Champions League - Gerrard saves Liverpool

Eurosport - Wed, 05 Nov 10:59:00 2008

Steven Gerrard scored a controversial penalty deep into injury time to earn Liverpool a 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid in Champions League Group D.

FOOTBALL 2008/09 Champions League Gerrard Pernia - 0

The Liverpool captain converted from the spot after he was challenged in the box by Mariano Pernia and Swedish referee Martin Hansson awarded a debatable penalty kick.

The Spanish side had thought Maxi Rodriguez's superbly taken 37th minute strike was enough to book their place in the knock-out stages of the competition.

Both teams, who are five points clear at the top of the group, must now wait for their next games to confirm their progression to the next round.

The manner of the defeat was harsh on Atletico, having gone ahead through a goal of supreme quality by Rodriguez.

The Argentine deftly slipped past defender Jamie Carragher in the box to score from Antonio Lopez's smart over lapping run and cross.

Liverpool badly missed the finishing power of Spain striker Fernando Torres, who sat out for the second time against his former club with a long standing hamstring injury.

In his absence the better opportunities fell to defender Daniel Agger who was unable to take any of the three chances that came his way before Gerrard was once again called upon to rescue his side.

Marseille 3-0 PSV Eindhoven

Marseille secured their first points in this season's campaign by crushing PSV Eindhoven 3-0 on a soggy pitch.

Ivory Coast striker Bakari Kone collected a fine through ball from France forward Hatem Ben Arfa to race into the box and open the scoring half an hour into the clash between the two bottom teams in Group D.

Kone was also involved in Marseille's second goal, sending a cross that Senegal striker Mamadou Niang volleyed home from close range just after the hour. Niang was on target again for Marseille's third goal from another Ben Arfa pass on 71 minutes.

Former European champions Marseille, who had lost their first three matches, join Eindhoven on three points with the two sides still hoping for at least third place in the group to continue in the UEFA Cup.

Liverpool and Atletico Madrid lead the way on eight points after a 1-1 draw at Anfield.

Torrential rain in the Mediterranean port threatened to force a postponement but stopped two hours before kick-off and the game went ahead as planned.

The match, a scruffy affair and a tight one until Marseille stepped up a gear in the second half, was a special occasion for Marseille coach Eric Gerets, a former PSV player and coach.

The visitors came close to equalising shortly before half-time when a header by Ecuador midfielder Edison Mendez bounced off the post.

Marseille survived another fright early in the second half when keeper Steve Mandanda had to dive to prevent forward Danny Koevermans scoring from close range after a dangerous cross by Ibrahim Afellay.

Niang's quick strikes then killed off the match.

Reuters

Comment 258 - 277 of 277

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  1. look at the stats we deserved something, but pen was a dive

    From Suzy, on Thu 6 Nov 7:06PM

  2. why are so called fans have go at liverpool if it was there club there wound be shouting for a penalty so look at your at team before makeing your mouth go at liverpool john liverpool fan in north east

    From kmandjc@..., on Wed 5 Nov 8:46PM

  3. I think Liverpool is a great team, and I like it very much. But in this match, referee gave them the draw.

    From Lennyfast, on Wed 5 Nov 7:54PM

  4. It leaves a bad taste in the mouth when someone like Stevie gerrard, whom, I admire as a player, has to cheat to get a penalty. Yes we expect it off the foreigners, but an Englishman? As a matter of interest did anyone notice that Liverpool had more Spanish players in their team than Madrid

    From quatt47, on Wed 5 Nov 6:17PM

  5. I heard they need a few new stunt men and a couple of actors in hollywood, maybe gerrard should think about changing professions

    From buda, on Wed 5 Nov 6:16PM

  6. IT REALLY HARD TO ADMIT GERRAD CHEATING ESPECIALLY FOR LUCKYFOOL SUPPORTER...BUT THAT FACT LOL AND I'M SURE LUCKYFOOL FANS TRY TO INVOLVE OTHER PLAYER CLUB TO MAKE POOR EXCUSE...VERY NAIVE FANS

    From andrew, on Wed 5 Nov 5:43PM

  7. IT REALLY HARD TO ADMIT GERRAD CHEATING ESPECIALLY FOR LUCKYFOOL SUPPORTER...BUT THAT FACT LOL AND I'M SURE LUCKYFOOL FANS TRY TO INVOLVE OTHER PLAYER CLUB TO MAKE POOR EXCUSE...VERY NAIVE FANS

    From andrew, on Wed 5 Nov 5:43PM

  8. Liverpool is a very lucky team. When they couldnt score then there will be penalty.

    From cRon#7, on Wed 5 Nov 5:42PM

  9. can I just say it made me smile ,yes I know everyone dives these days but gerrard is unbelievable .but never mind I am not the slightest bit worried by liverpool this season.If you took away injury time gifts and ridiculous decsions in their favour,they would be mid -table.which is where they soon will be.
    They have only played well once this season ,against man u.
    so nobody needs to worry,the filthy bin dippers will not be winning anything this season,let alone the premiership! so we can all relax lol

    From mark t, on Wed 5 Nov 5:07PM

  10. in the first match, in spain, athletico should won 2-1 but no, the @#$% referee blowed for offside, and yesterday in england, athletico should won 0-1 but no @#$% referee blows for penalty, dirty liverpool, dirty SG, dirty referee.

    From r.chechen, on Wed 5 Nov 4:23PM

  11. "Liverpool beat Man Utd without Torres and then beat Chelsea without Torres" idiot..., why didnt they beat Spurs and Athletico Madrid without Torres

    From scarzalez, on Wed 5 Nov 3:47PM

  12. "Liverpool beat Man Utd without Torres and then beat Chelsea without Torres" idot..., why didnt they beat Spurs and Athletico Madrid without Torres

    From emjaymba, on Wed 5 Nov 3:44PM

  13. To all those calling Liverpool cheats
    There's not a club in the whole world that doesn't try and get penalties!
    Like Stevie G said had that been in the centre of the park it would have been a freekick so there's ya answer, their defender should have known better, its the least Liverpool deserved.
    A bad ref aint Liverpool's fault, you'd all be humming a different tune had it been your team so shut up unless you can speak truths and not jealousy!

    From jasonglidden1966, on Wed 5 Nov 3:16PM

  14. well said to post 266 and i am lfc fan,but you are right they all do it if it was gerrard or any other player cole,terry,owen,roooney or lampard(to name a few) playing for england and doing it to get us a penalty would you all moan then?

    From jolfc5, on Wed 5 Nov 3:12PM

  15. ManU fan here. yeah we all saw gerrard go down like a five dollar @#$%, and we all know drogba , ronaldo or any other world star would have done the same. Its now, PART OF THE GAME. I dont like diving, I also dont like high petrol prices or taxation rates, but i know i can do zip about it.Until the governing bodies change there attitudes to diving we have to live with it. Also i can guarenteeee!... liverpool will be on the other end of something similar soon. i think thats where the big teams look pathetic as they do moan and mourn at a draw or loss, hypocrites ...All of them. gotta say still love the game though! .....can i swear & curse now and say all other teams are ****. jees ..sad aint it.

    From scott, on Wed 5 Nov 2:58PM

  16. i am a liverpool supporter and no maybe it was not a penalty but they should have got one earlier in the match for the deliberate hand ball by athletico!!!as for the man u fans comments here do they forget berbatov's obvious offside goal against celtic or the penalty given in the match against bolton,i did not hear too many of their supporters admitting to referees mistakes then!!!mistakes are made,but it got us a draw.

    From radfordj76, on Wed 5 Nov 2:45PM

  17. Arthur Daley and Tom Daley rolled into one, the cheating scouse git. I can recall the then England manager Glen Hodle asking Michael Owen to 'win' a penalty in one particular international, who did he play for at that time. Is that part of their training schedule or are they just natural cheats in scouseland? And Benitez has the nerve to call Drogba a diver, the Spanish nonce.

    From Terence P, on Wed 5 Nov 2:43PM

  18. ONCE AGAIN LIVERPOOL RULES !!
    Jamie Carragher: ' Who IS BIGGER THAN Liverpool? '

    LOL @ Some twats counting FA as major LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL
    The Most successful English club in EUrope
    Liverpool is the third successful team in UEFA Champion League in Europe.
    UEFA badge of Honour
    the most English Title winning or as has been called lately Premier League

    Impress Manutd fan , use the word most for manure Lemme see!!

    From Domistiic, on Wed 5 Nov 2:35PM

  19. ONCE AGAIN LIVERPOOL RULES !!
    Jamie Carragher: ' Who IS BIGGER THAN Liverpool? '

    LOL @ Some twats counting FA as major LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL
    The Most successful English club in EUrope
    Liverpool is the third successful team in UEFA Champion League in Europe.
    UEFA badge of Honour
    the most English Title winning or as has been called lately Premier League

    Impress Manutd fan , use the word most for manure Lemme see!!

    From Domistiic, on Wed 5 Nov 2:30PM

  20. Benitez, Gerard and the Ref connived to earned a draw for Liverpool versus Atletico Madrid. Shame. UEFA should penalise them to satisfy the global football fans if they still want to maintain and raise the glamour of the competition.

    From Luxy, on Wed 5 Nov 2:05PM
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