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PSV Eindhoven 0-3 Liverpool
By Mandeep Sanghera
A ruthless Liverpool powered to a resounding win over PSV Eindhoven to all-but book their place in the semi finals of the Champions League.
Steven Gerrard thumped in a header from Steve Finnan's cross to put the Reds ahead and become Liverpool's leading scorer in European Cup competition.
PSV were ripe for the taking and the Reds showed no mercy as John Arne Riise thundered in a long-range strike.
Peter Crouch put the gloss on the win when he nodded in another Finnan cross.
Liverpool had to be patient at the start of the first leg of the quarter-final and probe for an opening as PSV adopted a conservative approach despite being at home.
The Dutch side's approach seemed to stem from losing 5-1 in their last league fixture at the Philips Stadion during a poor run which has seen them fail to win in their last four outings.
The Reds were allowed to dominate possession and almost took advantage from a corner.
Jamie Carragher made good contact with a header and PSV keeper Heurelho Gomes had to dive at full stretch to palm the ball round the post.
PSV sprang a rare attack to shock Liverpool and an unmarked Mika Varynen at the far post had his angled volley deflected over.
Liverpool heeded the warning and Finnan made a bursting run on the right before crossing for Gerrard to power a header low into the corner of the net.
The goal was Gerrard's 15th in the European Cup and he overtook Ian Rush as the club's record goalscorer in the competition.
Gerrard's landmark effort also forced PSV into a change of plan and attempt a more attacking game.
But Liverpool comfortably kept their out-of-form rivals at arm's length and were nearly gifted a second straight after the break.
A misunderstanding between keeper Gomes and his defender gave Xabi Alonso a sight of goal from 18 yards only for the Spaniard to slice his shot off target.
PSV were uncertain and nervous in defence and a stray backpass let Riise unleash a trademark left-foot thunderbolt into the top corner.
Striker Patrick Kluivert came on for PSV as they tried to salvage something from the game but Crouch headed in from eight yards from Finnan's pin-point delivery.
Liverpool controlled the rest of the game after building up an apparently unassailable lead and the only setback for the visitors was a serious-looking injury to left midfielder Fabio Aurelio.
PSV: Gomes, Kromkamp (Feher 68), Da Costa, Simons, Salcido, Mendez (Kluivert 51), Vayrynen, Cocu, Culina, Farfan (Sun 46), Tardelli.
Subs Not Used: Moens, Addo, Marcellis.
Booked: Kluivert, Feher.
Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Agger, Riise (Zenden 65), Gerrard, Mascherano, Alonso, Aurelio (Gonzalez 75), Crouch (Pennant 85), Kuyt.
Subs Not Used: Dudek, Arbeloa, Hyypia, Bellamy.
Booked: Mascherano, Kuyt.
Goals: Gerrard 27, Riise 49, Crouch 63.
Att: 36,500
Ref: Bertrand Layec (France).
Story from BBC SPORT:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/spo...pe/6517163.stm
Published: 2007/04/03 20:35:11 GMT
© BBC MMVII
By Mandeep Sanghera
A ruthless Liverpool powered to a resounding win over PSV Eindhoven to all-but book their place in the semi finals of the Champions League.
Steven Gerrard thumped in a header from Steve Finnan's cross to put the Reds ahead and become Liverpool's leading scorer in European Cup competition.
PSV were ripe for the taking and the Reds showed no mercy as John Arne Riise thundered in a long-range strike.
Peter Crouch put the gloss on the win when he nodded in another Finnan cross.
Liverpool had to be patient at the start of the first leg of the quarter-final and probe for an opening as PSV adopted a conservative approach despite being at home.
The Dutch side's approach seemed to stem from losing 5-1 in their last league fixture at the Philips Stadion during a poor run which has seen them fail to win in their last four outings.
The Reds were allowed to dominate possession and almost took advantage from a corner.
Jamie Carragher made good contact with a header and PSV keeper Heurelho Gomes had to dive at full stretch to palm the ball round the post.
PSV sprang a rare attack to shock Liverpool and an unmarked Mika Varynen at the far post had his angled volley deflected over.
Liverpool heeded the warning and Finnan made a bursting run on the right before crossing for Gerrard to power a header low into the corner of the net.
The goal was Gerrard's 15th in the European Cup and he overtook Ian Rush as the club's record goalscorer in the competition.
Gerrard's landmark effort also forced PSV into a change of plan and attempt a more attacking game.
But Liverpool comfortably kept their out-of-form rivals at arm's length and were nearly gifted a second straight after the break.
A misunderstanding between keeper Gomes and his defender gave Xabi Alonso a sight of goal from 18 yards only for the Spaniard to slice his shot off target.
PSV were uncertain and nervous in defence and a stray backpass let Riise unleash a trademark left-foot thunderbolt into the top corner.
Striker Patrick Kluivert came on for PSV as they tried to salvage something from the game but Crouch headed in from eight yards from Finnan's pin-point delivery.
Liverpool controlled the rest of the game after building up an apparently unassailable lead and the only setback for the visitors was a serious-looking injury to left midfielder Fabio Aurelio.
PSV: Gomes, Kromkamp (Feher 68), Da Costa, Simons, Salcido, Mendez (Kluivert 51), Vayrynen, Cocu, Culina, Farfan (Sun 46), Tardelli.
Subs Not Used: Moens, Addo, Marcellis.
Booked: Kluivert, Feher.
Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Agger, Riise (Zenden 65), Gerrard, Mascherano, Alonso, Aurelio (Gonzalez 75), Crouch (Pennant 85), Kuyt.
Subs Not Used: Dudek, Arbeloa, Hyypia, Bellamy.
Booked: Mascherano, Kuyt.
Goals: Gerrard 27, Riise 49, Crouch 63.
Att: 36,500
Ref: Bertrand Layec (France).
Story from BBC SPORT:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/spo...pe/6517163.stm
Published: 2007/04/03 20:35:11 GMT
© BBC MMVII