Reds roar on in Europe
11 Dec 2007 - 21:58:50
Liverpool roared into the last 16 of the Champions League with a resounding 4-0 victory over Marseille in the Stade Velodrome.
Rafa Benitez handed a start to Harry Kewell on the left side of midfield, while Dirk Kuyt partnered Fernando Torres in attack.
The Reds got off to a perfect start, as they won a penalty in just the fourth minute of the match.
Steven Gerrard burst forward and was brought down by Gael Givet. From the resulting spot-kick, keeper Steve Mandanda parried the Liverpool skipper's shot, but Gerrard followed in to net the rebound.
Seven minutes later Liverpool were two goals to the good as Kewell fed the ball in to Torres from the left wing and the Spanish forward weaved past a couple of defenders before dispatching a superb, low finish.
Marseille struggled to make any chances after such an early double blow, although after 24 minutes Karim Ziani played in Matthieu Valbuena, before he was forced wide by Jose Reina and ran the ball out for a goal-kick.
Torres threatened twice more before the half-time interval, as he continued to give the home defence all sorts of problems.
The game was over as a contest just three minutes into the second half as Kewell drifted the ball in from the left and Kuyt was left in the clear to drive the ball past the stranded Mandanda.
Just before the hour mark, Kewell's long pass found Torres, his initial cross was blocked before he blazed his second effort high over the top of Mandanda's goal.
The closing minutes saw little goalmouth action, with the Reds content to sit back and play on the break, while the home side were unable to fashion any clear chances.
However, right at the death substitute Ryan Babel added a fourth goal, racing away from a square backline to beat Mandanda to the ball and slot home into the empty net.