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liverpool’s young stars have given the reds a thumping 3-1 victory over psv eindhoven in the netherlands overnight. although a dead rubber, since liverpool have already qualified, the anfield squad headed into the game hopeful of finishing on top of the group, ensuring an easier draw during the knockout stages.

liverpool did it in style, thanks to a commanding performance by their young gun players.

the reds looked unsettled in the first half, with few passes finding their mark. psv too made a poor start, but were rewarded with the first goal after mascherano failed to clear the ball. babel equalised in first half injury time with a downward header into the bottom left corner. although not a powerful header, the shot was deflected at an angle that was awkward and almost impossible for psv’s keeper to save.

liverpool were a much better side in the second half and came out looking for more goals. they almost got immediate results when babel chose to shoot instead of pass to an unmarked keane. reira though was the one to break the deadlock. surging into psv’s half, the winger released a cracking left footer from 20 yards out, taking the keeper completely by surprise with its pace, and finding the back of the net.

ngog, another of liverpool’s up and coming stars, also got into the goals after a good run by keane down the right wing found ngog, who outran his marker and shot at a difficult angle past the keeper toward the far post. liverpool might have scored a fourth after keane again provided a good ball to lucas who missed a very good chance.

the win puts the reds on top of their group, after marseille held athletico madrid to a goalless draw. that means liverpool will have the luxury of facing a second place team in the knockout draw. currently, liverpool could face inter milan or sporting lisbon. however four more games will be played tonight. the most dangerous group for liverpool is group H, featuring juventus and real madrid. both sides have qualified, but now it’s just a race to see which side will finish on top.

liverpool now return to anfield as they prepare to face hull and continue their race to stay on top of the premier league.

liverpool have missed their opportunity to guarantee progress to the champions league knockout stage after a lacklustre draw with athletico madrid overnight. the reds were without star striker fernando torres who was unable to recover from his hamstring injury in time.

liverpool were not at their best and allowed the visitors too much space to move. however the reds did have chances and were denied two penalties after fouls by the same madrid player; the first time he dragged agger down, and the second he handled the ball in the box.

the reds were warned of madrid’s intentions to attack after the spanish team fired a threatening shot off target. liverpool’s defenses were undone before the break when a good passage of play opened up liverpool’s back four and allowed madrid the chance to score.

liverpool pushed forward more after the break but didn’t look to be in control of the game. the reprieve came when yet another penalty offense was committed, but this time awarded by the referee. gerrard slotted the shot home during injury time to secure a point for the reds.

liverpool will feel unlucky not to have taken all three points after two other penalty calls were denied, but the reds didn’t play well enough to earn the win. a draw is definitely justified. it was a night of upsets across europe as chelsea lost to as roma, inter milan and barcelona both drew against weaker teams, and bremen lost to panathanaikos.

in group d’s other match marseille beat eindhoven , which is good for liverpool. the reds now need only a single point from their last two games to ensure progress to the knockout stages. it’s likely that liverpool and athletico madrid will both progress.

rafa benitez’s men now look towards two premier league games, which the reds must win to maintain pressure on chelsea at the top of the table.

liverpool settle for a point after taking an early lead against athletico madrid in spain overnight.

the reds made a positive start when gerrard fed a great ball to keane, who broke through the defence to score. keane’s goal was somewhat controversial, after replays showed that he appeared to be offside. liverpool dominated the entire first half, giving athletico madrid little possession or chance to control the ball.

in the second half, benayoun was denied a goal when he was judged offside and athletico also missed a goal due to an offside ruling. both goals were clearly onside. but madrid looked the better team in the second half, a good strike by simao was kept out by reina and the post. however simao wasn’t to be denied. he scored a soft goal in the 83rd minute thanks to poor defending by the reds, giving simao plenty of room to shoot and score.

in the end benitez claimed that liverpool were unlucky not to win the game, but with keane’s doubtful goal and madrid’s dominance of the second half, a draw seems to be a fair result. the reds knew that athletico madrid would be most difficult team in the group. an away draw with a home game still to come is a satisfactory result for the anfield side.

on sunday liverpool travel to stamford bridge in what will be a showdown between the league’s only two undefeated teams. chelsea look the better side, and liverpool may struggle for strikers with torres still injured and keane limping off during the game against madrid.

liverpool have humbled netherland champions psv eindhoven in a convincing 3-1 win at anfield.

the visitors had a defensive mindset, playing five at the back and a lone striker. psv never looked to attack liverpool and their long ball tactics were unsuccessful against liverpool’s back line. the dutch side were hoping to emulate stoke city’s efforts to force a draw, or perhaps score a vital away goal, but playing in the back foot, it was inevitable that liverpool would break them down.

it didn’t take long for the shots at goal to start. in the opening minutes torres was denied a good shot at goal. however it only took a few more minutes for liverpool to break down psv’s defenses through a dirk kuyt goal.

dirk kuyt celebrates opening the scoring for liverpool

psv dug in deeper and held the barrier, but liverpool were surging forward. robbie keane opened his account with a good goal, hooking home a cross from torres. keane’s celebrations showed his relief at having finally broken the scoring drought since his move to anfield. steven gerrard also had reason to celebrate, after smashing home a thunderous free kick that marked his 100th goal for the club.

gerrard triumphant after scoring his 100th goal for liverpool

psv seemed to have no answer to the onslaught, playing a lone striker, and rarely threatening reina’s goal. however, psv did manage a consolation goal, bundling home late in the game.

this puts liverpool in command of their champions league group. liverpool will face athletico madrid next, a win will guarantee progress.

liverpool have an easy run of games against manchester city and wigan athletic, both of which liverpool should win. the reds’ big test will come with an away game to athletico madrid, followed by an away game at chelsea. those two games will shape liverpool’s seasons and test whether liverpool has the ability to mount a serious title challenge.

benitez is understandably happy, this is liverpool’s best start in 12 years and the club is doing well in the league and all cups … the whispers of #18 are getting louder.

claudio pizzaro of bremen slides the ball past inter milan’s keeper

in other news, the mighty green and whites, werder bremen, held inter milan to a 1-1 draw. bremen dominated the match and looked as though they deserved victory. milan opened the scoring, but bremen replied with an easy goal. numerous chances went begging, but the german squad will walk away happy with the result. bremen are in 3rd place in the group on 2 points. however, inter and anorthosis famagusta are only 2 points ahead. a win could put bremen on top of the group and keep their chances of progress alive.

in this morning’s champion’s league group draw, most teams could confess that they’re happy with the results. however liverpool, as usual, seem destined to pull out the toughest possible combination of clubs. in this year’s champion’s league group phase, the reds will face psv eindhoven, olympique de marseille and athletico madrid. although liverpool should come through that group on top, it’s definitely the trickiest group and points will be extremely valuable … i predict a fair few draws.

in other groups, man united face celtic and villareal (another tricky group) … while my boys from bremen have been grouped with the very scary inter milan. however, werder bremen’s group also has greek team panathinaikos and cyprus minnows anorthosis famagusta fc. bremen are a good chance of reaching knockouts. group h features real madrid and juventus, which should produce some excellent football.

this year the groups are more evenly distributed, with the true heavyweights managing to avoid each other. it also means, come knockout stages, that there will be some tough clashes. this year’s champions league may be the toughest yet … despite the absence of six times champions ac milan.