Liverpool 1 - 0 Marseille

Ed Colenutt, November 26th 2008

Liverpool have qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League after running out 1-0 winners against Marseille at Anfield.

Rafa Benitez opted to revert to the 4-2-3-1 formation that had served him so well last season, and the tactical change seemed to have the desired effect, as the Reds looked in control from the word go.

Liverpool dominated possession through the early exchanges, but good build up play came to nothing as they struggled to create any clear cut opportunities. Marseille, despite repeatedly gifting the home side possession, somehow managed to hold firm in front of their own goal.

On 22 minutes Dirk Kuyt had the first real opportunity of the game, meeting a Fernando Torres cross with his head, but the Dutchman was unable to direct the ball anywhere other than stright at Marseille keeper Mandanda, who parried before the ball was put out for a corner.

This spurred the Reds into life though, and a minute later they had taken the lead, through a brilliantly executed Steven Gerrard header.

Bakary Kone was caught in two minds whether to track back or not as Gerrard advanced on the Marseille box, and found himself unmarked at the back post. Xabi Alonso swung in a pinpoint cross and the skipper powered the header in from six yards out.

Marseille responded positively to going behind, and twice came close to levelling the scores, first Taye Taiwo's free kick hit the post before Ronald Zubar missed a free header after Pepe Reina misjudged his punch.

Albert Riera then went close with a fierce drive from the edge of the box in what was the final chance in the half.

Despite only holding a one goal advantage Liverpool looked comfortable and fans wouldn't have been too worried about the possibility of losing going into the break. Nor would they have been worried through the five minutes that followed, as Liverpool went on the offensive from the restart. From that point onwards though the Anfield faithful were in for a nervous evening, as Marseille rose into the ascendancy.

The Reds were struggling to maintain possession, and the visitors were unlucky not to level just after the hour mark when Hatem Ben Arfa reached the bye-line only to pull the ball back behind Benoit Cheyrou, who would have surely scored from close range.

Liverpool were being stretched and Marseille could sense an equaliser.

First Ben Arfa's free-kick forced an excellent save out of Reina before last-ditch tackles from both Kuyt and substitute Andrea Dossena, who had been largely disappointing up until that point, kept the away side at bay.

Liverpool were mainly forced to defend through the remaining minutes, a couple of speculative efforts from Alonso the only chances for the home side.

The Reds defence held firm though, securing both the three points and passage into the next round, though 1st place and the chance to avoid some of Europe's heavyweights in the last 16 is out of their hands, as Atletico Madrid will top the group if they can better Liverpool's result on matchday six.

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