Champions League - Liverpool ease to group win

Eurosport - Wed, 10 Dec 10:30:00 2008

Liverpool won Group D of the Champions League with a 3-1 victory at PSV Eindhoven thanks to goals from Ryan Babel, Albert Riera and David N'Gog.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Champions League Liverpool PSV-Liverpool N'Gog Babel - 0

The under-strength Premier League side had already qualified for the last 16 but their win and Atletico Madrid's goalless draw at Marseille ensured top seeding for the knockout phase.

Marseille qualify for the last 32 of the UEFA Cup after their point condemned PSV to bottom slot.

Rafael Benitez's team controlled the match with PSV's 36th-minute opener coming against the run of play.

The Reds levelled just before the break and then pulled away in the second half to give them a two-point advantage over Atletico, who had also previously sealed their passage.

While the English visitors were more dangerous, the two best chances of the first half fell to the Dutch side.

The first opportunity saw Timmy Simons force a nervous parry from Diego Cavalieri with a 15th-minute long-range shot, and the second went in 21 minutes later.

PSV were awarded a corner that Liverpool disputed and Javier Mascherano made a mess of his defensive header, which bounced off the chest of Carlos Salcido and dropped to Danko Lazovic to finish from close range.

The opener was against the run of play but Liverpool - despite having nothing of note to play for - continued to push forward.

Their positive attitude reaped dividends deep into first-half injury time.

First the unmarked N'Gog headed straight at Andreas Isaksson and next the hosts switched off to allow a Lucas Leiva free-kick to find Babel, who glanced a header in off the outstretched palm of Isaksson for 1-1.

The second half was Liverpool's, with Robbie Keane impressive with his movement and link-up play but unlucky not to be given the service that he afforded the wasteful Babel, Lucas and N'Gog.

Eventually the pressure told when Riera smashed an unstoppable effort from outside the area that left Isaksson floundering midway through the second 45.

N'Gog ended PSV's hopes of UEFA Cup football soon after when he raced onto an excellent Keane through ball and fired low under the Sweden keeper to extend the lead.

Lucas, N'Gog and Keane had further chances to rub salt into the home side's wounds but were unable to extend the visitors' lead.

Marseille 0-0 Atletico Madrid

Marseille sealed their passage into the last 32 of the UEFA Cup with a goalless draw against Atletico Madrid at Stade Velodrome.

The match was dominated by non-football matters after Marseille fan Santos Mirasierra was sentenced to three-and-a-half years' in prison by a Spanish court for his part in crowd trouble in the reverse fixture in Madrid.

Home fans showed their support for Mirasierra with banners and t-shirts but there were no reports of violence.

The hosts had the better chances but were unable to beat Atletico's French goalkeeper Gregory Coupet, who denied Ronald Zubar, Hatem Ben Arfa, Karim Ziani, Taye Taiwo and Boudewijn Zenden.

L'OM had the greater need to win but that diminished when news of Liverpool's controlled display over PSV came through and they were content to play out a goalless draw.

Reda Maher / Eurosport

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  1. Liverpool is not my club side, but i just have to say­ this because the spirit of which the alway play at­ champions League is as if it's their father­ business and i love their game. Steven Gerald is my­ play maker.

    From Pedro, on Thu 11 Dec 9:29AM

  2. Liverpool is not my club side, but i just have to say­ this because the spirit of which the alway play at­ champions League is as if it's their father­ business and i love their game. Steven Gerald is my­ play maker.

    From Pedro, on Thu 11 Dec 9:17AM

  3. A great win, Our persistence and determination prove we­ deserved to be group winners. Another step closer to­ Rome, but now the competition steps up a gear.­ Let's hope we repeat what we did in 1977 and go all­ the way.

    From Suzy, on Wed 10 Dec 8:30PM

  4. Come on lads. That was much better last night and we­ derserved to win cos we gave everything we had we­ defended well and our passing well great.

    Top of the­ premier league and top of group D i think it is our­ year that we can actually win something.

    From Dani, on Wed 10 Dec 2:22PM

  5. I'm an open minded girl from US, I'm interested­ in exotic things, photography, outdoors and sports...I­ have my photos on --- Tallhub Co m ---, I love tall­ guys!
    Do you love travelling and have some experience?­ Just find me out.

    From David B, on Wed 10 Dec 2:21PM

  6. ive seen comments about keane working hard.. so he­ should .. he gets paid enough for it. as a liverpool­ fan, i expected big things from robbie and hope he does­ get goals meaning i eat humble pie with what im about­ to say. Robbie does run around like an headless chicken­ and thats the sign of a striker trying to make up for­ not scoring goals or doing their job.. i saw him in­ defence in midfield on the left on the right touch here­ touch there but finishing was abysmal .. ive seen him­ play like this numerous times.. did shearer do that??­ no he hung in and around the box ,, scored from the­ edge of the area from conrners from set plays . sliding­ in, knocking off defenders towards goal... pens free­ kicks .. thats what a good striker does .. he scores­ goals... drogba does it rooney does it , adebayor does­ it.. whilst they're scoring.. keans tracking back­ and running around tiring himself out.. same with kuyt ­ ... we paid money for him as a goalscorer not a work­ mule... villa messi agbonlahor or any other top­ finisher that chelsea arsenal or dare i say it man utd­ would buy.. instead wee seek players that tottenham ,­ middlesborough or aston villa would buy.. the­ mediocrity has to stop and we need an out and out­ striker .. nuff said

    From wayne, on Wed 10 Dec 2:00PM

  7. YNWA....The KOP forever

    From monkeysterunited, on Wed 10 Dec 12:51PM

  8. No boo's in sight last night, make your minds up­ liverpool fans, do you support them or not!! Bunch of­ hypocrits!! You can place as many down votes on this­ comments but it won't change a damn thing.

    From rewandjew, on Wed 10 Dec 12:43PM

  9. hehe saddos reading lfc blogs then having a go get a­ life tried to beat lfc success but we gunna win the­ league

    From simon, on Wed 10 Dec 11:39AM

  10. not printable...what exactly is your loyalty?
    one day I­ see you totally sl*gging off the Reds, and today I see­ you praising them
    are you blue, true Red, or­ mancky-devil red?
    or just promiscu*us?

    From yankeered9119, on Wed 10 Dec 11:32AM

  11. ""huh why all of sudden liverp00 fans­ cheering now?
    they were booing there own team last time­ hahahahahaha""

    Last time? Really? I swear I­ could hear the 7,000 Liverpool fans at Blackburn­ cheering the team from first to last.

    What game were­ YOU watching 'last time' you fecking idiot?

    From Kim S, on Wed 10 Dec 11:00AM

  12. No one should say anything bad about the team RAFA sent­ out last night as it was perfect and they deserve­ praises For N'gog, that kid is a talented­ footballer just needs time and opportunity to show you­ guys that he is class. Thanks Rafa for making us proud.­ Remain blessed. You will never walk alone!

    From andrew, on Wed 10 Dec 10:56AM

  13. well done Reds. This is our year

    From ttmasvaya, on Wed 10 Dec 10:32AM

  14. Think we still need 2 wingers, Riera looks wasted on­ the left and should be deployed as a central attacking­ midfielder as he waslast season, his touch last night­ was excellent as was his creativity. Babel is still­ looking more like a striker to me and should be given a­ chance while torres is sewing his hamstrings back­ together. Tidy performance from Dossena and Lucas as­ well, good effort from keane and a couple of quality­ moments but too often seems unaware of defenders around­ him and seems to get robbed of possesion a lot. Agger­ was sensational, we sell him at our peril...

    From Slack, on Wed 10 Dec 10:08AM

  15. one new player to watch is N'Gog; he finally showed­ some real composure and class last night - and so did­ Babel. This is the way Reds have to go to move forward­ - if these young guys develop, then we LFC has the­ start of a new generation, just like Arsenal are doing,­ which means we could almost be at the start of a real­ dynasty.

    From yankeered9119, on Wed 10 Dec 9:40AM

  16. If I remember rightly did Owen's dad or uncle or­ some idiot advise him to go seek his fortune abroad.­ Owen back at Liverpool, Thank god Rafa has already said­ he is not buying this has been back. Mind you if you­ could get him for what he was actually worth (£2m and­ £35,000 a week) it might be nice having him on subs­ bench. As for Keane, suddenly after one decent game you­ are making it sound like he has made up for his lack of­ goals. He was so over priced at £19m and he has given­ back nothing.

    From Turbs, on Wed 10 Dec 9:27AM

  17. Robbie Keane is always at his best when receiving the­ ball while the midfielders or attackers stream past­ him, he spots everything and passes well. last night­ exemplified this. Teddy Sheringham was very similar.

    From Jimmy Rice, on Wed 10 Dec 9:26AM

  18. This season is weird, usually it's our away form­ that we need to improve on but this season it's our­ home form that we are struggling a bit with.

    I'm­ not one to cheer about being top of the league unless­ we are still there in May, but we haven't played­ our best football yet and things are looking good.

    From H, on Wed 10 Dec 9:18AM

  19. love the idiots calling Liverpool "lucky" yea­ top of the group full points and another away win at­ 3-1 makes them lucky I suppose - err Chelskie were THE­ lucky ones last night

    From not printable, on Wed 10 Dec 9:08AM

  20. The Best Ever LIVERPOOL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From Charleyd, on Wed 10 Dec 9:07AM
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