Champions League - Liverpool out despite win

Eurosport - Tue, 24 Nov 21:35:00 2009

Liverpool were sent crashing out of the Champions League at the group stage despite a 1-0 victory over Debrecen at the Ferenc Puskas Stadium.

2009-2010 Debrecen-Liverpool Dirk Kuyt - 0

Having progressed from the group stage five years in succession, Liverpool were dumped out of this year's competition after they were pipped by Lyon and Fiorentina in Group E. The Europa League now awaits a beleaguered Rafael Benitez and his side.

David Ngog's fourth-minute strike was enough to beat the Hungarians, but Fiorentina's 1-0 win over Lyon saw the Reds' European campaign come to a shuddering halt.

The visitors' joy after Ngog's opportunist finish was tempered as the news from Florence filtered through - with a tannoy announcement confirming their worst fears in the 28th minute.

Liverpool started the game quickly and always looked set to secure a comfortable victory after a run of just one win in 10 games.

After beginning the match at a typically frantic tempo, the visitors took the lead as Ngog stole in front of Norbert Meszaros to stab home from Steven Gerrard's flick-on inside the Debrecen penalty area.

Liverpool's lead should have been doubled as early as the 11th minute after Gerrard whipped in a devilish delivery from the right which beat the lunge of Marcell Fodor but Dirk Kuyt made a tame contact in front of goal and the chance was squandered.

It took until the 35th minute for Debrecen to force a clear-cut opportunity of their own as Gergely Rudolf stole in between Glen Johnson and Daniel Agger to meet Zoltan Szelesi's delivery from the right, but his header drifted wide of Jose Reina's near post.

Ngog continued to impress with his pace and conviction in the final third. The striker pounced on a loose ball on the edge of the Debrecen box and lashed a shot towards the far corner, only for Vukasin Poleksic to dive full-length and tip the ball wide.

Gerrard was characteristically brimming with purpose in the second half, while Benitez continued to confine Yossi Benayoun and Alberto Aquilani to the bench, reluctant to introduce the pair of creative midfielders.

Indeed, the Liverpool skipper came agonisingly close to doubling his side's lead as he surged into the Debrecen box, denied by an impeccably-timed challenge from Fodor who had no margin for error.

A minute later, another dynamic run and shot from Gerrard, including a slick one-two on the edge of the hosts' penalty area with Kuyt, brought a fine reflex save from Poleksic, who was forced to sprawl down to his right and parry the ball to safety.

Liverpool were left to bemoan having a lone striker in the 64th minute as Kuyt whipped in a superb delivery from the right but Lucas headed wide of the near post with just Ngog providing the only additional presence in the box.

For all Liverpool's pressing and harrying in the Debrecen half, the visitors looked devoid of ideas as their opponents steadily grew in confidence and introduced a second striker in the burly form of Adamo Coulibaly.

Benitez belatedly brought on Benayoun in the 77th minute at the expense of goalscorer Ngog, but it was Debrecen who almost found a breakthrough as Coulibaly fired a shot from out on the right which took Reina completely by surprise, with the Spaniard just able to tip the ball over the bar.

Aquilani had to wait until the 91st minute to make it on to the pitch as a dismayed Gerrard was taken off and all eyes turned to the Stadio Artemio Franchi stadium - but to no avail as Fiorentina clung on to dash Liverpool's hopes.

The final chance of the match fell to the hosts as substitute Coulibaly stormed through on goal but struck his shot straight at Reina; the reaction of Benitez's forlorn side epitomised the feelings of the travelling supporters.

Dan Quarrell / Eurosport

Comment 409 - 428 of 428

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  1. gunners 4 u..liverpfool fans..its neva 2 late 2 switch­ teams..hurry b4 the end of the season..

    From tapiwa, on Fri 27 Nov 11:24PM

  2. Another thing is Scouser-baby`s a man...

    From VICTOR V, on Thu 26 Nov 1:46AM

  3. Rafa was a waiter he use to work in the AMIGOS­ restaurant in Sevilla. He use to serve me my paella (­ after I had my tapas) he use to bring my nice Faustino­ wine and by the time I would order my coffe he would­ present me with a Gran Duque brandy and always say:­ "enjoy it Sir"... I use to give him some­ friendly slaps around the back of his head but never­ gave him any tips. When Rafael was not running around­ serving people, covered in sweat , he was standing in­ the corner reading everything he could about football;­ he once told me that one day he would become a manager­ and would not mind to go to a low league like League 1­ or even League 2 in England...This is true, I was there­ for 6 months and never forgot his fat face; The facts­ also talk volumes as after start playing football for a­ local team he,short after, became a manager; He also­ came to England and his now... ... ... ... ...

    From VICTOR V, on Thu 26 Nov 12:13AM

  4. Rafa was a waiter he use to work in the AMIGOS­ restaurant in Sevilla. He use to serve me my paella (­ after I had my tapas) he use to bring my nice Faustino­ wine and by the time I would order my coffe he would­ present me with a Gran Duque brandy and always say:­ "enjoy it Sir"... I use to give him some­ friendly slaps around the back of his head but never­ gave him any tips. When Rafael was not running around­ serving people, covered in sweat , he was standing in­ the corner reading everything he could about football;­ he once told me that one day he would become a manager­ and would not mind to go to a low league like League 1­ or even League 2 in England...This is true, I was there­ for 6 months and never forgot his fat face; The facts­ also talk volumes as after start playing football for a­ local team he,short after, became a manager; He also­ came to England and his now... ... ... ... ...

    From VICTOR V, on Thu 26 Nov 12:13AM

  5. I love Rafa. He is good coach

    From shaker, on Wed 25 Nov 9:47PM

  6. I don't think Rafa should go, Liverpool started­ well but injuries have hit them hard and there not­ getting much luck either, I believe things will turn­ around for Liverpool and yes Rafa has made mistakes by­ getting rid of certain players like Crouch and Keane­ but nobody is perfect.
    I think the Premier League is­ getting better Tottenham, Man city, Astonvilla,­ Sunderland, Stoke, Fulham and newcomers Burnley seem up­ for it this year and credit to the managers of them­ clubs.
    I think Chelsea are looking a very strong side­ this year and it wouldn't surprise me if they win­ the Premiership and the Champions League so then we­ have the F.A cup and League cup possibly Tottenham and­ Arsenal for them so if Man United dont win anything­ does that mean a crisis at Old Trafford?

    From emma t, on Wed 25 Nov 7:50PM

  7. I wonder what effect being eliminated from the­ champions league will have on the players and on­ Liverpool in the premier league. This is a nightmare­ of a season for the reds...

    From Dosh, on Wed 25 Nov 6:01PM

  8. Did Liverpool deserved to crash out of the UCL?­­­
    Yes(thumbs up)
    No(thumbs down)

    From Wt, on Wed 25 Nov 3:01PM

  9. no place 4 people who r too humble like kenneth fella­ on this site. u go n lick benitezs @#$%. if u have­ time, lick kuyt's one also. it tastes sweeter

    From yoges18mu, on Wed 25 Nov 12:21PM

  10. 445....please be quiet,go and trim your hedges or­ something.

    From deesydave, on Wed 25 Nov 11:44AM

  11. 425 - I am sticking to the comment in hand. I am not a­ Liverpool supporter, but am still sad that as an­ English team, they have failed to qualify. The point I­ was trying to get across is that there are so many­ childish comments, backbiting and abuse which goes on ­ on these sites. I agree with you. Everyone should be­ constructive and stick to the topic in hand and stop­ acting like kiddies!

    From Kenneth M, on Wed 25 Nov 11:28AM

  12. this is not an important news 4 us(manutdsupporters).­ they (liverpul) just like a second division team. they­ cannot match our standard. we hav more important things­ 2 do. dun waste ur time talking bout them

    From yoges18mu, on Wed 25 Nov 11:06AM

  13. how come kuyt always in the 1st team. i dun understand.­ he is a sucking boy

    From yoges18mu, on Wed 25 Nov 10:56AM

  14. Please please please keep Rafa. Please don't sack­ him. We need him at Liverpool. From a ManUnited­ supporter.

    From cokrowinoto, on Wed 25 Nov 10:47AM

  15. now all i wish for is gillete and hicks gives rafa a­ new improve long term contract ( 10 years ),..coz rafa­ really bring happiness to all football fan all over the­ world,..now the scouse know nobody likes them,...they­ were just an out of date team with a history nobody­ wants to know,....LIVERPOOL IS THE NEXT LEEDS FC

    From mrs, on Wed 25 Nov 10:42AM

  16. :431 nickwhit22 "no other team gets more abuse­ than liverpool." I'm sorry son you should have­ seen what people write about ManUnited. You're­ lucky to be a Liverpool supporter.

    From cokrowinoto, on Wed 25 Nov 10:42AM

  17. I thought that sofar this season Liverpool was not­ playing well enough but it appears that their fans are­ worse they cant even count (comment 431). Just look at­ the list of injuries that MU has to endure and get a­ primary school kid to count.

    From CHANDRA S, on Wed 25 Nov 10:32AM

  18. who are you gonna BLAME??
    maybe it was fergie's­ influence on the ref???
    was it drogba's­ diving???
    was it your not good enough???
    you will find­ anyone but yourselves to BLAME...
    europa league WERE­ having a laugh.....

    From laurence.odea, on Wed 25 Nov 10:22AM

  19. your @#$% and you know you are
    all together now ,­ glory glory man united !!
    you want to try winning the­ premiership once in your miserable scouse thieving­ lives (any bmw alloys)

    From rock, on Wed 25 Nov 10:20AM

  20. cheer up scouse save your giros for christmas
    look on­ the bright side united still innit

    From rock, on Wed 25 Nov 10:12AM
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