Liverpool 1 Standard Liege 0

A night of frustration for Liverpool finally saw the Reds secure Champions League qualification. With only minutes separating the sides from penalties, Dirk Kuyt stole the win for the Reds.

A lively first half saw Liverpool open the game in determined fashion yet it was the visitors who had the better opportunities, forcing Pepe Reina into two excellent saves and inserting huge anxiety into the Anfield crowd.

The first chance for Liege came as early as the seventh minute. Mbokani robbing Aurelio outside the box and unleashing a rasping low shot which forced Reina into an excellent save, diving low to his right to tip the ball around the post.

The chance shocked the hosts out of their opening momentum and allowed the visitors to grow in confidence as they slowly settled down into what was a lively first half, complete with some tasty tackles.

Whilst Rafael Benitez had called for an all round improvement in his side’s performance from the first leg, there was little evidence in the opening 45 minutes. The Belgians, by contrast, looked far the hungrier side although still lacking that cutting edge which saw them fail to take their opportunities in the home tie

After a quarter of an hour another outstanding chance fell Liege’s way. Some poor defending from Liverpool saw De Carmago and Mbokani free in the box, yet both players conspired to get in each others way. However, the ball eventually fell to Fellaini who forced Reina into another first class stop.

The home side were wobbling and the Kop which had started the game in fine voice became noticeably agitated. Still, Benitez’s side improved slightly towards the break but their best chances were long range shots which failed to really trouble keeper Espinoza.

First Benayoun screwed a shot horribly wide after being put through by Gerrard before Alonso and Aurelio also tried their luck but without really testing the Liege stopper.

Perhaps Liverpool’s best chance of the half fell to Dirk Kuyt, five minutes from the interval but the Dutchman contrived to put his header well wide when he really should have done far better.

The home side clearly need to change something yet the second half began in much the same fashion. Benitez watched on, frown increasing by the minute, but the Spaniard waited until just past the hour mark before finally changing things by replacing Benayoun with Babel.

The substitution made little impact and still the hosts toiled, against a committed visiting side. Alonso, Kuyt and Gerrard all letting fly from range but Liverpool were unable to carve out any real danger and looked seriously disjointed. The disappointing Keane departed with ten minutes to go to be replaced by El Zhar.

Liege for their part appeared to sit back a little, as if content with a draw and willing to simply try and hit on the break. Whilst it may appear a dangerous tactic on a European night at Anfield, it saw them comfortably through the 90 minutes and into extra-time against the toothless Reds.

The additional minutes brought little in the way of chances with the game instead reaching stalemate. Indeed more fight appeared to be shown on the touchline, rather than the pitch, where Rafael Benitez and counter-part Laszlo Boloni indulged in a little gesticulation that didn’t look altogether friendly.

With ten minutes to go Arbeloa finally tested Espinoza with a fine shot that may have been going wide but which the Standard keeper met with a flying save. In any case it was the best effort of the extra half hour which was a tortuous affair for both sets of supporters.

However, with only minutes left Liverpool finally got the goal their performance simply didn’t merit. Babel crossed from the right and Dirk Kuyt, whose seems to reserve his goals almost exclusively for Europe, arrived at the far post to prod home the winner.

Liverpool: Reina, Aurelio, Carragher, Skrtel, Arbeloa, Kuyt, Gerrard, Alonso, Benayoun (Babel, 61), Torres, Keane (El Zhar, 83).

Standard Liege: Espinoza, Camozzato, Onyewu, Sarr, Dante, Dalmat (Jovanovic, 87), Fellaini, Defour, Witsel, De Camargo (Toama,100), Mbokani.

GOAL

1-0 Liverpool (Kuyt, 118)

Ref From Gill Clark goal.com

A last minute goal from Joe Cole rescued a draw for England against the Czech Republic at Wembley.

ENGLAND

James: 5.0 – A good save from Baros early on but had no chance with the goal because of the deflection. Went AWOL in the second half when he came racing out of his area only to be beaten by Sverkos. Must give his defenders nightmares at times.

Brown: 7.0 - Beaten a little too easily by Sirl, who then passed for Baros to open the scoring. However, he scored an excellent header to equalise, for his first England goal, and attempted to get forward whenever he could.

A Cole: 6.0 - Unfortunately for Cole, Baros’s shot cannoned off the Chelsea man for the first goal. Got forward well to provide width but usually had to turn back and stall due to lack of options in the box.

Ferdinand:  6.0 – A solid performance by Ferdinand who must have been disappointed to lose the captaincy to Terry.

Terry: 5.0 – Terry must shoulder the blame for the first goal. Was turned far too easily by Baros, and not a captain’s performance.

Beckham: 6.5 – His set pieces weren’t up to their usual standards but he did manage to find one delicious corner from which Brown equalised. Offered little else, but once again provided an assist.

Barry: 5.0 - Early booking after a foul on Plasil was possibly his most notable contribution and the Villa man certainly didn’t look worth £18 million.

Lampard: 4.0 - A poor performance and Frank was booed off by a frustrated Wembley crowd. Gave the ball away, made some poor challenges and generally struggled to get involved.

Gerrard: 6.5 - Saw plenty of the ball and was one of England’s better performers but found himself stuck out on the left, in a position he really doesn’t favour. A decent shot tested Cech in the first half but left midfield is simply not his most best position.

Defoe: 6.0 - A tough night for the Portsmouth striker.  Looked a little lonesome up front at times but worked hard to find shooting positions and forced Cech into several good saves.

Rooney: 6.0 – Looked to get involved but was too often far too deep and despite some decent distribution never looked like scoring.

Substitutions

Heskey: 6.0 - Given the second half in place of Defoe and held the ball up well but that was about it from the big man.

Woodgate: 6.0 - Replaced Ferdinand but is unlikely to oust the Manchester United man from the starting lineup.

Joe Cole: 7.0 - Unlucky not to start and England missed his flair. Looked bright when he came on and managed to poke the ball home for a late equaliser.

Downing: 6.5 - He added balance and managed to put some balls into the box which may not sound much, but just goes to show how dismal England were.

Bentley: 6.5 - Replaced Beckham late on and it was from his corner that England managed to sneak a late goal.

Jenas: n/a

CZECH REPUBLIC

Cech: 6.5 - Relatively untroubled by England’s shooting and had little chance with either goal. Occasionally shaky handling and he flapped at a corner, but then again on a wet pitch and with a greasy ball, perhaps not to be unexpected.

Jankulovski: 7.5 - Simply sublime free kick to put the Czechs 2-1 up and was almost good enough to win the game for the visitors.

Rozehnal: 7.0 - An easy night really although he made a meal of it with some poor clearances, but still England couldn’t capitalise.

Ujfalusi: 6.5 – Uncharacteristically sloppy at times A poor challenge on Gerrard, almost gave away a penalty and he was beaten by Brown for the equaliser. Still, kept what little attacking threat there was in check.

Grygera: 7.0 – Only played the first half but had a comfortable evening and it’s doubtful he even broke into a sweat.

Vlcek: 6.5 - Looked a danger on the right flank but was replaced at half time.

Kovac: 7.5 - Slipped some great short balls through the England midfield up to his front men.

Polak: 8.5 - An classy display by the man of the match. Strong shot early in the second half almost put the Czechs back in the lead and left England chasing shadows in midfield.

Plasil: 8.0 – Played some neat balls up to Baros and a great midfield display, thoroughly outplaying his opponents.

Sirl: 7.5 – A lovely run to set up the first goal. Out-foxed Brown completely before finding his man Baros in the box.

Baros: 7.0 - Tested David James early on with a good shot that the England goalkeeper did well to keep out. Scored, via a deflection, but did well to turn captain John Terry and hit the shot which opened the scoring.

Substitutions

Pospech: 6.5 - Given the second half in place of Grygera and the full back slotted in well.

Jarolim:  7.0 – Came on at half time and helped maintain the visitors’ midfield superiority.

Sverkos: 6.5 - Replaced the goalscorer Baros at half time and looked bright. Almost embarrassed England by rounding James on the touch line but rushed his shot and missed.

Kadlac: n/a – A late substitute for the Czechs

Rajnoch: n/a - A late substitute for the Czechs

Ref From Gill Clark - goal.com