Gerrard netted his side's crucial third goal from the spot to deny Arsenal and set up a third last-four meeting with Chelsea in the last four years.

He told ITV1: "That was possibly one of the worst performances I've ever put in in a Liverpool shirt.

"But I still had the confidence to score the penalty."

On an epic night at Anfield, Arsenal deservedly led through Abou Diaby before Sami Hyypia levelled.

Fernando Torres put Liverpool in front only for a superb Theo Walcott run to set up Emmanuel Adebayor to level on the night and put the Gunners ahead on away goals.

But substitute Ryan Babel was brought down in the box almost immediately with Gerrard scoring and the Dutchman netted a fourth as Liverpool won 4-2 on the night and to clinch the quarter-final 5-3 on aggregate.

Asked how the match compared to other Anfield nights of drama, Gerrard said: "That's up there with them.

"Arsenal are a fantastic team. A times today, they passed us of the pitch.

"In the end we've come through.

"It was a great team performance tonight."

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Asked if he thought Liverpool were worthy winners, Gerrard was diplomatic, saying: "It's difficult to say because it would be unfair on Arsenal.

"But over two legs we're a match for anyone."

The skipper paid tribute to the club's fans.

"If those fans perform like that, it's a big help to us and other teams find it impossible," he said.

Those sentiments were echoed by Babel, who said: "They pulled out another level.

"It's like you play with 12 men."

The Dutchman insisted he was fouled for the penalty, saying: "They held me a little bit and they tried to take a chunk of me.

"I had a feeling to create something.

"If they take that away from me then I think it's a penalty."

Manager Rafael Benitez refused to be drawn on the fact Arsenal saw two penalty appeals of their own waved away in the previous two matches at Emirates Stadium.

He hailed his players' "confidence and belief".

"We were losing, we drew and afterwards we were losing again," he said.

"We knew we need to work really hard and try and do the right things.

"At the end of the day, you must win, and we won."

Of the prospect of another semi-final against Chelsea, Benitez said: "We will try to enjoy it and after we will think about Chelsea."

Gerrard added: "We've got some big games coming up but we'll be ready for Chelsea."

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