Gary McAllister wrote himself into Anfield folklore last night after scoring the penalty which sent Liverpool into their first European final for 16 years.

There were just 72 seconds remaining of the first half when the 36-year-old Scot, who won the Merseyside derby on Monday with his late free-kick at Everton, scored from the spot after Patrick Kluivert had handled in the Liverpool box.

His sweetly-struck spot-kick kept alive the dream of an amazing cup treble with Liverpool marching onto the final in Dortmund on May 16.

There they will face a far less illustrious Spanish club, Alaves, who won their second leg against Kaiserlautern 4-1 to go through 9-2 on aggregate in the other, one-sided semi-final.

''They've rubbished us a wee bit,'' the Scot told the BBC. ''There was a wee bit a of lack of respect with some of the press remarks, you know but they're out and we're through.''

Expectation hung heavy in the Anfield air as Liverpool prepared for their biggest night in Europe since 1985.

Barcelona, who went out of the UEFA Cup at the same stage and the same venue in 1976, brought glamour, class and world class players to Merseyside.

But there was room for sentiment from Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier who retained veteran Gary McAllister in the centre of midfield following his match-winning performance at Everton on Monday.

Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen returned to the starting line-up while Vladimir Smicer was asked to provide the attacking invention behind Owen and Emile Heskey. Robbie Fowler was on the bench.

Barcelona sprang a surprise when former Arsenal defender Emmanuel Petit, overlooked for much of this season, was handed a defensive role.

Michael Reiziger was also back after injury which meant Sergi and Gabri made way from the first leg.

In the opening quarter of an hour, Liverpool spent more time in Barcelona's half than they had done in the entire first leg at the Nou Camp a fortnight ago.

Liverpool surged forward but kept giving the ball away, which they could not afford to do with the lurking Rivaldo and Patrick Kluivert looking dangerous and alert.One moment of magic from Rivaldo summed up the task in front of Liverpool.

From 30 yards out the Brazilian produced a dipping drive which needed a touch from Sander Westerveld to tip it over the bar.

Liverpool's first real chance came when Smicer played in Owen, who forced the ball past Jose Reina, but the ball was hacked away from the goal by Carlos Puyol.

Sami Hyypia sent in a towering header from McAllister's corner but the ball sailed wide after 16 minutes.

A minute later Heskey turned into space on the left and found Smicer eight yards out, but his header was held by Reina.

Kluivert then tried a cheeky back heel from a Marc Overmars cross, Westerveld diving to his left to save.

The pressure was continuing to mount on Liverpool and Kluivert saw his flicked header go just over Sander Westerveld's crossbar from Pedro's cross before the visitors threw on another attacker in Dani Garcia.

The substitute replaced Overmars, who had been handled well by Markus Babbel.

Danny Murphy was next into the fray, taking over from a tiring Gerrard, who had only been passed fit just before the start. Robbie Fowler replaced Smicer with 10 minutes to go.

Heskey tried a instinctive flick at a Hamann drive on 83 minutes but the ball sailed wide.

And Westerveld was booked after 86 minutes for time-wasting while taking a free-kick.

l Liverpool will play Spanish team CD Alaves, who have former Man Utd player Jordi Cruyff in their ranks, in finalafter they triumphed over German side Kaiserslautern.