Liverpool’s habit of leaving it to the last to qualify for the important stages of big tournaments was repeated on Tuesday as they inflicted a record 4-0 home defeat on Marseille to make the knockout stage of the Champions League.
The 2005 Champions League winners’ victory probably also ensured that manager Rafael Benitez keeps his job after a series of reports that he was unhappy with the American owners of the club.
Liverpool were joined somewhat surprisingly in the last 16 by Greek side Olympiakos, whose 3-0 win over Werder Bremen was enough to see them move through.
Midfielder Ieroklis Stoltidis’s double was the inspiration for the Greek side’s victory.
Bremen’s disappointment was not mirrored by Bundesliga rivals Schalke 04, who are now the sole German side in the knockout stage after they beat Rosenborg 3-1.
An early strike from Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard was followed by a superb solo effort from Fernando Torres, a Dirk Kuyt goal early in the second half and a stoppage-time effort from substitute Ryan Babel as Liverpool became the first English club to win at the home of France’s best-supported club.
From the fourth minute, when Gerrard knocked in the rebound from his own penalty, there was little doubt that Liverpool would complete a remarkable turnaround in their fortunes in Group A.
A 1-0 defeat by Marseille at Anfield in October had left Benitez’s side with just one point from their opening three matches.
Since then, however, they have beaten Besiktas 8-0 and FC Porto 4-1 at home and the equally comfortable nature of this win will send them into the last 16 — and into Sunday’s Premier League showdown with Manchester United — in confident mood.
”It was a fantastic performance by the players,” said Benitez, who remained tight-lipped about his dispute with the club’s owners.
”The players were up for the game and I am now just thinking about the match with United and that we are in the knockout stages and now I want to be with the players.”
For Marseille’s no-nonsense coach Eric Gerets there was just a blunt reaction.
”It was a catastrophe,” said the Belgian football legend. ”We screwed the last match [of the Champions League group stage] up.”
While Olympiakos celebrated Bremen coach Thomas Schaaf was left underwhelmed by his side’s performance.
”We are naturally disappointed,” said Schaaf, whose side finish third and will have to settle for a place in the Uefa Cup.
”We had put ourselves back into contention with the win over Real [3-2], but it wasn’t enough.”
Schaaf’s Schalke counterpart Mirko Slomka by contrast was in delirium. ”It is fantastic what we have achieved,” he said. ”This is a great success for the team and the whole club.” — Sapa-AFP