The Liverpool cup bandwagon stormed past Porto tonight and into the last four in Europe.

A performance of skill and passion pounded one of Europe's best sides of the last decade into submission, and a goal each from Danny Murphy and Michael Owen put the Reds in the UEFA Cup semi-finals alongside Kaiserslautern, Barcelona and Alavez.

This was their 20th tie of Liverpool's astonishing season, and the cup treble is very much on.

Under the eyes of England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, it was another fine night for English soccer following Arsenal, Leeds and Manchester United's passage to the last eight of the Champions League.

Liverpool knew they needed to be at their very best and in a destructive first half they banished all fears that they might falter against the Portuguese.

Two goals in six first-half minutes by Murphy and Owen gave them a measure of control that was never conceded.

Liverpool revived memories of great European nights in Anfield's glittering past with wave after wave of ferocious attacks breaking on a Porto back line that eventually crumbled.

Porto boss Fernando Santos, hit by injuries, was without six of the side that had been held goalless in the Estadio das Antas in last week's first leg.

As Liverpool started with a passion and drive, Owen in particular was sharp and clever and constantly threatened to unhinge a seemingly fragile defence.

Ricardo Silva was booked for clattering Owen from the back after just 13 minutes, and two minutes later reserve goalkeeper Pedro Espinha saved magnificently at full stretch just under the bar from a 25-yard power drive from Steven Gerrard.

Porto were pinned back but held up somehow, with Owen operating on the left and causing all sorts of problems to the hugely experienced Carlos Secretario.

The pressure was beginning to get to the Portuguese, and signs of them beginning to crack came when referee Kim Milton Nielsen caused uproar among the harassed visitors when Secretario tripped Owen in full flow.

The veteran international stayed flat on his back after his challenge, despite clear instructions to get up by the Danish referee who obviously did not believe he was as badly hurt as it seemed. Nielsen even brandished the yellow card while the defender was still on the ground.

Secretario was eventually carried off on a stretcher but was back in the action within minutes of two corners that had Porto in a panic.

Liverpool's pressure finally paid dividends on 32 minutes. Porto had barely been able to get the ball out of their half when Gerrard fed the ball in from the right for Murphy coming in on the far post to drill his low shot back into the net. Silva's frantic efforts to get the ball away failed as he collided with the woodwork.

Porto's first chance arrived three minutes later, Liverpool caught cold by a swift break.

Clayton Cruz was away on the left, and only a brave save by Sander Westerveld kept him out.

The barrage continued at the other end, and on 38 minutes another Gerrard ball in from the left was met by a plunging header from Owen which bounced down and up high into Espinha's net.

Gerrard got himself booked for a lunge at Jorge Andrade in an otherwise near flawless half for Liverpool.

Santos had to do something and at the break he threw on two of his best attackers - Brazilian Deco and the grafting, talented winger Nuno Capucho.

Former Aston Villa full-back Fernando Nelson soon surged through on the left for Porto, playing a neat one-two with Jesus Pena before forcing Westerveld into a save to his right on 60 minutes.

Robbie Fowler with a header and Owen with a 20-yard lob might have made it 3-0, before Porto threw everything into one final effort.

But their fire soon disappeared, and Liverpool were able to bring on Emile Heskey, Jari Litmanen and Christian Ziege in the final minutes to play out time.

Liverpool: Westerveld, Babbel, Henchoz, Hyypia, Carragher, Hamann, Gerrard, Murphy (Ziege 88), Smicer (Litmanen 74), Owen, Fowler (Heskey 74).

Subs Not Used: Arphexad, McAllister, Diomede, Wright.

Booked: Gerrard.

Goals: Murphy 33, Owen 38.

FC Porto: Espinha, Paredes, Nelson, Secretario (Deco 46), Andrade, Alenitchev , Santos (Maric 80), Candido Costa (Nuno 46), Clayton, Pena, Silva.

Subs Not Used: Ovchinnikov, Aloisio, Drulovic, Chainho.

Booked: Silva, Secretario, Clayton.

Agg (2-0)

Att: 40,502

Ref: Kim Nielsen (Denmark).