Four years ago the Portuguese side ended the Reds' hopes of becoming the first side to win back-to-back Champions League titles when they lost 3-0 over two legs.

Benfica are currently three points clear of Braga at the top of the Portuguese Liga and Benitez will not underestimate their last-eight opponents, who include among their ranks Pablo Aimar, who Benitez managed at Valencia.

"We know they are a good team and, of course, we have played them before in the Champions League," said the Liverpool manager.

"They are a massive club with a lot of support from their fans and it will be a tough game.

"They are top of the table and playing really well at the moment. I know a number of their players well - Aimar, Javier Saviola, Javi Garcia - so we know they have a lot of quality."

Benitez has got his preferred order in terms of the away leg being first but he is concerned the Anfield factor may not have as much of an effect on Benfica as it has had on other visiting sides over recent years.

The Lisbon side won 2-0 on Merseyside back in 2006 and the Liverpool boss believes that will give their opponents confidence.

"It's always important that the second leg is at home in front of our fans," he added.

"We know we have to perform away and then play well at home. We have the confidence to do that and are looking forward to the games.

"Because we have played Benfica before they will know Anfield and so may not be as scared as other teams, but we have to do things properly and try to go through."

Should they get through against Benfica Liverpool will face either Valencia or striker Fernando Torres' former club Atletico Madrid in the semi-finals.

"You know my idea is always to take one game at a time," he said.

"We are only thinking about Benfica at the moment. They are on a good run so it will be difficult."

Fulham's reward for last night's stunning 4-1 defeat of Juventus, winning 5-4 on aggregate, was a quarter-final against German champions Wolfsburg.

The Cottagers came back from 1-0 down in the second leg, which initially made it 4-1 on aggregate, to eclipse their previous best run in Europe when they reached the UEFA Cup third round eight years ago.

"Can we go all the way? Why not? If you work hard and you believe, there's always a chance. And I believe," said American Clint Dempsey, scorer of the crucial fourth goal.

"We're a team that has a lot of character and that has a lot of heart.

"Everybody thought it was over when we went 1-0 down but the character and the heart of the guys began to show, we fought back and to get the result we did was incredible.

"We're getting stronger and stronger, and hopefully we can push further in this competition."

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Fulham defender Chris Baird believes the Juventus result was a career high for most of the players, but feels they still have the quality to progress further.

"To get to the quarter-finals of the Europa League is a massive achievement for the club," he told www.fulhamfc.com.

"I got a text from one of my mates saying 'You don't get much bigger than that' and to be fair I don't think we've had bigger than that in our careers.

"We're going to enjoy it but we'll be looking forward to the next game now.

"It's important to continue that form in the league on Sunday when we play Manchester City, because that is going to be another very tough game."

The quarter-final first legs will take place on April 1, with Liverpool's tie in Lisbon kicking off at 8.05pm UK time and Fulham hosting their German opponents at Craven Cottage.

Second legs will be played a week later, with Liverpool again kicking off at 8.05pm.

If Fulham beat Wolfsburg they will face either Hamburg - the city which hosts the final in May - or Standard Liege in the semis on April 22 (away) and 29.

Should Liverpool be successful they will be away in their semi-final first leg.