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 are eventually on the right track, Keane­ settling in.
    Liverpool to win the Premiere and­ Champions League, Watch this space..

    From ken.treherne1, on Wed 10 Dec 8:43AM

  2. Keane showed us some of his mettle at last. I admit I­ wasn't too keen on him ever since he joined us, but­ after what I've seen yesterday, I think he'll­ become one of our most valuable assets. Anyway, good­ masterly display yesterday.

    From joe scribe, on Wed 10 Dec 8:39AM

  3. that`s the way to go Guys u never walk alone Liverpool­ 4 life go reds

    From seanbay_3535, on Wed 10 Dec 8:05AM

  4. liverpool played well last night as a whole but were­ still making to many basic mistakes, dossena was caught­ out of position to many times and yea fine ngog scored­ a good goal but part from that he ran round like a­ headless chicken, lost the ball and there was no­ movement,..i undestand rafa wants to build for the­ future but we need a better left back and he needs to­ play keane with kuyt upfront so keane can finally get­ some good chances coz i felt sorry for him he got in­ good positions but never got a good pass back.. i so­ want us to win the league so i can finally tell my manc­ supporting dad to do1..

    From mathewevens, on Wed 10 Dec 7:58AM

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

    never walk alone yeah right

    From Araw, on Wed 10 Dec 7:56AM

  6. Chelsea are a joke; it surprises me they're still­ in contention of major titles. but lemme warn you about­ this sleeping giant (Scolari sings them sweet lullabies­ ). you saw how far they got last season with a rubbish­ coach Grant if by chance somewhere along Scolari exits­ (and the sooner the better) for some great like­ Mancini, or Lippi, blues will definitely step up 2 the­ best.

    From VINCE, on Wed 10 Dec 7:54AM

  7. that`s the way to go Guys u never walk alone Liverpool­ 4 life go reds

    From langton, on Wed 10 Dec 7:48AM

  8. that`s the way to go Guys u never walk alone Liverpool­ 4 life go reds

    From langton, on Wed 10 Dec 7:48AM

  9. liverpool vere wanted to sell Owen. he was the one who­ insisted of leaving liverpool. he wanted to play in the­ continent. well, what happened next was history.­ liverpool won the eueopean championship and owen never­ got to hold the cup. liverpool would be a fool to buy­ him back when he was the one who turned his back­ searching for glory in the continent.

    now liverpool­ has another chance of claiming its former glory by­ winning the BPL. and owen you can rue teh day you think­ that you made the right decision.

    ta ta owen
    bye bye­ owen.

    From bukhardt, on Wed 10 Dec 7:35AM

  10. Dino Ferrari you wouldnt know one if you saw one you­ thick plik what is lucky about winning 3-1 away the­ only lucky ones were chelski

    From not printable, on Wed 10 Dec 6:55AM

  11. Just yesterday, I was describing Babel as a typical­ Liverpool player; quite often doing the apparently­ impossible. Babel has never been afraid of exploits in­ the eighteen. Once more, his display yesterday shows­ extremely clearly, that Babel has just no business­ being on the bench. His place is in the thick of the­ battle - on the pitch; ninety minutes. Well done, Ryan.­ To all Liverpool fans, Bravo, as the Reds march on!

    From okoh_nkem, on Wed 10 Dec 6:54AM

  12. Manchester United should take note and forget Chealsea.­ Liverpool are blending marvellously and can keep the­ trend to the end in the Premiership.
    simple, they are­ playing with a soul, something with Chealsea apart­ from terry and lampard are missing.
    Owen might just be­ the final jigsaw and talisman needed for January to­ finish the road!

    From john, on Wed 10 Dec 6:08AM

  13. Nice..

    From , on Wed 10 Dec 6:03AM

  14. YNWA!

    From elnino, on Wed 10 Dec 4:58AM

  15. fh\
    \

    From aadeyanjuhassan, on Wed 10 Dec 2:18AM

  16. Tonights is ROBBIE's night. He will excel when­ there is no gerrard in the side. Sometimes its hard for­ him to squeeze between gerrard and torres. Whole world­ knows he plays best behind a striker. Babel need to be­ more clinical and take his chances, if not i can see­ him warming up the bench for longer time. Well done­ Robbie!

    From AsianFootie, on Wed 10 Dec 2:00AM

  17. Owen was Finished when Liverpool sold him , He is­ overrated & over payed ,Whey should they want him­ back,
    He spends most of his time at the­ Race's

    From Paul W, on Wed 10 Dec 12:57AM,

    OWEN­ LEFT TO PLAY CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FOOTBALL
    and he did it on­ the season Liverpool won the Champions league,
    who­ would want to take a horse tip from a man who gets it­ so, so wrong?

    From Dino Ferrari, on Wed 10 Dec 1:30AM

  18. luckypool?
    the commenter doesnt say who they­ support,
    ARE THEY ASHAMED TO SUPPORT CHELSEA?

    From Dino Ferrari, on Wed 10 Dec 1:25AM

  19. Keane worked hard tonight

    From bygodjmc, on Wed 10 Dec 1:24AM

  20. scott s you @#$%

    From nicholasbnjmn, on Wed 10 Dec 1:10AM
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