Liverpool Football Club News

• Nickname:Reds
• Founded:1892
• Manager:Kenny Dalglish

• Ground:Anfield
• Capacity:45,362

Keane keeps Reds on track

22 Oct 2008 - 21:47:19

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Liverpool remain on course to reach the last 16 of the Champions League despite having to settle for a point after drawing 1-1 against Atletico Madrid in the Vicente Calderon Stadium.

Rafa Benitez's side appeared to be on course to win their third successive group game thanks to Robbie Keane's early strike but Simao's late equaliser ensured both sides look set to reach the knockout stages of the competition.

For long periods Atletico seemed devoid of confidence after losing 6-1 to Barcelona before slumping to a derby defeat to Real Madrid.

Boss Javier Aguirre's job is reportedly under threat even though his side have already beaten Marseille and PSV in Europe, but they produced a lively second-half display in sharp contrast to their limp performance in the opening 45 minutes.

After a nondescript start to the match Liverpool took the lead in the 14th minute when Steven Gerrard slid a pass through to Keane who, although looking marginally offside, ran on before firing a low shot past Leo Franco.

Atletico couldn't get going at all in the first half when they played into a blustery wind with pass after pass failing to find its intended target.

Franco was forced to save Albert Riera's speculative low drive while Xabi Alonso found space for himself before lashing an effort over the bar but it should have bee 2-0 in the 24th minute when Keane, six yards out and unmarked, failed to get a touch on Gerrard's pinpoint cross.

Atletico created very little, if anything, of note until just before half-time when they finally seemed to wake up.

Diego Forlan made some space for himself before lashing a fierce left-footed drive narrowly off-target and, on the stroke of half-time, from a rare corner, Ignacio Camacho's acrobatic overhead kick was safely gathered by Pepe Reina.

Atletico improved after the interval but they were fortunate not to concede another goal in the 50th minute when Yossi Benayoun rolled the ball into the net after being set up by Gerrard and Keane only to be flagged offside.

Eight minutes later another ' goal' was ruled out when Maniche slotted the ball in to the net after being set up by Sergio Aguero and Forlan even though replays showed he was onside.

Almost immediately Reina was forced to make a superb fingertip save, touching Simao's effort onto a post as Atletico moved through the gears.

Liverpool seemed to have weathered the storm but, with only seven minutes left, a long ball forward caught Jamie Carragher out. Forlan latched on to the ball and set up Simao who drilled a low shot across Reina and into the corner of the net.

In a frantic finale both sides almost won the match with Miguel going close for Atletico and Ryan Babel heading Daniel Agger's cross narrowly wide but in the end a draw was probably a fair result.