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.
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.
Comment 13 - 32 of 72
Keane, run's around like a headless Chicken, Then fall's on his Arse feeling sorry for himself
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
written by a Luckypool fan.
playing in grey tonight, just to suit their stlye of play.
Oh and god, shut up about who you should buy liverpool fans!
Eurosport. somehow. Please change your acceptence, to the filth, that's presented on this page,
great performance is only against lower rank team. keane still not scoring!
Great performance tonight; Riera was really impressive - one of Liverpools stand out players this season IMO and the goal he scored was brilliant. Fantastic to see Robbie Keane also looking so hungry and playing some delightful football. Also a shout out to Dossena who I thought looked really sharp tonight, hopefully he can become the world class left-back we are looking for.
With key players Gerrard, Torres and Alonso not playing I think the Liverpool squad has shown it has real strength in depth this season which should bode well for the title challenge.
the reds do it again comeing from behind simply reds man utd we after your crown there you won it twice so craping now that we better than you so come sir rafa
i've always loved liverpool, but at this moment i @#$% love em. hats off to the best team in the world. :-)
How great is it to be a Liverpool fan these days!!!!!!!!!!!!
One player for me in the premiership who both is pacey and english and should come to liverpool
gabriel agbonlahor ... never mind heskey etc.. failing that ... we need to be ambitious and should have broken everything to sign david villa!!
Great result, beautiful 2nd half, top of the group! I love this team! YNWA!
fredmyarse
go back to your scummy web
Riera is class,best on pitch 2nite,great buy raffa!!! ynwa
LIVERPOOLFC TOP OF EPL TOP OF THEIR GROUP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YNWA
Come on PSV!!!! go for it....third spot is still possible.
eerer3333 if you cant comment on the football **** off!!!
come on keane earn ya money tonight
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freddclass you must be a Man UTD Fan, Gerrard is the best central midfielder in the country and 1 of the best in the world, selling him I dont think so
definitely reckon jason(7) is spot on - and babel needs a go up front - c'mon the 'pool!
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