The Reds opened up their Champions League group matches with a two one win at Marseille. On the same pitch that they last visited in December last year and won four nil they once again left triumphant thanks to Steven Gerrard.
Marseille got the game underway and the first half proved to be incredibly open. Both sides looked really adventurous and ready to attack where they could.
After just six minutes Fernando Torres nearly got in behind the Marseille line after a good jump for a ball. He managed to win a corner from the resulting attack which Torres himself headed goalwards only for the keeper to tip over for a second corner. Marseille broke incredibly quickly from the corner and were only denied by god defending by Dossena.
Marseille went close on thirteen minutes when Niang ran in to the area but after being forced wide by Arbeloa he blazed over.
A couple of minutes later at the other end Ryan Babel should have scored when Kuyt played a ball to him and he spun away from his marker but he blasted his shot over the bar.
A minute later as the Reds piled pressure on tot he home side Steven Gerrard forced the keeper in to a fine save at his near post with the net ready to bulge.
However with the game starting to swing more in favour of the Reds Marseille struck the opening goal. Midway through the half Cheyrou (brother of ex Red Bruno) played Cana in behind the line. His run was perfectly timed as Carragher tried to move out. Cana then raced through and slotted home past Reina who seemed a bit static.
The lead lasted just three minutes though and what a goal it was to bring the Reds back in to it. Torres tackled back well and won the ball in the centre circle. He pushed the ball wide to Kuyt who then played Gerrard a ball and he flicked a superb shot to the top far corner of the goal with the goalie stranded. A simply superb goal and the Reds were right back in it.
The Reds were then in the lead a few minutes later when Babel collected the ball in the box, shimmied past his man only to brought down. A stone wall penalty and it was given. It took two attempts after the first penalty (which was scored incidentally) was disallowed for encroachment. Gerrard stepped up a second time and scored again to make it two one. It remained two one ultimately but the second half saw the Reds withstand much pressure in midfield but with little end product off Marseille.
The second half was much more one way traffic as the Reds looked a tired side and one that couldn't pass the ball to one another.
Lucas was booked two minutes in to the half. Marseille were getting most of the ball but thankfully they weren't stretching the Reds at the back too much.
On fifty eight minutes Kone sent a looping shot wide and over the bar. A few minutes later and Hilton won a header from a corner kick which thankfully went straight at Reina who gathered comfortably.
The Reds made their first switch on sixty four minutes when Torres went off to be replaced by Riera. Shortly afterwards Benayoun replaced Gerrard.
The Reds did have a great chance on seventy five minutes when Riera flew down the left and skinned his man. His cross to the box just wasn't quite right for Benayoun but the loose ball fell for Babel who somehow picked the only area of the goal that was covered by the keeper and the chance went.
As time went on the home side still had much of the ball but slowly looked short of ideas. Robbie Keane replace Dirk Kuyt for the final four minutes.
The Reds did have a panic in the final minute though as Reina was called upon twice to rescue the Reds. First of all he dived out well to grab a Cheyrou header across goal with the striker waiting beyond him. Then in the final seconds he saved with his feet from Niang.
MotM : Jose Reina - When called upon he did his job superbly once again and saved the Reds' blushes in the final minute.
