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
Arsenal and Liverpool have missed out on Manchester City midfielder Michael Johnson after the player signed a new long-term deal at Eastlands. The England under-21 international had been heavily linked with a move to either Anfield or the Emirates but the chances of a move now are dead.
