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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 stay on top of the premier league, thanks to a solid win away to blackburn rovers last night. struggling blackburn did all they could to frustrate liverpool, and despite liverpool’s possession, blackburn managed to keep liverpool’s attacking threat neutralised.

in fact, it was blackburn who had the better of the first half chances, after a long drive was deflected off the post by a diving reina. at the other end, kuyt and benayoun missed chances but none were serious threats to blackburn’s back line.

liverpool looked to continue their run of goalless draws, as the half time whistle sounded, to the jeers of the traveling fans. however, after the break, the game got scrappy and both sides had trouble stringing moves together. alonso had a good shot denied, and gerrard’s thumping drive was parried into the path of benayoun, who was unable to put the ball into the net.

alonso wasn’t going to be denied twice. the spaniard got into the penalty box and when blackburn failed to clear, he side footed home an easy goal.  blackburn again missed a good chance before benayoun collected a great pass from kuyt. the israeli captain stepped over a tackle and fired a shot into the bottom corner.

stoppage time - gerrard shoots, scoring liverpool’s third goal

blackburn fought back with a late goal, but the game was put out of their reach when gerrard scored in stoppage time. the blackburn keeper was under enormous pressure from el zhar. the keeper’s clearance found reira who passed to gerrard, leaving liverpool’s captain with a simple task of shooting into an unguarded net.

the game was a good return to goals for liverpool, who have been suffering a goal drought with two goalless draws and torres injured. it was quite a different formation for liverpool. out of form keane was on the bench, while babel and benayoun (who’s unhappy with his lack of game time) both started.

liverpool have made a good start to their december campaign. the reds now look toward their midweek game against psv eindhoven. the game, although important for leading their champions league group, is actually a dead rubber for liverpool, who have already qualified. following that, liverpool prepare to face hull and arsenal, which will no doubt be liverpool’s toughest game in december.

liverpool regain their position at the top of the premier league after a frustrating 0-0 draw with west ham at anfield last night. chelsea fell to arsenal yesterday, clearing the way for liverpool to take top spot. all three points would have given liverpool a useful cushion, however the reds were denied their chance by their resilient visitors.

liverpool started well and dominated possession, controlling the midfield and putting good passes together. however it was former red craig bellamy who almost stunned the home team with a long range drive that was deflected off the post. liverpool’s best chance of the half came when west ham’s keeper brilliantly saved a shot by benayoun. twice more west ham were forced to save off their line, denying reira and hyypia the chance to score.

liverpool continued to apply pressure and were unlucky not to be awarded two penalties, after an apparent hand ball by a west ham defender. hyypia had two more opportunities, both headers missing their mark. kuyt and gerrard also being denied by west ham’s defense.

west ham pushed forward late in the second half, as liverpool began to tire, but were not able to put together any serious attacks.

despite the win, the anfield faithful showed their disappointment with a chorus of jeers at the final whistle. although liverpool now sit at the top of the table, it was clear that the home team’s performance was below expectations. liverpool are beginning to show a predictable pattern of not getting vital wins at home, to teams who are traveling to anfield looking for a draw.

rafa claimed that liverpool “deserved to win”. yet, there was very little evidence that liverpool deserved anything with their poor finishing.

having taken the lead, liverpool now need to focus on keeping it. the reds have a good run through december. liverpool will be away to blackburn rovers this coming weekend, followed by a midweek game against psv eindhoven in the champions league. liverpool will finish the year with games against hull, arsenal (away), bolton and newcastle. the match against arsenal at emirates stadium will be a tough game, but the rest are easily winable.

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.

liverpool’s title hopes are being taken seriously after the reds won a comfortable derby against mersey rivals everton. liverpool traveled to goodison for what is usually one of the most torrid derby matches in england, however from the outset the reds completely dominated everton with slick passing and clean movements. the first half was all liverpool, despite few chances at scoring.

the second half started in the same fashion, with liverpool dominating possession and the controling the ball. however liverpool were starting to put a lot of pressure on the toffees’ back line. howard, everton’s keeper, made a few saves from gerrard and kuyt, but was completely undone when keane and torres combined to open the scoring. keen flicked a good lobbed cross into the box, kuyt ran an angle and took everton’s defense with him, leaving torres wide open to smash the ball past the keeper.

strike sensation fernando torres celebrates his second goal against everton

a minute later, torres claimed the rebound after kuyt’s shot. he doubled the score with a volley that ricocheted in off the top post. liverpool were on fire and everton had no answers. kuyt found the net, but his shot was ruled off side, and torres also hit the net again but was denied too after an ufair foul ruling against kuyt.

everton’s aussie player tim cahill had a good game, until he was red carded for a foul on alonso. it seemed not to be a serious foul, but he walked away from the referee, which is why i think the red was given. and in other news, arsenal were defeated by promoted team hull. hull are celebrating a shock 2-1 win over the gunners, which for them will be just as good as winning the league.

aside from a draw at stoke, liverpool have beaten two important teams in the league, and now look forward to their midweek game against psv eindhoven. a win in their champions league group will put liverpool in a great position. after that, the reds have a good run of games. liverpool face manchester city and wigan athletic, before they face athletico madrid. at the end of october, liverpool face the all important crunch match against co-league leaders chelsea.

liverpool are currently 2nd in the league, behind chelsea. we’re equal on points, but behind on goal difference.

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.