Liverpool vs Lille, 2009/10 UEFA Europa League, Third Round

· 2nd Leg - Liverpool win 3-1 on aggregate

Liverpool

9': Steven Gerrard (P)
49': Fernando Torres
90': Fernando Torres

FT
3 - 0
2nd Leg - Liverpool win 3-1 on aggregate

Lille

About

Liverpool are hosting Lille at Anfield, Liverpool, England, starting on . The match is a part of the UEFA Europa League.

Match Timeline

0': Join us at 20.05GMT as Liverpool look to overcome a 1-0 defeat from the first leg in Lille and seal their progress in the Europa League.
0': Some early team news... Midfielder Alberto Aquilani's illness means Lucas returns to Liverpool's starting XI.
0': There is also a recall for Dirk Kuyt on the right of midfield as Maxi Rodriguez is ineligible, and Steven Gerrard captains the side for the 300th time.
0': No Albert Riera though. Unsurprising, given his recent comments about the ''sinking ship'' of Liverpool and Rafa's failure to talk to anyone.
0': Gerrard and Torres start together, which is important for the Reds.
0': This is how Lille line up: Landreau, Beria, Chedjou, Rami, Emerson, Balmont, Mavuba, Cabaye, Hazard, Frau, Obraniak.
0': The man to watch there? Livewire Belgian winger Eden Hazard, you may remember him from the first leg.
0': So, can Liverpool emulate Fulham and reach the last 8... We're about to kick off at Anfield.
0': Liverpool are in all red and Lille in all white. Liverpool shoot from left to right and it is they who kick off.
0': The famous Liverpool roar almost takes the lid off Anfield.
1': Reina takes an awkward backpass from Agger and slices it into row Z. Not the perfect start for Liverpool.
2': Liverpool looking to stamp their authority on this game with some early pressure. But Babel is disposessed
3': Insua puts a low cross in for Torres but it is cut out.
3': Babel forces through the Lille defence after a 1-2 with Lucas. Good approach play but the Dutchman pulled his shot wide from 20 yards.
4': Hazard is dealt with forcefully Insua.
5': Balmont wins a free kick after he was pushed in the back by Mascherano. Silly by Mascherano.
5': Cross comes in and is flicked out for corner by Lucas. Crucial touch by Lucas there.
6': The corner is blocked by Babel. Another corner to Lille.
7': Lille are enjoying some decent pressure in the Liverpool half and the home side look a little uncomfortable out of possession.
7': PENALTY TO LIVERPOOL!
7': Definite penalty after Lucas was tripped. Gerrard to take in front of The Kop...
8': 1-0 TO LIVERPOOL!
8': Gerrard sends Landreau the wrong way and strokes it low to the left of the goal. Landreau dived the wrong way. That's exactly what Liverpool needed.
9': Great play by Torres. He kept the ball in at the corner flag, nutmegged Emerson and his left foot shot was deflected out for a corner. World class from Torres.
10': The corner goes to the edge of the box to Insua, but the Argentine volleys it out of play.
10': Going back to that penalty, Benitez was moaning to the fourth official that a card wasn't shown
11': Lucas wins a free kick and the long ball finds Torres who couldn't quite get control and hit it over in the end. Curiously, Lucas is causing real problems for the visitors tonight. He is at the heart of everything so far.
13': Liverpool look in complete control as The Kop sings its heart out.
13': Lucas finds Torres who gets the ball taken off his toes
14': Kuyt and Mascherano deal with Cabaye with a no nonsense approach. Cabaye thought he was fouled, but he wasn't.
15': You may be interested to hear that Albert Riera has been suspended by Liverpool until Monday for having "poor communication skills". Interesting.
16': Gerrard looks to get past Mavuba, but Mavuba handles him well.
17': Liverpool looked to be on the back foot there but Glen Johnson recovers and clears for Liverpool.
18': Kuyt is adjudged to have dribbled the ball out of play but he definitely didn't.
20': Reina hits a massive clearance which almost drops to Torres, who was lurking.
21': Emerson pulls off a ridiculous dive. 9.9 for artistic impression.
22': As a result of Emerson's antics the ball fell to Babel to couldn't quite connect with the ball.
23': Liverpool are knocking the ball around beautifully and a quick move by the home side results in a chance for Johnson, who couldn't trouble the keeper with a shot on his weaker foot. Great football by Liverpool though.
24': And Johnson is busy again, forcing a throw deep in Lille territory.
25': Gerrard is hobbling after a clash with Emerson.
26': Agger and Hazard have just run into each other and Agger is hurt.
27': Gerrard was slow to his feet but seems to be okay.
27': Masherano has fouled Balmont and Lille get a free kick in a dangerous position.
28': Babel breaks forward on the left for Liverpool and instead of playing in Torres or Gerrard who were in great positions, he tries a through ball to Lucas but it was the wrong option and the ball is out for a Lille goal kick.
28': That was comfortable for Lille to defend but it shouldn't have been.
29': Liverpool win a free kick on the right corner of the box and Gerrard puts a powerful cross into Lucas. But Lucas finds himself offside from the free kick. Schoolboy from Lucas there.
30': Great chance for Liverpool. Gerrard puts a fantastic ball in from the left and Agger's header deflects off some bodies in the six yard area and is cleared off the line. That was close for the home side.
31': Another good chance for Liverpool. Kuyt feeds Lucas whose low left foot drive is saved. Lucas, curiously, has been the difference tonight.
32': How did Hazard miss? Fantastic chance for the away side. Hazard burst through the Liverpool defence with electrifying pace and his shot just hit Reina, he knew nothing about it.
33': That will give Lille confidence, but Hazard, as well as he did to get through, should have scored. Great opportunity.
34': Lille win a corner, headed out by Kuyt.
35': Balmont and Cabaye link well but the latter's cross field ball is cut out. Ambitious ball by Cabaye there. Lille are coming into this game now.
36': Torres is causing problems for Lille now, but he is offside.
37': Gerrard bursts through on the right and wins a corner off Mavuba.
38': Gerrard's corner finds the head of Agger again and this time it goes a shade over. Agger didn't seem to know too much about that. Great chance though.
39': Kuyt's excellent back post cross for Torres is almost rewarded with a headed goal by Torres. Torres can't quite get a good enough contact with the header and Lille escape.
40': Insua picks up a harsh looking yellow for blocking Obraniak. It's not Insua's first foul and could be for the previous ones as much as this one.
40': Obraniak takes the resulting free kick, but it goes straight into the arms of Reina.
42': That move was instigated by the excellent Cabaye. Lille should be looking to get him on the ball more often.
43': Mavuba is mugged by Gerrard who puts Torres through, but Torres is offside. Close that because Torres was through on goal.
44': Approaching half time. Shouldn't think there will be much added time.
45': Infact there is none! The ref blows for half time and Liverpool will be relatively happy with that half. But the tie is still in the balance as Lille need just one goal to leave Liverpool needing 2.
45': Join me in 15 minutes for the second half.
46': Second half is off. Liverpool need a goal, Lille need a goal. Should be interesting.
46': I wonder what Benitez said to his men at half time, if anything.
46': Mavuba bursts into the penalty box and Carragher makes a crucial tackle.
47': Carragher heads the resulting corner clear. Solid defending by the scouser.
48': 2-0 LIVERPOOL!
49': And it's Torres! A fantastic finish after he was put through with a brilliant long ball from Gerrard. Torres put himself behind the last Lille defender and dinked it past the rushing Landreau. World class finish from a world class striker.
50': Just what Liverpool needed and the pendulum has swung Liverpool's way at a crucial moment. 2-0 is enough to put them through, but they'll be searching for third to put this beyond the French side.
52': Torres is causing problems again. Rami backs off and backs off and although Lucas made a good run Torres only had eyes for goal there but pulled his shot just wide of the left post. Lille are petrified of Torres at ther moment.
53': Obraniak fouls Mascherano and Reina will pump it up the pitch.
54': Frau looks to threat a neat throughball through the Liverpool defence but Reina gathers.
55': Gerrard puts a delightful cross from the right into Torres but it is crucially cut out because Torres was standing right behind him.
56': The resulting corner from Gerrard finds the head of Torres, but the header is saved.
57': Those two are linking up well again. Gerrard is a different player from the first half.
58': Gerrard feeds Kuyt who looks For Torres in the box. Cut out.
59': Liverpool win a free kick 25 yards out, on the right hand side. Gerrard to take...
60': He deceives everyone by clipping it into Kuyt who is offside. Nice idea though.
60': Lille sub: Toure is on for Frau.
61': And Toure's first contribution is to be caught offside. Miles off.
62': Agger was at sea there. Toure got eh better of him after Agger mistimed his jump. Thankfully for Agger Toure's shot was sliced horribly wide.
63': Gerrard found some space outside the box and shaped to shoot before disguising a pass which was neither to Torres or Lucas. I bet he wishes he had shot.
64': Mascherano is down and writhing around like he's been hit by a train.
65': Surprise surprise, he's ok. Incidentally, Maradona is in the crowd tonight. Insua will be looking not to make any mistakes in front of his country's national manager.
67': Balmont looks for Toure with a long ball, but the ball was too long.
68': Lucas nearly lost the ball in a deep area for Liverpool. He got out of jail there as nothing came from it.
69': Lille's tactic appears to be to hit long balls to Toure and that one nearly led to a great opportunity for Toure, but Agger intercepted. And it was crucial he did.
70': Mascherano tries a Xabi Alonso from about 45 yards. Very ambitious shot, just over.
70': Lille sub: Aubameyang on for Balmont.
71': Strange substitution seeing as Balmont seemed to be causing Liverpool the most problems.
72': Having said that, Aubameyang comes close with his first touch. His header is just off target.
73': Toure looks for Aubameyang, who has actually been very bright since coming on an playing at the top for the visitors.
74': Just a reminder that Lille still only need one goal to go through. Liverpool are by no means home and dry.
75': And Aubameyang is offside but that was close. Despite my initial scepticism Aubameyang has looked very dangerous and sometime soon he will be onside.
76': The tension is mounting for Liverpool. An audible sigh of relief from the fans every time a Lille attack breaks down. Liverpool look tired.
77': Insua shoots from the edge of the box after being assisted by Babel. Just over.
78': Hazard skips past the challenge of Insua and puts a cross in which Reina comes out and catches. Liverpool are living dangerously.
79': Liverpool sub: Benayoun on for Babel.
80': Benayoun will be expected to do the tracking back that Gerrard isn't doing, I suspect.
81': Cabaye picks up a yellow card for dissent. It looks like he kicked the ball away.
82': Rafa Benitez is making some odd hand gestures on the touchline, I think he's asking for Liverpool to raise the tempo.
83': Kuyt wins a corner for Liverpool. He drills a low shot that Landreau parries.
84': The resulting corner from Gerrard finds the head of Torres, but the Spaniard heads wide.
85': Lille sub: Vandam (not Claude) is on for Hazard.
86': Hazard is subbed and not a moment too soon. He will have done his hopes for a move to the Premier League no good with a quiet performance at Anfield tonight.
87': Dangerous times for Liverpool, Lille have a corner.
88': Reina flabbed at the corner but Kuyt punted it to safety. Liverpool are intense pressure here.
89': Some respite for Liverpool, Benayoun's clearance almost finds Torres, who is isolated up front.
89': 3-0 TO LIVERPOOL!
89': Torres puts the tie beyond Lille. Gerrard capitalised on a misunderstanding in the Lille defence and burst through. His hot was saved and fell at the feet of Torres, who re-adjusts his body to finish from close range.
90': Lille are finished now. That was a killer blow just when Lille were looking as though they could snatch a winner.
90': Liverpool subs: N'Gog for Torres, Kyrgiakos for Agger.
90': And there are seconds remaining...
90': It has just come to my attention that Torres was about to be subbed before he scored.
90': But that's all meaningless now as the final whistle sounds! Liverpool are through.
90': A job well done in the end but Liverpool were living dangerously for long periods of the second half.
90': The two remaining English sides march on to the last 8 of the Europa League tonight.
90': Thanks for following tonight's game on Soccernet. Join us again this weekend for live coverage of the Premier League. Bye!

Statistics

LILL		LIV
10	Fouls	13
1	Yellow Cards	2
0	Red Cards	0
6	Offsides	4
6	Corner Kicks	5
8	Saves	5
52	Possession	48
7	SHOTS	16
2	ON GOAL	8
0.3	On Target %	0.5
0	Penalty Goals	1
0	Penalty Kicks Taken	1
0	Accurate Passes	0
0	Passes	0
0.0	Pass Completion %	0.0
2	Accurate Crosses	3
11	Crosses	9
0.2	Cross %	0.3
0	Long Balls	0
0	Accurate Long Balls	0
0.0	Long Balls %	0.0
1	Blocked Shots	0
0	Effective Tackles	0
0	Tackles	0
0.0	Tackle %	0.0
0	Interceptions	0
0	Effective Clearances	0
5	Clearances	11

Game Information

Competition: UEFA Europa League

Venue: Anfield
Location: Liverpool, England
Attendance: 38,139

Line-Ups

Liverpool

No.	Name
25	Pepe Reina (GK)
2	Glen Johnson
23	Jamie Carragher
5	Daniel Agger
22	Emiliano Insúa
20	Javier Mascherano
21	Lucas Leiva
8	Steven Gerrard
18	Dirk Kuyt
19	Ryan Babel
9	Fernando Torres

Liverpool Substitutes:

Cavalieri Diego, Sotirios Kyrgiakos, Philipp Degen, Martin Kelly, Yossi Benayoun, David N'Gog, Nabil El Zhar.

Lille

No.	Name
16	Mickaël Landreau (GK)
18	Franck Béria
23	Adil Rami
15	Conceicao Emerson
22	Aurelien Chedjou Fongang
4	Florent Balmont
24	Antonio Mavuba
7	Yohan Cabaye
26	Eden Hazard
10	Ludovic Obraniak
17	Pierre-Alain Frau

Lille Substitutes:

Ludovic Butelle, Jerry Vandam, Pape Souaré, Stephane Dumont, Arnaud Souquet, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Larsen Toure.

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