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  • Date:2008-10-01
  • Kick-off:19:45
  • Venue:Anfield
  • Attendance:41097
  • Referee:Brych, Dr. F

Live Commentary

90mins

LIVERPOOL 3 - 1 PSV: Koevermans may have finished off the scoring tonight but it is Liverpool who were in full control, cruising to three well-deserved Champions League points

90mins

A late chance for Lucas almost found the net as Torres had picked out the midfielder on the edge of the PSV box, but his placed shot was deflected over

89mins

Bakkal wins a throw down the PSV right but it is thrown back into their own half, summing up many of their problems tonight

87mins

It appears to be the former Ajax winger's right leg that is hurting but his was the third and final sub for the home side so Babel will have to endure for five minutes

86mins

Babel looks to be injured for Liverpool, the last kind of incident the home crowd will want to see as this match winds down

84mins

We could be in for a quiet last few minutes as both side seem to have settled on the result, although PSV should be looking to attack - to convince themselves of their ability if nothing else

82mins

Ryan Babel will replace Gerrard, who gets a standing ovation

80mins

That goal may have silenced the Anfield crowd, who went berserk for Gerrard's landmark goal, but it hasn't fired up the away side who might well have given up here

78mins

LIVERPOOL 3 - 1 PSV: KOEVERMANS adds a consolation for PSV as a chipped ball from the right wing is miss-judged by Jamie Carragher who allows the ball to drop over his head where the striker is there to hit a low shot into the goal

76mins

Balazs Dzsudzsak sneaks on for Mendez, who has been quiet

76mins

LIVERPOOL 3 - 0 PSV: GERRARD for Liverpool! Stunning way to reach 100 goals for the club! The free-kick was touched off to the captain who struck a sweet 25 yard drive to the right of a diving Isaksson

75mins

Lucas Leiva is on for Keane as Liverpool add an extra midfielder

75mins

Dirk Marcellis goes into the book for a foul on Torres who was almost through on goal, perhaps the defender was luckly not to see red?

74mins

It is hard to see where a PSV goal could come from - probably Amrabat, who just fired a low cross in for Bakkal to hit a low shot towards goal which is well blocked

72mins

Liverpool continue to press the Dutch side although a rare attacking move from the away side results in Mendez striking a 35-yard effort well over the bar

70mins

Koevermans is yet to touch the ball in an attacking spot for PSV as another attempted pass to him is overhit. They really don't look like scoring today

68mins

Benayoun arrives at the expense of Reira and the Israeli is likely to take his place on the left side

68mins

Another one-on-one looked on the cards for Liverpool as Gerrard played in Keane but Isaksson was out too quickly

67mins

Probably the best chance of the match and it couldn't have fallen to a more clinical finisher, but the score remains 2-0 as Yossi Benayoun begins to strip on the Liverpool bench

65mins

Torres in acres of space for Liverpool - picked out 25 yards from goal the Spaniard raced down on Isaksson before flicking a shot over the onrushing Swede and inches wide of the far corner

63mins

The next attack from the home side brings a free-kick on the right side which Aurelio takes left-footed, picking out Keane at the front post who flicks a header well wide of the goal

62mins

It will be interesting to see how PSV will adapt now they have two recognised strikers on the pitch, although at the moment Liverpool are on the attack where a long pass is intercepted by goalkeeper Isaksson

60mins

Danny Koevermans comes on as expected, with Wuytens making way

59mins

With less pressure on him than a few moments ago, Amrabat gets within 25 yards of goal before lashing a decent shot just wide of the Liverpool goal

57mins

Another sign that Amrabat is fighting a loosing battle as the lone frontman, the striker shooting from 40 yards with hope rather than expectation as no other option was available. A change is needed

56mins

A dashing run into the PSV box from Torres shows he has recovered from that tackle, but Salcido did well to push him wide and end the danger

55mins

Even Torres is winning the ball in midfield for Liverpool but he has taken a knock for his tenaciousness - hacked at by Salcido

53mins

Edison Mendez has come into the game a bit for PSV on their right wing but even his skill can't break through the tough Liverpool midfield of Alonso and Gerrard

51mins

PSV return up the pitch and win a corner but Liverpool defend it well and clear

49mins

Aurelio and Gerrard eye up a right-wing free-kick which Isaksson punches, but not far, as Liverpool come back from the left side where a deep cross is too strong for everyone

47mins

Bakkal has the first effort of this second half, firing a weak shot well wide from 25 yards

46mins

The game is back underway and it is something of a suprise that PSV continue to keep last year's top scorer Danny Koevermans on the bench - perhaps we will be seeing him shortly

46mins

Erik Pieters has come on for Jeremie Brechet at half time - a switch in defence

45mins

Half-Time: LIVERPOOL 2-0 PSV: A comfortable half for the home side as Kuyt and Keane's landmark goal puts them clear against a poor PSV Eindhoven side

45mins

Torres again finds himself in a dangerous position as PSV are becoming rather exposed as they look to be more aggressive. The wet, slippery surface here at Anfield crops the Spaniard and the chance has gone

44mins

Reira this time creates some danger with a left-wing cross that skids into the PSV box but Simons stays cool and clears

42mins

A well-hit, flat cross from Aurelio finds Torres on the edge of the PSV box but his chest down bounces too far away from his body and Salcido manages to intervene

40mins

PSV look to have pushed their back line further up the pitch, looking for a goal before half-time, although the Liverpool midfield is too strong at the moment

38mins

Liverpool again look dangerous down the right with Kuyt and Arbeloa, although Gerrard's long pass is too long this time and PSV can clear

36mins

The Irish international has earned that goal, his first for the club, but the hard work by Kuyt - who played in Torres - and the Spanish striker himself must be applauded

34mins

LIVERPOOL 2-0 PSV: KEANE finally for Liverpool! The drought is over for the former Spurs striker as Torres' low right-wing cross is volleyed home from eight yards

33mins

Alonso causes Bakkal some pain in the centre of midfield, studding his shin, but no card is awarded. There is still little in the way of midfield authority from PSV

31mins

Torres finds more space from Aurellio's left sided corner and wins a header 10 yards out but his effort flies wide of the post

29mins

Iskasson again troubled by Liverpool as a high, hopeful ball is weakly punched away by the Swedish keeper. The follow-up effort caused him no trouble though and PSV survive

27mins

Stijn Wuytens found some space for the first time just outside the Liverpool area but he seemed shocked by the space given to him and so he dwelled on the ball, allowing Alvaro Arbeloa the chance to tackle

26mins

Amrabat is doing his best on his own up front for PSV as Jason Culina's through ball looked to have put him through on Jose Manuel Reina, but the offside flag is up

24mins

Ambitious attempt from Alonso - a 60-yard lob - but Isaksson has enough time to return to his line and catch the shot

22mins

Liverpool are content to play the ball around between their defence and midfield - and they are doing this with ease as PSV show little intent

20mins

Penalty shout for Liverpool as Keane goes down just inside the PSV area, his right foot taken from him by Carlos Salcido, but the referee waves play on

19mins

PSV must be considering moving Simons out of defence and pushing the line further forward because they remain 1-0 down and trapped in their own half most of the time

17mins

Amrabat and Otman Bakkal show signs of linking up for PSV, but Bakkal's eventual return pass is blocked by the Liverpool defence. They are still pretty lonely up front

16mins

Another deep, left-wing cross from Aurelio causes some chaos in the PSV box but Torres can't latch onto the ball

14mins

Keane continues to put pressure on the Dutch side with his hard work around the edge of the box, flicking a ball over the defence here but Isaksson comes out and claims

12mins

Amrabat made a well-timed run into the Liverpool box but his first touch took him rather wide and he could only pull the ball back from Martin Skrtel to clear

11mins

A wicked, swerving cross from Fabio Aurelio is hacked clear by Simons, who just beat Torres to the ball there

9mins

Keane found himself in space on the right side of the PSV penalty box but his chipped cross evades Torres and Albert Riera, going out for a throw

8mins

Some tough tackling from Gerrard wins the ball in midfield for Liverpool who have won that battle so far

6mins

For all their emphasis on defence the Dutch side now need some invention up front, but it's hard to see where that will come from at the moment

4mins

LIVERPOOL 1-0 PSV: Great start for the Reds as Torres struck a low corner at Isaksson who could only block the ball out to DIRK KUYT who struck the ball from 14 yards and found the net via the body of a disappointed Isaksson

4mins

Torres is played through masterfully by Gerrard down the right wing but he is tackled, winning a corner

3mins

PSV are lying very deep, with 11 men inside their half and that's led to an edgy, competitive first few minutes here as Liverpool probe for gaps

1mins

PSV have started with captain Timmy Simons as a third centre back and Nordin Amrabat up front on his own, although it's Liverpool that threaten the PSV penalty area before Fernando Torres is well tackled

0mins

We are underway here in Anfield as Liverpool kick off, goalless Robbie Keane kicking the game off

0mins

The Dutch league champions could well set out with five players in midfield, putting the pressure on Liverpool's Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso to create space for the Reds, who willl expect more than a draw tonight

0mins

The good money will be on the Reds tonight though, as the 2005 Champions League winners enter the game second in the Premier League and with an excellent record in games against PSV, who are second in the Dutch Eredivisie.

0mins

A couple of PSV players will be recognised by the English crowd, especially full-back Jan Kromkamp who spent most of 2006 at Anfield. Goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson endured an injury-hit two seasons with Manchester City before leaving this summer

0mins

The teams have been announced and both sides are without a key midfield cog. Liverpool have Javier Mascherano only on the bench as the Argentine recovers from a calf injury, while PSV are without the injured Ibrahim Afellay

Match Preview

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Match Report

Captain Steven Gerrard stole the headlines for Liverpool with his 100th goal for the club as the Reds cruised to a comfortable Champions League win against PSV Eindhoven.

Their Dutch opponents were never in contention as goals by Dirk Kuyt, Robbie Keane - his first for the club - and Gerrard ensured that Danny Koevermans' late strike was little more than a consolation.

PSV Eindhoven set themselves up for a defensive slog, slipping defensive midfielder Timmy Simons into a third centre-back role, a sound approach as long as the game remained goalless.

However, after only four minutes the tactical ploy looked anything but smart as Swedish goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson first blocked Fernando Torres' low shot before allowing Kuyt's first-time effort to deflect off him and into the net.

Isaksson endured a disappointing two years at Manchester City, an injury-hit stint that ended with a transfer to Holland this summer, but his ability was also questioned and further first-half errors did nothing to suggest City should have kept him on.

If some of the blame was laid at his large feet then plenty should also be dished out to the rest of the team who, with the exception of lone striker Nordin Amrabat, failed to fully perform.

Anything less than a memorable showing by the reigning Eredivisie champions would have led to defeat on a night when Liverpool continued to show that a relatively quiet summer has left them with an excellent, united team.

The one new player who has been hard to forget, although easy to ignore, is £20million striker Keane whose two-month goal drought was finally ended after 34 minutes.

Kuyt played in Torres - the best player on the pitch - down the right wing and his low cross was volleyed home by the former Spurs striker to rapturous applause.

Yet the greatest cheer of the night was reserved for Liverpool's third goal, a classic Gerrard free-kick - a thrilling way to score his landmark goal in front of a joyous Kop.

Despite looking toothless PSV made a mark on the match with their second goal in their last seven Champions League games, a strike which did nothing to stop them rotting at the bottom of Group D.

Goalscorer Koevermans will have enjoyed it despite surprisingly starting the game on the substitute's bench, although he owed the goal to a mistake by Jamie Carragher who allowed a right-wing cross to drop over his head and onto the PSV player's foot.

Yet that blemish will be quickly forgotten on Merseyside after a memorable evening which left Liverpool as favourites to win Group D ahead of their next two games against Atletico Madrid.

Liverpool

PSV Eindhoven

Corners

31

Fouls

814

Goal attempts

119

Shots off target

57

Offsides

16

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