Liverpool 2 Roma 0
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Jari Litmanen wheels away in delight having opened the scoring on a famous European night at Anfield (© Reuters) |
Liverpool have booked their place in the Champions League quarter-finals after a pulsating 2-0 victory over group B favourites Roma.
Jari Litmanen, standing in for injured striker Michael Owen, converted a seventh minute penalty and Emile Heskey headed in a Danny Murphy free-kick in the 64th to secure the points in their final second phase match.
The result meant that Roma, who had started the game as group leaders, and Liverpool both finished on seven points - with the Reds qualifying due to a better head-to-head record after a 0-0 draw in Rome's Olympic Stadium in December.
Liverpool's morale had been given a lift before kickoff when manager Gerard Houllier made his return to the dugout for the first time since emergency heart surgery last October. The Frenchman was given a hero's welcome by the Anfield faithful.