PSV EINDHOVEN 1 - 3 LIVERPOOL
Tuesday 09 December 2008 19:45 , Champions League Group Phase

REDS SEE OFF PSV TO FINISH TOP

Liverpool have qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League as winners of Group D after Ryan Babel, Albert Riera and David Ngog found the net in a 3-1 victory over PSV Eindhoven.

The Reds went into this match at the Philips Stadium in Eindhoven knowing they had to better Atletico Madrid's result against Marseille or win by more than two more goals than the Spaniards.

But Liverpool were assured of taking the top spot after Atletico could only managing a 0-0 draw at the Olympique Stadium in France.

The result means Rafa Benitez's side will have the advantage of playing the second leg of the next round at fortress Anfield in early March.

Click here to watch the goals now››
With both sides sizing each other up and keeping things tight, there were no real clear-cut chances in the first 10 minutes but a few flashes from the lively Ryan Babel hinted that there might be a few goals in this one.

Mascherano started off an attack within the first 90 seconds. The Argentine did what he does best picked up possession in the middle of the park before finding an outlet in the form of Ryan Babel. The Dutch forward, who had switched to the right flank for this match, tested the PSV rearguard with a jinky run, but he was stopped in his tracks by an alert Jeremie Brechet.

PSV soon took their opportunity to attack, however, and Nordin Amrabat earned a free-kick when Jamie Carragher took him down 25 yards out. But Diego Cavalieri made a confident start to the match by collecting the delivery.

Babel was at it again on 11 minutes and glided past Carlos Salcido and into the PSV penalty area, but his pass in search of Robbie Keane deflected off a defender and the Dutch side cleared the danger.

Amrabat caused more problems for the Reds' defence when he sidestepped Jamie Carragher and laid off to midfield powerhouse Timmy Simons, who struck a fizzing shot which Cavalieri parried to safety. PSV's main threat Amrabat tested Liverpool's rearguard a matter of seconds later, and nearly found a way in behind - but eventually he found himself in a dead end and his touch let him down.

They might have made a tentative start to the proceedings, but PSV looked much more comfortable on the ball after the 15-minute mark and came close to finding a way in on a number of occasions.

Liverpool looked like they had started to contain the Dutch side, but PSV managed to break the deadlock on 37 minutes when Danko Lazovic took advantage of a lucky deflection from their first corner of the match.

The unmarked Lazovic pounced on the ball after a nasty richochet in the six-yard box and slotted home from close range and give the home side the lead.

Huub Stevens' side had made the most of their first clear opportunity of the match. After plugging away at Jamie Carragher and Daniel Agger for the first 30 minutes, they deserved to strike the first blow and were good value for their lead.

But Liverpool showed their mettle and equalised eight minutes later from an excellent Ryan Babel header.

Lucas Leiva put a pinpoint cross into the PSV penalty area for the Dutchman to head home on the stroke of half-time.

With the scores level at the beginning of the second half, both sides continued in the same formations as PSV looked to chip away, while Liverpool searched for gaps in the home team's defence.

But Liverpool soon gained the ascendancy and set about creating a string of scoring opportunities.

Keane nearly set David Ngog away when he picked up the ball in the hole on 48 minutes, but his pass was half a yard too far for Ngog to reach.

The Irish marksman had made a particularly lively start to the second half and nearly got on the end of a low Ryan Babel cross into the penalty area in the 50th minute, while he also came close to finding his French striking partner inside the six-yard box with a typically deft through ball a matter of seconds later.

Babel reminded PSV left-back Carlos Salcido how dangerous he can be when cutting in from the right wing, and dragged a low drive a yard and a half wide just before the hour mark.

But PSV remained a threat at the other end and Alvaro Arbeloa came to the Reds rescue when he headed out for a corner three minutes later. The lofted cross was destined for the head of Lazovic, but the Spanish full-back rose to put the ball to safety.

And then Albert Riera produced something very special. Riera must have been well over 25 yards out when he let fly with a fierce left-foot shot to put Liverpool into the lead.

He might have been given time on the ball, but the Spanish winger couldn't have hit it any sweeter and Andreas Isaksson in the PSV goal had no chance. What a strike.

With PSV needing something from this game to have a hope of qualifying for the Uefa Cup, Huub Stevens' side were always on the look-out for a potential way through Liverpool's back four, but as the game went on they left more and more gaps at the back for Liverpool to take advantage of.

And David Ngog made took advantage of one such gap when scored his first goal for the senior side on 78 minutes after a lapse in concentration from PSV. The French striker was let through on goal and slotted home to put the Reds 3-1 up.



Rafa Benitez also gave Reserve team starlets time on the pitch towards the end of this Group D clash. Stephen Darby came on for Arbeloa on 70 minutes, Jay Spearing for Riera on 77, and Martin Kelly replaced Jamie Carragher on 81 minutes.

They might have took a considered approach throughout, but PSV really gave this one everything they had at times here, but in the end this Liverpool team had too much for them.

Babel, Lucas, Riera and Keane all put in impressive displays after receiving more than their fair share of flak in recent weeks to put the Reds into the last 16 as group winners. They will certainly be thankful of this result come February time.

Liverpoolfc.tv man of the match: Ryan Babel: Playing out on the right wing, the versatile forward was a threat throughout and fully deserved his goal on 45 minutes.

Teams

Liverpool: Cavalieri, Dossena, Carragher (captain), Agger, Arbeloa, Riera, Mascherano, Leiva, Babel, Keane, Ngog. Subs - Gerrard, Alonso, Kelly, Darby, Spearing, Benayoun, Reina

PSV Eindhoven: Isaksson, Salcido, Brechet, Marcellis, Culina, Dzsudzsak, Simons (captain), Bakkal, Mendez, Lazovic, Amrabat. Subs - Ramos, Nyland, Manco, Pieters, Wuytens, Rodriguez, Koevermans

Referee: Nikolai Golubev (Rus)

Conditions: Fine

Attendance: Unknown

Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Ryan Babel

Breakdown

19:45 GMT : Match Starts
1 min : Liverpool get their final Champions League group game underway in Eindhoven
1 min : Keane wins an early free kick for Liverpool in a potentially dangerous situation
2 mins : Dossena delivers the free kick which Riera heads well wide
5 mins : Mascherano concedes a free kick to the home side in the middle of the field
6 mins : But the free kick is wasted and Cavalieri gathers easily
7 mins : Great control by Riera on the left but his driven pass is over-hit and beyond Keane
11 mins : Babel shows neat trickery down the left to create space but his pass to Keane is well defended by PSV
16 mins : Cavalieri makes his first stop of the game as he palms away an effort from Simons
20 mins : Even game so far with both sides looking to attack whenever they get the chance
21 mins : Terrific challenge from Agger to deny PSV a shot at goal from close range
22 mins : Mascherano needs treatment after taking a bang to the mouth
26 mins : Cavalieri gathers well as the ball is launched long and high into the Liverpool area
33 mins : PSV look to build again on the edge of our area but Carragher clears the danger
36 mins : GOAL! Danko Lazovic: Lazovic drives into the net from close range after being left unmarked at the far post
37 mins : First Booking: Albert Riera:
41 mins : First Booking: Alvaro Arbeloa:
41 mins : First Booking: Timmy Simons:
45 mins : Ngog has a chance to level the scores but can't direct his header wide of the 'keeper
45 mins : GOAL! Ryan Babel: Lucas bends in a free kick which Babel heads high into the net
20:47 GMT : Half Time Reached
20:47 GMT : Second Half Begins
46 mins : PSV get the second half started with the scores level at 1-1
47 mins : Keane almost sets Ngog free but PSV get the ball away
50 mins : Chance for Keane inside the six yard box but he slides the ball wide of target
52 mins : First Booking: Andrea Dossena:
57 mins : Lazovic goes for goal again but shoots straight at Cavalieri
59 mins : Babel cuts in from the left but blasts a low shot into the side netting
68 mins : GOAL! Albert Riera: Riera strikes a brilliant shot from 30 yards into the top corner to give us the lead
69 mins : Substitution: Stephen Darby for Alvaro Arbeloa:
71 mins : Substitution: Danny Koevermans for Nordin Amrabat:
78 mins : Substitution: Jay Spearing for Albert Riera:
77 mins : GOAL! David Ngog: Ngog races clear and secures the three points with a well struck shot
80 mins : Substitution: Raimond Manco for Edison Mendez:
82 mins : Substitution: Martin Kelly for Jamie Carragher:
85 mins : It's still goalless in Marseille meaning Liverpool will top Group D if the scores remain the same
87 mins : Good play by Cavalieri to smother the ball as the cross is delivered from the left
88 mins : Ngog cuts inside onto his left foot and blasts high over the goal
21:36 GMT : Match Over