitez had attempted to downplay the significance of the first leg draw in the build-up to this game, insisting his side would be better prepared than they were when the two sides met in Belgium.

Then, Pepe Reina's penalty save from Bonfim Dante had been largely responsible for Liverpool escaping with a scoreless draw.

And while the Anfield club's form had been disappointing in their subsequent two league games, they came into this clash having secured back to back wins and with a growing self-belief that their season was about to fire into life.

But any suggestion Benitez's side had done the hard work in escaping Liege on level terms were quickly blown away when Reina was again forced into action to prevent his team falling behind in the tie.

Liverpool centre-backs Martin Skrtel and Jamie Carragher looked uncomfortable against the Belgians' forward pairing of Dieumerci Mbokani and Igor De Camargo.

And it was Mobokani's first time shot from De Camargo knock-down that drew a fingertip save from Reina much to the relief of the home side.

The Spanish keeper was forced to make another fine save eleven minutes later when alarming holes had again appeared in his defence.

A hopeful right wing cross was allowed to sail pass through Reina's penalty area where De Camargo should have finished from just ten yards out.

But having missed a free shot, the forward collected the loose ball and crossed Marouane Fellaini whose volley was denied by Reina's acrobatics.

The visitors were completely undaunted by Liverpool's reputation in this competition and right-back Marcos Camozzatto's dipping 35-yard volley summed up the Liege's confidence.

By contrast Liverpool's expensive strike duo of Fernando Torres and Robbie Keane still looked a long way short of becoming a partnership with Fabio Aurelio's early free-kick marking the home side's only first half chance of note.

The second half brought more sustained pressure from Benitez's side although clear opportunities were still few and far between.

Long range efforts from Dirk Kuyt, Alonso and Steven Gerrard came close without ever truly testing Standard keeper Aragon Espinoza while Torres was twice guilty of ignoring better placed colleagues and taking a more direct route to goal.

Liverpool had stood on the brink of a shattering elimination from the competition as brave Liege pushed them to the very limits.

But they held their nerve, finally winning through after another performance which left much to be desired.

Arsenal brushed aside the challenge of Steve McClaren's FC Twente to secure a place in the lucrative group stages of the Champions League with a 4-0 victory at Emirates Stadium.

"It was a big game for us and I felt we were well organised, disciplined and focused. We were never really under threat," said manager Arsene Wenger.

"It was important not to make mistakes. We were patient and scored our goals.The response was clear - togetherness, focus and efficiency.

"We want to play with the best and to do that, we had to qualify for the group stage. It was a big mental test.

"The whole team was sharper and physically much better tonight than on Saturday (at Fulham) and that is why it made it easier. They man-marked all over the pitch and did not take many risks."

The Gunners -- who were already leading 2-0 from the first leg in the Netherlands -- went ahead through French midfielder Samir Nasri after 27 minutes.

Skipper William Gallas added the second at the start of the second half, before England hopeful Theo Walcott got the goal his all-action display merited and Nicklas Bendtner tapped in late on.

That made it a miserable return home for former national-team head coach McClaren, who must now make do with the UEFA Cup.

For Arsenal, victory means qualification to Europe's elite club competition for an 11th straight campaign and a place in Thursday's draw.

The opener came when Walcott broke down the right and pulled the ball back to the far side of the box where van Persie stretched to prod it into the path of Nasri.

The Frenchman weaved past his marker before sending in a low shot, which took a slight defection as it rolled into the net.

Arsenal contrived to miss a string of further opportunities before the break but continued their aggressive approach after halftime and doubled their advantage after 52 minutes.

The ball dropped to Bendtner on the left side of the penalty area and he cut inside before firing in a low shot, which the Twente keeper could only push back into the path of captain Gallas -- who slotted home from close range, just as he had done in the first leg.

To their credit, Twente continued to push forward, but that left them vulnerable on the break and Walcott scampered clear and produced a cool finish into the bottom right corner.

With the job now done there was no point in taking any risks and so Cesc Fabregas --- in his first appearance of the season after a hamstring injury -- made way for Alex Song.

Bendtner added a tap-in with a minute left, but for McClaren, the final whistle could not come soon enough.