UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE MARSEILLE 1 LIVERPOOL 2:MARSEILLE'S COACH Erik Gerets compared Liverpool to Duracell bunnies on their arrival in the country and there is no doubt who continues to beat the drum for Rafael Benitez' men in the Champions League
Steven Gerrard elevated his Liverpool goal tally to 99 last night; his latest inspirational display saving his club from a torrid examination in the south of France.
England's win in Zagreb six days earlier has raised fresh questions over Gerrard's place and position in that team, but the captain is indispensable at Liverpool. Two goals ensured a perfect start to the campaign for last season's semi-finalists, and Gerrard's goals were essential on a night when Marseille's profligacy and Jose Reina's alertness allowed Benitez' unbeaten start to the season to continue.
Saturday's triumph over Manchester United had invigorated players and fans alike but the priority for Benitez was to avoid a repeat of last season's faltering start to the group stage. One point from the opening nine, and that a fortuitous draw at Porto in the first game, piled pressure on the manager at the height of his dispute with his US employers as well as on his resources, with the luxury of resting key players gone for the final three matches.
Benitez may well require that option for Liverpool to sustain a convincing league start into the winter months, and that intention was reflected in his starting line-up against Gerets' team. Fernando Torres began a mere 16 days after suffering a hamstring tear while Gerrard started for the first time since undergoing a double groin operation last month.
As in the corresponding 4-0 win here last December, Gerrard ran the show for Liverpool as they quickly rediscovered the inviting route to Steve Mandanda's goal, first with a looping header from Torres and then the captain forcing the goalkeeper into an low save from the edge of the area.
Ryan Babel squandered a glorious chance when he turned superbly on to Dirk Kuyt's pass into the area only to fire over from 12 yards. Attack was not the problem for Liverpool. Their static defence, however, was a constant problem that invited the punishment that came from a swift, one-touch move from Marseille midway through the first half.
Modeste M'Bami and Benoit Cheyrou, brother of the former Liverpool squad player Bruno, combined to send Lorik Cana racing clear of the offside trap and the Marseille captain kept his nerve to produce an accomplished finish beneath Reina. The breakthrough was the cue for Led Zeppelin's Kashmir and a flare to soar into the Mediterranean sky. But the smoke had not even cleared by the time Gerrard drew Liverpool level in imperious fashion.
Torres mugged M'Bami in the centre circle, opened the home defence and found Kuyt lurking on the right. Gerrard barely looked up when the industrious Dutchman's lay-off rolled across the area but, from 20 yards, swept a glorious, arcing finish into the far top corner of the stranded Mandanda's net.
Liverpool quickly added to the goalkeeper's insecurities with a second, a penalty foolishly conceded by Ronald Zubar. The centre-half first missed Jamie Carragher's long ball out of defence, enabling Babel to collect, then stuck out a needless leg that sent the forward tumbling inside the area. Gerrard converted the spot-kick off the inside of a post and then, having been ordered to retake due to encroachment, he sent Mandanda the wrong way again with a more emphatic finish.
Marseille dominated possession in the second half but, fortunately for Benitez, his defence improved too, with Carragher and Martin Skrtel responding to the increasing test of their aerial prowess and looking more comfortable decamped at the edge of their own area. Yet the home side still had the chances.
Vitorino Hilton headed a corner at the feet of Reina and Karim Ziani twice incurred the wrath of Bakari Kone when he skied inviting lay-offs into the raucous home support. Babel also missed two excellent chances to seal victory, although Mandanda made an inspired stop to block the Dutchman at point-blank range and his second was released more in hope than expectation from an acute angle. Mamadou Niang had the clearest chances, however, glancing a diving header well wide from six yards in the final minute then being foiled by Reina's legs in stoppage time.
- Guardian Service
MARSEILLE:Mandanda, Bonnart, Zubar, Hilton, Taiwo, Cana, Cheyrou, Kone (Samassa 75), M'Bami (Valbuena 41), Ben Arfa (Ziani 57), Niang. Subs not used: Riou, Zenden, Kabore, Erbate. Booked: Zubar.
LIVERPOOL:Reina, Arbeloa, Skrtel, Carragher, Dossena, Gerrard (Benayoun 69), Mascherano, Leiva Lucas, Kuyt (Keane 86), Torres (Riera 64), Babel. Subs not used: Cavalieri, Agger, Alonso, Degen. Booked: Skrtel, Leiva Lucas.
Referee:Konrad Plautz (Austria).
