They exited with more a whimper than a roar as Louis van Gaal's Manchester United could only manage a 1-1 draw against arch-rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford.
United had an awful lot of work to do coming into the game; they carried a two-goal deficit into from last Thursday night and knew that if Liverpool managed to get an away goal, they'd need to score four times without response.
Van Gaal's men still bore scars of last week's defeat at Anfield where they were completely outplayed and their lack of cutting edge was exposed by time and again in the Liverpool final third.
Mistakes littered the opening 10 minutes of the game with neither side really settling on the ball and chances were at a premium.
Jesse Lingard had a good opportunity in the opening stages, a free header in front of goal which was well parried by Simon Mignolet.
Juan Mata was the next to squander a good opportunity, his volley came after a the ball was nodded into the six yard box but the Spaniard couldn't keep his effort on target.
Liverpool remained on the back foot periods and found the threat of Anthony Marital difficult to deal with as the Frenchman continually cut in off the left wing and drove at Nathaniel Clyne.
It was from this that United found the breakthrough.
Martial remained wide to receive a pass in the box and when Clyne committed himself to the challenge Martial skipped by him to draw the foul and earn the home side a penalty which he himself would convert. Game on.
There was a real vitality about United then, but Liverpool weren't without their fair share of chances.
Jordan Henderson's neat one-two with Coutinho found him one-on-one with David De Gea, only for him to put his effort over the bar.
Coutinho himself did prove bothersome, twice De Gea was forced to dive low to turn his shots away.
It was just on the stroke of half time when the game ended as a contest. Emre Can found the Brazilian down the left wing and Coutinho beat full-back Guillermo Varela with incredible ease before dinking the ball over the on-rushing De Gea.
Philippe Coutinho scores to draw Liverpool level on the night and secure the vital away goal. Image: Martin Rickett / PA Wire/Press Association Images
There was very little inspiration from United after the restart.
Marouane Fellaini's header into the arms of Mignolet was the side's only shot on target in the second period, while Divock Origi, who replaced Daniel Sturridge, forced two good saves from David De Gea.
It was a fair result on the night and Liverpool's performances over the course of the two legs rightly earns them a place in the quarter-final.
For Van Gaal, the same questions will be asked, the headlines will write themselves and the questioning of leadership, desire and passion in the squad will go on.
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