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

Comment 1 - 12 of 72

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  1. give a babel a go upfront with keane behind

    From NJ, on Tue 9 Dec 10:58AM

  2. Interesting!
    My friend recommended me a very­ interesting place *** Bi ll ionaire Romanc e C om ***­ It ’s where you have the opportunity dreaming about­ finding an elite and make it true!

    From sexymodeleee, on Tue 9 Dec 10:30AM

  3. Keane will come good, liverpool are on top of league­ and keane hasnt even started to score yet so i wud be­ optimistic as he is a class player and will come good,­ he wont go the whole season with this form, he will­ come good when liverpool need it most. Gerrard was very­ disapointing the other night, maybe it's time for­ liverpool to cash in on him, liverpool have too many­ similar players in cnetral midfield they need more­ creative player, gerrard is explosive but is at­ liverpool a long time and i think for all the great­ goals and houdini acts he does in champions league, for­ the liverpool to win the premier league they need­ soemone else, this is blasphemy to liverpool supporters­ but i think it's truth.

    From Ender75, on Tue 9 Dec 10:28AM

  4. Jason (7) - I agree Liverpool does have a curious mix­ of world class players and others who just aren't­ good enough to push for the top. I really love Rafa but­ he doesn't seem keen to bring together a team of­ the very best and almost tries to guess that he's­ picked players that'll work well together rather­ than buying those with proven ability in their own­ right. I've always praised Liverpool for working­ as a team rather than having many stand-out individuals­ but I really think it's time to get rid of some of­ those fringe players and get a really solid starting­ 11. The only reason Rafa has his controversial rotation­ policy is because the bulk of his players are­ inconsistent and just not good enough.

    From waex, on Tue 9 Dec 10:22AM

  5. i think owen is past his best. his pace was his biggest­ asset but he has lost that now and his cutting edge

    From Shafster, on Tue 9 Dec 1:08AM

  6. i agree with the supporters frustration at Lucas. He­ has not shown any of the qualities that Rafa has been­ praising him for. I f he does start tomo night its time­ for him to show us fans. As with Keane we are not going­ to see the best from him until Torres returns as Keane­ is the type of striker that needs to play off a more­ potent striker. Like he did with Berbatov at Tottenham,­ so we'll just have to wait. As with Rafa i would­ hold out on giving him a new contract as my patience is­ slowly runnin thin with some of his selection choices­ and lack of use of certain players. Y does he insist­ not to start Babel any time Keane of Torres do not­ feature, instead he switches Kuyt from the wing to play­ up front on his own. Liverpool needs a big player on­ the right wing as we are and have been kacking in that­ area for a few seasons now. Riera has been our best buy­ since Torres. As with Arbuerelo, Dossena, Benayoun,­ Pennant, Aurieollo in my opinion just arent good enough­ and if we are to serioulsy keepm our challenge up this­ season we need to improve on these areas, yes we are­ top of the leaugue but we are way short of showing the­ signs that we can maintain. I'm not being negative­ but realistic. If Rafa does not start to invest in­ serious players well maybe its a new manager we need as­ well as players. Are there any other Pool fans whom­ agree with my opinion.

    From jason.mcdonnell, on Mon 8 Dec 11:21PM

  7. hey torres will be back for 2 to 3 weeks. kean is not­ the best player of finisher but he can change the game­ along side el nino torres

    From sunnerk, on Mon 8 Dec 8:11PM

  8. when will torres come back?

    From Alexia, on Mon 8 Dec 8:06PM

  9. berbatov out? Does dayprimetime not know a quality­ player when he sees one? ALL THOSE YEARS OF WINNING­ TROPHIES must have spoilt Man Utd FANS...

    From ste.c7575, on Mon 8 Dec 5:10PM

  10. please you need to back owen no#10 i realy miss her

    From djose09, on Mon 8 Dec 5:09PM

  11. owen is a great player.many say hes underated but hes­ not..if he went to a more stable club in which he could­ at least have the bal passed to he would be succesful.­ Im a man utd fan and think a move for him there would­ be good. berbatov out owen in..

    From JoseM, on Mon 8 Dec 4:59PM

  12. i think owen needs to go to a better club

    From JoseM, on Mon 8 Dec 4:57PM
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