Liverpool 1-0 Debrecen
16th September 2009, Champion League Group

Kuyt Scores As Liverpool Win

Liverpool's Champions League campaign is off to a winning start following a 1-0 triumph over Debrecen - call LFC TV now on 0845 234 4567 to discuss the game on our brand new post-match phone-in.

The Reds produced a patient, confident display against the Hungarian champions to notch up their 100th win in the European Cup courtesy of Dirk Kuyt's first-half goal.

It means the home side marked Rafael Benitez's 300th match in charge with victory and ensured they got their Group E campaign off to the perfect start.

Fresh from an emphatic 4-0 victory over Burnley at the weekend, it was no surprise to see the five-time winners of the competition take control from the kick-off.

First Fernando Torres drilled just over with a snap shot from 25 yards before Laszlo Bodnar headed clear after Lucas Leiva had flicked a right-wing free-kick goalwards.

Both of these opportunities arrived in the first five minutes and it set tone for the remainder of the match with Liverpool patiently probing, while Debrecen worked hard to keep the Reds at bay.

On 13 minutes Kuyt took advantage of the space created by Albert Riera's quick free-kick to fire a low shot wide of the near post before the Spaniard scuffed his attempt off target after the visitors had failed to deal with the danger caused by Glen Johnson's rampaging run.

It was the one-way traffic that had been predicted, although the away side did manage to force a corner midway through the half, much to the delight of the Hungarian support.

The cheer of joy could even have been followed by a thunderous roar, but Bodnar miscued his 20 yarder into the Kop after the Reds had only half-cleared Peter Czvitkovics' pacy set piece.

The chance gave Andras Herczeg's men a visible lift and Czvitkovics went even closer with a stinging drive that Pepe Reina was forced to tip over the crossbar. The Reds stopper was then called into action again on 33 minutes when he comfortably gathered Bodnar's speculative 40-yard free-kick.

As an attacking threat the away side had mustered more in the first period than their followers would have hoped for, but as the half drew to a close the Reds began to press for the all-important opener.

A flurry of goalmouth incident in the final seven minutes of the first 45 eventually brought the reward the hosts deserved.

Riera started off the spell of intense pressure when his low shot was beaten away by Vukasin Poleksic, with Kuyt seeing his attempt to tuck home the rebound hacked off the line.

The Spanish winger was looking more and more dangerous and his long range piledriver just seconds later was again superbly pushed to safety by Debrecen's 'keeper before Steven Gerrard powered a header over the top from the resulting corner.

Liverpool continued to knock on the door but Gerrard slid his effort inches wide after Emiliano Insua and Albert Riera had carved the away side open down the left.

It had been a first period of missed opportunities but just when it seemed the visitors would go in at the break all-square, Liverpool finally carved out the opportunity that broke the deadlock.

A neat turn and shot from Torres was fumbled by Poleksic allowing Kuyt to close in and fire home the rebound. It was the Dutchman's third of the season and a strike that saw him become the joint-third highest scorer for the club in the European Cup.

The mood within the stadium was immediately lifted and it almost erupted on 54 minutes when Gerrard fizzed a sensational 25 yard volley just over.

Next it was Yossi Benayoun, fresh from his hat-trick heroics at the weekend, who went close to doubling the lead on 65 minutes but his near post shot was palmed away by Poleksic after the Israeli had danced his way into the area with a weaving run.

The midfielder then picked himself up and delivered a pinpoint corner that Lucas met with a firm header that flew just beyond the upright.

Liverpool's dominance was not being reflected on the scoresheet and they were almost caught on the break late on when Adamo Coulibaly broke the offside trap, only to miscue his attempted lob over Reina.
Benayoun then crashed a shot over the top following good work from substitute Ryan Babel and Torres as the Reds held on to secure a narrow victory that puts them in the Group E driving seat.

Teams
Liverpool: Reina, Insua, Carragher, Skrtel, Johnson, Riera, Gerrard (captain), Leiva, Benayoun, Torres, Kuyt. Subs - Spearing, Babel, Aurelio, Kyrgiakos, Cavalieri, Mascherano, Voronin

Debrecen: Poleksic, Fodor, Komlosi, Meszaros, Bodnar, Szakaly, Kiss (captain), Ramos, Czvitkovics, , Coulibaly. Subs - Pantic, Bernath, Katona, Olah, Feczesin, Laczko, Szucs

Referee: Pedro Proenca (Por)

Conditions: Cold

Attendance: 41591

Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Dirk Kuyt


Breakdown
18:45 GMT : Match Starts
1 min : Dirk and Fernando get this year's Champions League campaign underway...see you in nine months, Madrid
2 mins : An unchanged Reds XI...
3 mins : Lovely take by Yossi down the right...lays it to Torres but he's offside
4 mins : Torres adjusts to volley one from 20 yards...wide into the Anfield Road End
6 mins : Terrible challenge on Lucas and Liverpool have a free-kick in a useful position down the right...it's headed off the line
8 mins : Arsenal 2-0 down in Liege
11 mins : Composed play by Dirk...finds some space to swing one in for Yossi at the far post...offside
13 mins : Debrecen have a number 77...Peter Czvitkovics...don't want to be typing that out too often!
13 mins : Dirk from the edge of the box...drags it wide
14 mins : The visitors are going in for some tough tackles
16 mins : Dirk is having a belter...he's everywhere
17 mins : I like the way they roll in Hungary...their number 10 is at left-back
19 mins : Another terrible challenge on Lucas...ref plays the advantage...ball eventually comes to Albert, who drives wide from range
20 mins : Torres wins a corner
20 mins : Gerrard plays it short to Insua, who's tackled
21 mins : First Booking: Marcell Fodor: Awful hack on Yossi, who would have been clear
22 mins : Gerrard from 30-odd yards...again it's wide
23 mins : Debrecen have a corner...cleared to their number 10 full-back...oh dear, he won't want to see the replay of that shot
26 mins : First Booking: Steven Gerrard: For taking a free-kick too early. Absolutely ridiculous
28 mins : Stevie and Torres combine to put Yossi through...but that's a fine tackle from the centre-back
30 mins : Fine effort from the number 77...Reina forced to tip over
33 mins : Lucas pulled up for a foul even though he clearly got the ball...their number 10 full-back shoots from 40 yards and, predictably, Reina saves comfortably
34 mins : Liverpool break...Riera has it...shoots from 25 yards...the keeper was beaten but it drifts wide
36 mins : The Hungarians starting to enjoy some possession...number 77 volleys from the edge of the box...into row Z of the Kop
38 mins : Carra plays Riera through...he's one on one...takes a touch...it's saved...Kuyt on the rebound...cleared off the line
39 mins : Riera rides two challenges...he blasts one...keeper parries and Torres just can't get there
42 mins : Stevie swings his right boot at one from 25 yards...curls over
44 mins : Insua finds Riera wide left...sends a low ball across the area...Gerrard is running onto it...how did he miss?
45 mins : GOAL! Dirk Kuyt: Kuyt pounces after a Torres shot is parried
19:34 GMT : Half Time Reached
19:46 GMT : Second Half Begins
46 mins : The second half is up and running and it will be interesting to see if Debrecen can maintain this tempo
49 mins : Johnson bursts into the box...tries to find the in-coming Torres but it's intercepted
51 mins : Gerrard dragged down in the box...how is that not a penalty?
55 mins : Brilliant volley from Stevie outside the box...shaves the crossbar
60 mins : Riera cuts inside for Gerrard...drives a low one but it's no problem for Poleksic
63 mins : Attendance: 41,591
65 mins : Kamikaze defending from Debrecen but they escape...
65 mins : Yossi skips past five challenges before having his low shot to the near post parried for a corner
67 mins : Lucas powers a header wide from Yossi's corner
67 mins : Substitution: Zsolt Laczko for Luis Ramos:
68 mins : Okay, forget their number 77 full-back...now they have a number 86 on the pitch
78 mins : Coulibaly is through...tries to lob Reina...he does so...Carra heads clear for a corner
79 mins : Substitution: Robert Feczesin for Peter Szakaly:
80 mins : Substitution: Ryan Babel for Albert Riera:
82 mins : Coulibaly could have another chance here...well defended Skrtel
83 mins : Babel finds Torres...rushes into the box...squares for Kuyt, who mis-kicks...it's come to Yossi...fires over
87 mins : Substitution: Javier Mascherano for Yossi Benayoun:
90 mins : Substitution: Fabio Aurelio for Dirk Kuyt:
20:35 GMT : Match Over

Fiorentina 2-0 Liverpool
29th September 2009, Champion League Group

Reds Slumped To Defeat At Florence

Liverpool's hopes of reaching the Champions League knockout stage have suffered a blow after they slumped to a 2-0 defeat against Fiorentina - call LFC TV now on 0845 234 4567 to discuss the game on our post-match phone-in.

The Reds went into the clash on the back of a six-match winning streak but rarely looked like extending it as Cesare Prandelli's side deservedly claimed the three points courtesy of a first-half double from Stevan Jovetic.

It means La Viola are now level on points with Rafael Benitez's men in the Group E table and three behind leaders Lyon who saw off Debrecen in Hungary.

The night had begun on a more positive note for the Reds after the City of Florence made huge efforts to accommodate the needs of the travelling Kop with a series of events including a nearby fanzone.

Indeed, there was a generous spirit in the air when the game got under way and it was the visitors who threatened first, but Steven Gerrard's through ball for Fernando Torres was slightly over-hit.

Seven minutes later and the Reds were almost in again, but this time Sebastien Frey was alert to the danger. The former Inter Milan stopper was quick off his line to pluck the ball out of the reach of Dirk Kuyt after the Dutchman looked set to race onto Torres' lobbed flick.

At this point it had been a decent opening 15 minutes for the visitors, but the remaining half an hour of the first period would prove somewhat disastrous as the hosts began to take control.

A superb first-time pass from Riccardo Montolivo sent Jovetic rampaging through but just when it seemed he was about to burst the net, Martin Skrtel got across to make a vital block.

It could have been little more than a reprieve though, as the hosts came even closer to breaking the deadlock from the resulting corner, when Adrian Mutu's acrobatic volley flew inches over the top following good work by Jovetic on the right edge of the area.

La Viola may well have been without the suspended Alberto Gilardino, but the front pair of Mutu and Jovetic were looking lively and almost carved Liverpool open on 26 minutes when the former Chelsea man sent in a drilled cross that the Montenegrin came within a whisker of turning home.

The Italian support were responding to their side's positive attitude with a crescendo of noise and within two minutes they were celebrating the opener as Jovetic took advantage of a gap in the Reds' defence to race through and coolly slot the ball beyond Pepe Reina.

Fiorentina now had the bit between their teeth and before the Reds could steady the ship they fell two behind on 37 minutes.

A sizzling cross-shot from Juan Vargas was met by Jovetic whose instinctive snapshot beat Reina at the near post.

It had been a disappointing first-half display from the visitors and all the more frustrating given Fiorentina's poor Champions League record on home turf.

Prandelli's side lost all three of their matches at the Stadio Artemio Franchi last season and had not won in the competition in Florence since 2000.

If the Reds were going to change that, and the fact the Italians had never lost in their own stadium against an English side, they needed to step up a gear.

A fast response was required and Yossi Benayoun came close to reducing the areas within a minute of the restart when he cut in from the left-hand byline and fired a shot into the side netting.

Lucas Leiva then powered a free header from a corner just over the top before Torres' goalbound flick was deflected inches past the near post with Frey beaten.

The Reds were suddenly the dominant side and Gerrard was the next player to hang his head in frustration when his shot on the turn was blocked after some good chest control in the penalty area.

The visitors continued to search for a way back into the game, but when Torres thumped Skrtel's right-wing cross inches past the post, it was obvious it wasn't going to be Liverpool's day.

Gerrard went even closer with a trademark curler from distance and a looping header late on, but it wasn't to be, and the Reds will now look to pick themselves up in time for Sunday's crunch match with Chelsea.

Teams
Liverpool: Reina, Insua, Carragher, Skrtel, Johnson, Benayoun, Leiva, Aurelio (captain), Kuyt, Gerrard, Torres. Subs - Spearing, Babel, Cavalieri, Kyrgiakos, Riera, Plessis, Voronin

Fiorentina: Frey, Gobbi, Dainelli (captain), Gamberini, Comotto, Vargas, Zanetti, Montolivo, Marchionni, Jovetic, Mutu. Subs - Avramov, Castillo, De Silvestri, Jorgensen, Donadel, Pasqual, Kroldrup

Referee: Felix Brych (Ger)

Conditions: Warm

Attendance: Unknown

Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Steven Gerrard


Breakdown
18:45 GMT : Match Starts
1 min : Fiorentina get the Champions League tie underway
2 mins : Good defending from Johnson to stop a foray forward by Vargas
3 mins : Aurelio is playing in the holding role in midfield
5 mins : Slow start to the game, neither side having enjoyed any attacking joy so far
6 mins : Kuyt charges forward but the Fiorentina full-back does well to shepherd the ball out of play
10 mins : Kuyt tries to latch onto a loose ball inside the area, but the ball skids off the turf and into the arms of the goalkeeper
12 mins : Fiorentina win the game's first corner, but Liverpool easily deal with the crossed ball
14 mins : Johnson crosses from the right but there's too much on the delivery for Benayoun to get on the end of
16 mins : Jovetic bursts into space on the left and Skrtel has to make a late challenge to win a corner
18 mins : Fiorentina are enjoying a greater share of the possession, but Pepe Reina hasn't yet been troubled
23 mins : Jovetic cuts in again onto his right foot but drags his shot well wide
26 mins : Reina is forced into a stop low down from a long range driven shot
28 mins : GOAL! Steven Jovetic: Jovetic runs clear on the Liverpool goal and beats Reina with a low shot into the far corner
29 mins : Fiorentina threaten again and Reina has to make a decent save at the expense of a corner, which comes to nothing
37 mins : GOAL! Steven Jovetic: Jovetic scores again with a right footed shot which Reina almost keeps out. We've a mountain to climb now
42 mins : We've got a corner and a chance to get back into the game
43 mins : But the home side defend well and clear the danger
19:31 GMT : Half Time Reached
19:47 GMT : Second Half Begins
46 mins : Liverpool get the second half underway
47 mins : Benayoun cuts in from the left and brings a great save out of the goalkeeper to win a corner. Much better already
48 mins : And from the corner Lucas is unmarked but heads just over. So close
49 mins : Kuyt tries his luck this time - his shot is deflected and the 'keeper makes a good save
52 mins : Gerrard crosses from the right towards Torres - great ball in but the Spaniard can't find the right contact. The pressure is growing
59 mins : Insua breaks free down the left and his cross is turned away for a corner
60 mins : Carragher blasts a shot goalwards from distance but it's never threatening the goalkeeper
62 mins : Fiorentina break and Marchioni's cross from the right isn't angled properly towards Mutu. Good opportunity for the home side
63 mins : Gerrard has a chance on the right after a good ball from Aurelio, but the defender does well to block
64 mins : Torres threatens at the heart of the home defence, but La Viola defend well against the in-form Spaniard
69 mins : Aurelio bends the ball into the danger area but Frey punches away well
70 mins : Torres speeds into the area and is screaming for a penalty as he is sent flying. The ref isn't interested
72 mins : Substitution: Ryan Babel for Emiliano Insua:
73 mins : Aurelio delivers another good ball into the danger zone but Fiorentina head clear
74 mins : Substitution: Martin Jorgensen for Juan Vargas:
76 mins : Great run from Skrtel and as he fizzes the ball in towards Torres the striker volleys over
80 mins : Substitution: Andriy Voronin for Dirk Kuyt:
82 mins : Substitution: Marco Donadel for Adrian Mutu:
85 mins : Babel's cross from the right is met by Gerrard and his header loops agonisingly the wrong side of the post
88 mins : Substitution: Lorenzo De Silvestri for Marco Marchionni:
20:35 GMT : Match Over

Liverpool 1-2 Lyon
20th October 2009, Champion League Group

Liverpool left stunned with a late winner

Lyon left Liverpool stunned with an injury-winner in a 2-1 victory over the Reds at Anfield in UEFA Champions League - call LFC TV now on 0845 234 4567 to discuss the game on our post-match phone-in.

Yossi Benayoun gave the home team a first-half lead with a close-range finish just before the break.

But Maxime Gonalons stabbed in an equaliser for Les Gones with less than 20 minutes remaining before fellow substitute Cesar Delgado slid home an injury-time winner.

And Liverpool were also left to rue the loss of Steven Gerrard after just 25 minutes of the contest.

The captain had made a lively beginning to events after being named in the starting line-up, but limped off to be replaced by Fabio Aurelio midway through the first-half.

Rafa Benitez handed a starting berth to Martin Kelly at right-back, with the youngster making his first appearance for the senior side since a cameo run out in a Champions League group stage meeting with PSV Eindhoven ten months ago.

The home team began brightly underneath the floodlights and Gerrard was predictably straight into the thick of the action as he saw an early strike deflected into the side netting of Hugo Lloris' goal.

But Lyon had clearly arrived at Anfield with aspirations of their own, and only a fine block from Pepe Reina denied Lisandro from opening the scoring in the tenth minute after the forward had met Aly Cissokho's cross with a powerful downward header.

The Reds thought they had broken the deadlock in the 15th minute when Dirk Kuyt nodded Gerrard's in-swinging cross beyond Lloris - but the Dutchman was adjudged to have pushed a Lyon defender first and the goal was ruled out.

Play quickly swept to the other end and Kim Kallstrom skewed an ambitious volley narrowly over.

But Liverpool's plans were dealt a blow after just 25 minutes when Gerrard left the field, with Aurelio entering the action.

The Kop responded by upping the volume levels inside Anfield, and on 35 minutes David Ngog was thwarted by the legs of Lloris from close-range after Kuyt's attempted header had deflected into the path of the French striker.

Liverpool took the lead four minutes before the break. In a move started by Benayoun, Aurelio collected possession on the left wing and drilled a cross into the box, which Kelly was inches away from connecting with on the volley.

However, the ball fell to Benayoun, and the Israel captain kept his composure under pressure to beat Lloris with a scooped shot from the edge of the six-yard box.

It would have been 2-0 minutes later but for a fantastic reflex save by Lyon's goalkeeper to push Aurelio's powerful header from an inviting Kelly cross over the bar.

With Liverpool's tails up, Ngog nodded wide from the resulting corner and Aurelio sent a crisp volley dangerously across goal on the stroke of half-time.

Lyon attempted to respond in the opening exchanges of the second period and Anthony Reveillere struck a rising shot wide of Reina's upright, but back came the Reds and Benayoun threatened with a looping header.

Next, Ngog chested Kelly's centre down on the edge of the box with a sublime touch but struck harmlessly wide while off balance, prior to Kuyt's header being turned around the base of the post by the diving Lloris.

Kelly was enjoying an encouraging Anfield debut, though the 19-year-old had Anfield hearts in mouths as his headed clearance from a Lyon free-kick flew a little too close to Reina's goal for comfort.

Lyon equalised with just under 20 minutes remaining. A Les Gones' corner picked out the unmarked Jeremy Toulalan at the back post, whose first-time drive was palmed away by Reina.

Govou instantly struck the ball back towards goal, but the Reds' custodian displayed great agility to produce another block, but he could do little as Gonalons eventually steered home.

And, deep into stoppage-time, Lyon condemned Liverpool to defeat when Cesar Delgado tapped a low cross into the back of the net on a night of frustration at Anfield.

Teams
Liverpool: Reina, Insua, Agger, Carragher, Kelly, Benayoun, Mascherano, Leiva, Kuyt, Gerrard (captain), Ngog. Subs - Cavalieri, Voronin, Aurelio, Babel, Spearing, Plessis, Skrtel

Lyon: Lloris, Cissokho, , Toulalan, Reveilliere, Kallstrom, Makoun, Pjanic, Govou (captain), , . Subs - Vercoutre, Clerc, Bastos, Gomis, Delgado, Belfodil, Gonalons

Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco

Conditions: Chilly

Attendance: 41,562

Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Martin Kelly


Breakdown
18:45 GMT : Match Starts
1 min : Liverpool kick off attacking the Kop
2 mins : Gerard Houllier is in the crowd to watch his old sides go head-to-head
3 mins : Gerrard's deflected shot hits the side netting. Corner ball
6 mins : What a night for Martin Kelly. So far he has yet to touch the ball but it's a great chance to show what he can do
10 mins : Great save Reina. Cissokho crossed from the left and found Lisandro whose downward header was brilliantly kept out by the Spaniard
12 mins : The crowd is lifted as Masch produces a magnificent tackle to deny the rampaging run of Ederson
16 mins : Kuyt has the ball in the net - but it's disallowed for a push on a Lyon defender. Unlucky Reds
21 mins : Fiorentina are 3-1 up against Debrecen
25 mins : Substitution: Fabio Aurelio for Steven Gerrard:
34 mins : First Booking: Cris :
35 mins : An almighty scramble sees both Kuyt and Ngog go close to giving the Reds the lead
39 mins : Govou volleys wide on the stretch as another left wing cross causes problems at the back for LFC
41 mins : GOAL! Yossi Benayoun: The Israeli fires home after Aurelio's drilled cross deflected into his path
43 mins : Substitution: Maxime Gonalons for Cris :
45 mins : Lloris produces a sensational save to deny Aurelio's powerful header
19:34 GMT : Half Time Reached
19:48 GMT : Second Half Begins
46 mins : Lyon restart the match
50 mins : Ederson scuffs a 30 yarder well off target while Reveillere thunders just over the top
55 mins : First Booking: Sidney Govou:
58 mins : Wonderful work by Kelly down the right. Good approach play is followed by a superb cross that Ngog somehow contrives to stab wide
60 mins : Lloris pushes Kuyt's header away after a raking cross from Aurelio
61 mins : Substitution: Bafetimbi Gomis for Ederson :
66 mins : Today's attendance is 41562
72 mins : GOAL! Maxime Gonalons:
74 mins : Substitution: Martin Skrtel for Martin Kelly:
80 mins : LFC need to find a winner from somewhere.
83 mins : Dirk crosses for Yossi...Lloris is out to gather. Time is running out if we are going to get the second goal
84 mins : Insua finds Kuyt with a searching cross, but the Dutchman gets it all wrong and it goes out for a goal kick
85 mins : Substitution: Andriy Voronin for Yossi Benayoun:
85 mins : Kuyt heads a corner into the path of Skrtel. But the defender skies his half volley
86 mins : Substitution: Cesar Delgado for Lisandro :
89 mins : LFC are pressing but it's looking like Lyon will hold on
90 mins : GOAL! Cesar Delgado:

Lyon 1-1 Liverpool
4th November 2009, Champion League Group

Lyon Late Goal Stops Red Win

Liverpool's hopes of qualifying from Champions League Group E remain alive after the Reds drew 1-1 with Lyon in France - call LFC TV now on 0845 234 4567 to discuss the game on our post-match phone-in.


Substitute Ryan Babel drilled an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net from distance with just seven minutes remaining to give the Reds a well deserved lead in the South of France.

But Lisandro's 90th minute finish secured a point for Lyon and put the French club into the last 16.

As Fiorentina won elsewhere in Group E, Liverpool must now beat the Italians by three clear goals, record victory over Debreceni and hope the La Viola drop points against Lyon in the final group game.

Having amassed three points from their opening three fixtures in the competition, the Reds went into the clash at the Stade Gerland aiming for victory in order to bolster their qualification prospects.

And their defensive ranks were boosted pre-match by the return of Daniel Agger to the heart of the defence. The Dane partnered Sotirios Kyrgiakos, while Jamie Carragher was switched into a right-back role.

A raucous atmosphere greeted kick-off, with both sets of fans in fine voice.

Michel Bastos recorded the first attempt of the game inside four minutes with a low drive that Pepe Reina collected with ease.

The home side enjoyed much of the early possession, but the 12th minute saw the Reds come close to opening the scoring as Lyon goalkeeper Hugo Lloris produced a smart stop to repel Fernando Torres' swept effort from Emiliano Insua's low centre.

Moments later and Dirk Kuyt's hooked strike was palmed over the bar by the Les Gones' stopper before Yossi Benayoun headed the resulting corner across the goalmouth.

Lyon again had their highly-rated young custodian to thank for keeping the scores level just before the half hour mark.

Javier Mascherano's quick-thinking free-kick from his own half sent Andriy Voronin bearing down on goal, but the Ukrainian's low shot was blocked by the legs of Lloris.

After a slow start, Liverpool had settled and were applying steady pressure to the home side, who lost both Anthony Reveillere and Miralem Pjanic to injury in the first period.

It ?s therefore fair to assume the Lyon fans were somewhat relieved to hear the shrill of the half-time whistle, though their side had looked dangerous on the counter-attack in the moments before the interval.

The opening exchanges of the second period continued in a similar fashion, though Bastos rose well against Insua to head Aly Cissokho's cross over Reina's bar, while the Spanish goalkeeper had to be on his toes to clear a dangerous through ball with Gomis in close attendance.

But Lloris continued to thwart Liverpool and he produced his best save of the night so far in the 68th minute when Benayoun's shot-turned-cross found the unmarked Lucas at the back post.

The Brazilian struck goalwards, but he was denied by Lyon's No.1, and Kuyt's attempted overhead kick from the rebound was hacked away from the goal mouth by Cris.

Liverpool's own goalkeeper then rose to fore as Reina produced a smart block to frustrate Lisandro after the striker had latched onto Kyrgiakos' attempted header back to goal in what was proving to be a much more open second-half.

The forward threatened again with just over ten minutes remaining as he curled a shot wide of the post after a quick Lyon counter.

But, on 83 minutes, the moment Liverpool had been threatening all night arrived when substitute Babel smashed an unstoppable 20-yard drive to finally break Lloris' resistance and put the visitors into a deserved lead.

However, Red hearts were broken in the 90th minute as Lisandro held off the challenge of Kyrgiakos and fired beyond Reina to leave Liverpool with just a point on a night when they deserved so much more.

Teams
Liverpool: Reina, Insua, Agger, Kyrgiakos, Carragher (captain), Benayoun, Mascherano, Leiva, Kuyt, Voronin, Torres. Subs - Cavalieri, Aquilani, Babel, Ngog, Spearing, Darby, Sanchez Ayala

Lyon: Lloris, Cissokho, Toulalan, (captain), Reveilliere, Bastos, Kallstrom, Makoun, Pjanic, Gomis, . Subs - Vercoutre, , Govou, Delgado, Tafer, Gassama, Gonalons

Referee: Frank De Bleeckere

Conditions: Chilly

Attendance: 39,180

Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Yossi Benayoun


Breakdown
19:46 GMT : Match Starts
1 min : Liverpool kick off the match
2 mins : The next 90 minutes will be crucial to our Champions League hopes - come on Redmen!
4 mins : First real shot of the game from Bastos is well held by Reina
5 mins : Carra concedes a free-kick on the left. Chance for Lyon to test the LFC rearguard
6 mins : Pjanic curls one into the box but it's easily cleared
10 mins : It's been a scrappy opening to the match. We've seen little of LFC as an attacking threat so far
12 mins : Great chance LFC. Neat play down the left involving Insua and Yossi ends with the Argentina international crossing for Torres, who sees his shot on the turn saved by the legs of Lloris
16 mins : Cissokho's dangerous ball in from the left is hacked clear after no-one arrived on the edge of the box for Lyon. A nervy moment for the defence
17 mins : Lloris denies Kuyt after another move down the left causes havoc in the Lyon area
19 mins : Substitution: Lamine Gassama for Anthony Reveilliere:
20 mins : Fiorentina are leading Debrecen 1-0
27 mins : A bit of a lull in the play... not much to write home about!
28 mins : Voronin races clear...it must be... he hits it straight at Lloris who stands firm to keep the ball out
30 mins : Half an hour played and we've had three great chances. We can't afford to keep missing them if we want to take the three points
33 mins : First Booking: Daniel Agger:
34 mins : First Booking: Lisandro :
36 mins : Bastos beats two and lines one up from 25 yards... great block
40 mins : Substitution: Ederson for Miralem Pjanic:
42 mins : Debrecen have levelled in Florence. If they can pull off a shock it would make things very interesting
20:33 GMT : Half Time Reached
20:48 GMT : Second Half Begins
46 mins : Lyon restart the match
46 mins : Insua makes a good challenge on the edge of the area. He had to time that right or it could have been a spot-kick to the home side
48 mins : Ederson volleys way over the top after Cissokho's low ball found its way into his path
54 mins : Fiorentina are back in front against Debrecen
58 mins : Another great run from the dangerous Cissokho sees the full-back cross deep to the far post where Bastos loops a header just over
59 mins : Reina does brilliantly to head to safety after a ball over the top threatened to send Gomis through
61 mins : Free-kick to Lyon 30 yards from goal...
61 mins : Kallstrom curls one into the stand
62 mins : Fiorentina are 3-1 ahead now. LFC need to get a goal to keep things in their own hands
65 mins : It's 4-1 in Florence and it's looking good for the Italians
66 mins : Torres breaks free down the left... he's well challenged out of it though. He doesn't look anywhere near 100 per cent
67 mins : Voronin cross for Torres... but his shot is blocked
68 mins : Substitution: Ryan Babel for Andriy Voronin:
69 mins : Lucas is through, great save by Lloris.... it falls to Kuyt... his overhead kick is hacked off the line
73 mins : It's now 4-2 in Florence
73 mins : Substitution: Sidney Govou for Bafetimbi Gomis:
74 mins : Kyrgiakos' weak back header allows Lisandro a sight of goal, but Reina makes a brilliant point blank save
76 mins : 5-2 in Florence. Sounds like a great game!
79 mins : Lisandro breaks clear, cuts inside and curls one just past the post. A warning for LFC
80 mins : Free-kick to the hosts 25 yards out. A real chance here
81 mins : Another poor attempt from Kallstrom
83 mins : GOAL! Ryan Babel: Stunning strike from Babel gives LFC that all-important lead
87 mins : Substitution: David Ngog for Fernando Torres:
88 mins : If results stay the same: Lyon 9 points, Fiorentina 9 points, LFC 6 points, Debrecen 0
89 mins : It could be two. Babel turns well in the box but drills a shot wide at the near post
90 mins : GOAL! Lisandro :
21:35 GMT : Match Over

Debrecen 0-1 Liverpool
24th November 2009, Champion League Group

REDS CRASH OUT OF CL

Liverpool have crashed out of the Champions League despite a 1-0 victory in Debrecen on Tuesday night. Call LFC TV now on 0845 234 4567 to discuss the game.

A 1-0 victory for Fiorentina over Lyon means the Reds have failed to reach the knockout stages for the first time under Rafa Benitez and must now settle for a place in the Europa League alongside the likes of Valencia, Benfica and Sunday's opponents Everton.

David Ngog's early goal gave the travelling Kopites hope that another European miracle was about to unfold but it wasn't to be as the road to Madrid becomes the road to Hamburg.

The headlines won't make pleasant reading for Benitez's squad but players like Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard have very fond memories of Europe's second competition from 2001.

Carragher declared before kick-off that the worst case scenario was a favourable result in Italy but Liverpool failing to see off Debrecen.

The vice-captain played his part in ensuring that didn't happen as Liverpool got off to the best possible start on four minutes. It was Carragher's head on from a Fabio Aurelio cross that gave Ngog space to convert a poacher's goal via the post.

It should have been 2-0 on 10 minutes when Dirk Kuyt dived for a Steven Gerrard centre but couldn't apply enough contact. Debrecen's defence was a shambles.

The visitors were enjoying the bulk of possession but it wasn't until just under the half-hour mark that they mounted another serious attack as Kuyt played Ngog through. The French U21's touch was fine but his finish made the save routine for Vukasin Poleksic.

By this time news was filtering through of a Fiorentina goal in Italy but Liverpool kept plugging away knowing all they could do was win in Hungary.

Ngog forced a decent save from the goalkeeper with a snapshot from 20 yards, while at the other end Debrecen were posing little threat.

Gerrard came within inches of doubling his side's advantage on 58 minutes after Johnson's square ball into the box but the skipper was denied by the right palm of Poleksic.

There were shouts for a Debrecen penalty shortly after when Gergely Rudolf stumbled under the challenge of Emiliano Insua. Referee Bjorn Kuipers was having none of it.

Liverpool's first victory from five attempts in Hungary never looked seriously in doubt, with Javier Mascherano reigning supreme in midfield.

Carragher almost made a rare addition to his goalscoring tally from Aurelio's corner with 12 minutes to go. His back-post run was timed to perfection but the execution of his header sent the ball across rather than into the goal.

There was still time for Adamo Coulibaly to have a volley saved from close range by Reina but by this stage all eyes were turning to Italy, where the game was running five minutes behind schedule.

When word of the final whistle eventually arrived, the news wasn't good, but it didn't silence the away fans, who can now at least look forward to visiting some of Europe's more far-flung footballing arenas.

Teams
Liverpool: Reina, Insua, Agger, Carragher, Johnson, Aurelio, Mascherano, Leiva, Kuyt, Gerrard (captain), Ngog. Subs - Cavalieri, Aquilani, Spearing, Dossena, Benayoun, Kyrgiakos, Skrtel

Debrecen: Poleksic, Bodnar, Fodor, Szelesi, Meszaros, Mijadinoski, Kiss (captain), Szakaly, Czvitkovics, Laczko, Rudolf. Subs - Pantic, Ramos, Dombi, Komlosi, Bernath, Varga, Coulibaly

Referee: Bjorn Kuipers

Conditions: Cold

Attendance: Unknown

Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Javier Mascherano


Breakdown
19:45 GMT : Match Starts
1 min : Debrecen get us underway in Budapest
2 mins : Ball over the top from Masch almost reaches Gerrard. Unlucky
3 mins : Johnson wins a corner for Reds
4 mins : Taken short ? Gerrard's cross into the box deflected behind for another ?
4 mins : GOAL! David Ngog: Aurelio's centre headed across goal by Carra for Ngog to tap home. Great start!
9 mins : Liverpool dominating possession after that great poacher's goal from Ngog
10 mins : Brilliant pass from Agger almost releases Kuyt inside the box, but he's tackled by a Debrecen defender
11 mins : Good chance for Reds as Gerrard's dangerous low cross almost finds Kuyt in the centre but the Dutchman can't stretch enough to reach the ball with his head
14 mins : It's still goalless in Italy between Fiorentina and Lyon
16 mins : Liverpool have a free-kick wide right...Johnson touches to Aurelio...but he fires wide
18 mins : Great passing in midfield between Aurelio, Lucas and Masch...the Reds are playing really well here
20 mins : Rare touch of the ball for Reina as he gathers an over hit ball over the top
23 mins : First Booking: Zoltan Szelesi: Booked for strong challenge into the back of Gerrard
25 mins : Gerrard looks set to pull the trigger on the edge of the box, but Debrecen get a body in the way and the ball is cleared
27 mins : Laczko wins a free-kick midway inside the Liverpool half... played wide right but Reds mop up the danger easily
28 mins : Ngog strikes from the edge of the box but his low shot is saved by the legs of Poleksic
29 mins : Bad news for Reds. Fiorentina take the lead in Italy thanks to a penalty by Vargas
31 mins : The lively Ngog chases Carra's long ball forward but Meszaros clears
33 mins : Chance for Debrecen. Deep cross into box by Bodnar is headed wide by Rudolf
34 mins : Debrecen press again and Johnson does well to clear another dangerous cross into the Reds box
36 mins : Insua does brilliantly to get to the dead ball line but the defender looses his footing as he attempts to play the ball into the danger zone
38 mins : Gerrard's ball out to the right picks out Kuyt, who in turn cuts inside. Finds Gerrard on the edge of the box who tees up Ngog and his powerful strike draws a top save out of Poleksic
42 mins : Back come Debrecen... Rudolf's weak volley from the edge of the box blocked by Agger
43 mins : Carragher produces a brilliant sliding challenge to clear another attempted pass into the Reds area
44 mins : Ngog on the attack... sliding challenge from Bodnar gives LFC a corner... Carra flicks Gerrard's kick on... Debrecen clear...
20:30 GMT : Half Time Reached
45 mins : Half-time in Budapest. Ngog's goal gives LFC a deserved 1-0 lead but Fiorentina's lead in Italy is not good news for Reds
20:45 GMT : Second Half Begins
46 mins : The Reds get the second half underway
46 mins : There's not much we can do other than make sure we win this game
47 mins : Ngog attempts to pick out Gerrard's run into the box but it's over hit
49 mins : Kuyt's driven ball into the box is cleared... Liverpool have had all of the possession so far in this second half
50 mins : Gerrard's cross deflected behind for a corner
51 mins : Aurelio takes... cleared... Insua pumps it back in but it comes to nothing
53 mins : Johnson's pass releases Kuyt into space down the right but there is no-one in the middle to meet Dirk's cross
55 mins : Gerrard's shot on the turn is deflected behind for a corner... quickly taken... Johnson's ball into box almost breaks for Carra but Debrecen clear
56 mins : Yet another corner for LFC... Johnson's cross evades everyone in the centre
57 mins : Lucas plays Gerrard through on goal but the skipper's shot is brilliantly blocked by Meszaros
59 mins : Gerrard thwarted again as he diverts Kuyt's cross towards goal after a brilliant dummy by Johnson, but Debrecen stopper Poleksic makes another good save
61 mins : Still 1-0 to Fiorentina against Lyon. We need a goal from the French side!
62 mins : Substitution: Adamo Coulibaly for Peter Szakaly:
64 mins : Good chance for Reds as a deep cross from Kuyt is narrowly headed off target by Lucas from 10 yards
65 mins : Kuyt fires high and wide from an angle after a fast counter-attack by the Reds
66 mins : Debrecen loop a free-kick into the Liverpool box but Reina is able to collect with ease
68 mins : Mazy surge forward from Agger, who then sets up Gerrard on the edge of the box but the captain's powerful strike is off target
72 mins : Bit of a lull in the game at the moment
74 mins : Insua in space down the left but his cross is easily cleared
76 mins : Kuyt delivers a good ball into the box... Aurelio glances a header goalwards but it's easily saved
77 mins : Substitution: Yossi Benayoun for David Ngog:
78 mins : Deep corner from Aurelio headed right across goal and wide by Carragher
79 mins : Coulibaly shoots goalwards for Debrecen but the flag is up for offside
79 mins : Substitution: Tibor Dombi for Marcell Fodor:
82 mins : Masch drives a low effort towards goal from 25 yards but Poleksic is able to save
85 mins : Czvitkovics lofts a free-kick well over the bar from fully 30 yards
88 mins : Insua deflects Bodnar's cross out for a corner... taken short... Rudolf's dangerous cross turned behind by Carra and Reds clear corner
89 mins : Substitution: Andrea Dossena for Fabio Aurelio:
90 mins : Two minutes of added time to be played
92 mins : Substitution: Alberto Aquilani for Steven Gerrard:
92 mins : Reina saves Liverpool with a brilliant block from Coulibaly's shot from close-range
21:33 GMT : Match Over

Liverpool 1-2 Fiorentina
9th December 2009, Champion League Group

Reds sunk by last-gasp goal

Alberto Aquilani made his first start for Liverpool as the Reds signed off from the Champions League with a 2-1 defeat to Fiorentina at Anfield - call LFC TV now on 0845 234 4567 to discuss the game on our post-match phone-in.

The Italy midfielder played for 76 encouraging minutes, giving fans a glimpse of his abundant talent.

Yossi Benayoun put Rafa Benitez's charges into the lead on the stroke of half time with a deft header from Steven Gerrard's free-kick.

Fiorentina drew level through Martin Jorgensen midway through the second period on the night Fernando Torres made his return to action as a 64th minute substitute following injury.

But La Viola ensured they will take top spot in Champions League Group E when Alberto Gilardino netted an injury-time winner to claim victory for the Italians.

Leading into the game, Rafa Benitez had spoken of the importance of not only signing off from this season's Champions League on a high note, but also continuing a run that has seen the Reds go six games unbeaten and keep three successive clean sheets.

The manager's team selection reflected this as the likes of Benayoun, Gerrard, Javier Mascherano, Daniel Agger and Dirk Kuyt were included in the starting XI.

Then, of course, there was Aquilani, who was handed his first start for Liverpool since his summer acquisition from Roma.

A lengthy recuperation from an ankle injury has meant - barring a couple of fleeting substitute appearances and a cameo for the reserves - Kopites have had little opportunity to see Anfield's new No.4 in action and ensured all eyes were on Aquilani as he took to the field.

The 25-year-old was joined in the starting XI by local youngster Stephen Darby, who too was making his full debut for the first-team, and with Fernando Torres also named on the bench, there was plenty for fans to be vocal about in the opening exchanges.

Aquilani was involved in Liverpool's first chance of the game after five minutes when he burst forward to beat two Fiorentina defenders to the ball and stab it out wide to compatriot Andrea Dossena, whose cross was glanced across goal by the head of Kuyt.

At the other end, the visitors almost capitalised on a weak back-pass from Agger, which was chased down by Mario Santana but Diego Cavalieri, deputising for Pepe Reina, was speedily off his line to avert the danger.

Understandably, the contest was not running at full throttle, though Martin Jorgensen spurned a promising opening for La Viola on 27 minutes when he blazed Gilardino's pull-back high into the Kop from the edge of the area.

While third place had already been confirmed for Liverpool prior to kick-off, Fiorentina were looking for three points to secure a top spot finish in the group, and a succession of corners almost saw the Italians open the scoring just after the half hour mark.

First, Lorenzo De Silvestri sent a towering header towards goal, which was superbly tipped over the bar by Cavalieri. Then a cleverly worked corner routine saw the ball lofted to the lurking Riccardo Montolivo on the edge of the box, but his powerful volley was repelled by the Reds' Brazilian custodian at full-stretch.

Fiorentina were left to rue their missed opportunities as Liverpool broke the deadlock two minutes before the break when Gerrard's out-swinging free-kick from the right was glanced beyond Sebastian Frey by Yossi Benayoun to hand the home side the advantage heading into half time.

La Viola almost forced an equaliser in the opening moments of the second period, but Cavalieri was able to block Gilardino's close-range header.

Back came Liverpool and Dossena sliced a volley into the side netting after Gerrard's initial corner had only been half cleared by the Italians before Marco Donadel did well to divert another flag-kick away from the head of Benayoun.

It was another set piece that should have given the hosts their second on the hour. Gerrard's delivery was again precision perfect, but the unmarked Agger could not extend his dive far enough to nod past Frey - and the Reds were made to pay as Fiorentina helped themselves to an equaliser on 63 minutes.

A counter-attack from the visitors saw Gilardino poke the ball into the path of Jorgensen, and the Dane made no mistake with a composed finish from the edge of the box.

However, Liverpool fans were soon lifted once more as Torres made his long-awaited return to action as a substitute with 25 minutes remaining on the Anfield scoreboard.

Typically the Spain ace was soon involved, seeing a close-range shot blocked by Frey following a corner. The ball broke to Darby within range, but the defender resisted the temptation to try his luck, instead floating a cross back into the area which Gerrard brought down and struck into the side of the net.

Moments later, Torres dazzled two Fiorentina defenders before dinking a cross into the centre, which Dossena was inches away from turning goalwards.

Benitez opted to withdraw Aquilani from the action with 14 minutes remaining, and the midfielder received a standing ovation as he was replaced by another debutant in the form of Dani Pacheco.

The Spanish whiz kid has been in electric form for John McMahon's reserve team this campaign and wasted no time in bringing Anfield to its feet as his clipped shot was palmed around the base of the post by Frey.

Both sides pressed in search of a winner, however Red hearts were broken two minutes into stoppage time as Gilardino converted Juan Vargas' cross from close-range to give Fiorentina victory.