Liverpool 3-0 Lille (Agg 3-1)

Posted Friday, March 19, 2010 by Goal.com

Reds through with convincing win.

Goals from Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard helped Liverpool overturn their first leg deficit to beat Lille 3-0 on the night and 3-1 on aggregate as they progressed to the quarter-finals of the Europa League.

Rafael Benitez opted to partner Lucas Leiva and Javier Mascherano in central midfield with Alberto Aquilani failing to shake off a virus, while Dirk Kuyt and Ryan Babel were also selected as Yossi Benayoun was named on the substitute’s bench.

Lille were unchanged from the first leg so they were again without the strike pairing of Gervinho and Tulio De Melo so Pierre-Alain Frau started up front on his own as the visitors looked to protect their first leg lead.

Liverpool began the match confidently and their early possession produced the first effort of the match for Ryan Babel in the third minute. The Dutchman cut in from the left wing to shoot from 20 yards, but he dragged his shot wide of Mickael Landreau’s goal.

With just seven minutes on the clock, some intricate interplay by Babel and Emiliano Insua released Lucas Leiva inside the penalty area. The Brazilian danced his way past one defender but was brought down by Adil Rami and referee Nicola Rizzoli awarded a penalty.

From the penalty spot, Gerrard made no mistake sending Landreau the wrong way to give the home side the lead and level the tie up on aggregate.

Three minutes later, a dazzling run by Torres nearly doubled Liverpool’s lead. The Spaniard was found by Gerrard close to the right corner flag and after he nutmegged Aurelien Chedjou, he dribbled his way into penalty area but his shot was deflected wide.

In the 23rd minute, a crisp passing move from Liverpool involving Glen Johnson, Dirk Kuyt and Gerrard enabled Kuyt to deliver a right wing cross which Babel was unable to get on the end of.

From the clearance, Johnson managed to control the ball on his chest inside the penalty area but he was unable to get any power in his left foot shot which went straight at Landreau.

With half an hour played, Liverpool won a corner thanks to some skilful play from Torres. Gerrard delivered the cross which was met by Daniel Agger at the front post but the Danish defender’s flicked header was blocked and then cleared by a melee of Lille defenders.

A minute later and Liverpool created another chance. Lucas received a pass from Kuyt and drove forward towards the Lille penalty area, the French side backed off the midfielder who saw his 20-yard shot well saved by Landreau

The first chance for Lille came in the 33rd minute and fell to Eden Hazard. The Belgian teenager exchanged passes with Pierre-Alan Frau before jinking his way through the center of Liverpool’s defense but his right-foot shot hit Reina and went behind for a corner.

The home side continued to pile on the pressure as they went in search of a second goal. In the 39th minute, a right wing corner from Gerrard was missed by Babel but hit the unsuspecting Agger and sailed harmlessly wide of the far post.

A minute later, Torres had another chance to get his name on the scoresheet. A quick throw-in allowed Gerrard to find Kuyt who turned his man and chipped a cross to Torres but the Spaniard’s header dropped inches wide of Landreau’s post.

With minutes to go in the half, Lille created their second chance of the match as Ludovic Obraniak was fouled by Insua on the right wing. The Frenchman took the free-kick himself but his delivery was too strong for anyone in the congested penalty area and it was easily claimed by Reina.

Liverpool began the second half strongly and got their reward with a goal in the 49th minute. A long ball from Babel was misjudged by Rami and fell into the path of Torres, 25 yards from goal. The Spanish striker raced towards goal before calmly lifting the ball over Landreau and into the back of the net to give the home side the lead in the tie.

In the 57th minute, a low right wing cross from Gerrard was crucially cleared by the outstretched leg of Rami who had Torres lurking behind him waiting to pounce. From the resulting Gerrard corner, Torres met the cross but headed straight at Landreau.

With the tie finely balanced, both sides went looking for the important next goal. Liverpool needed one more goal to seal the match and a Lille goal would put them ahead on the away goals rule. Each side had some good possession in midfield but were unable to create any clear-cut chances.

In the 73rd minute, Lille did have an opportunity to score a crucial away goal from an Obraniak free-kick. His left-footed cross was flicked on by a Lille head and met at the back post by substitute Pierre Aubameyang but he couldn’t keep his volley down.

With eight minutes to go, two long range efforts from Kuyt forced Landreau into good saves. The Dutchman’s first effort was low from 20 yards but the French goalkeeper got down well to turn it away, and seconds later Kuyt received the ball in a more central position but his volley was pushed wide by Landreau.

In the 89th minute, Liverpool sealed their passage into the quarter-finals of the competition thanks to a second goal from Torres. A driving run and shot from Gerrard was parried by Landreau only to the feet of Torres, who calmly fired the ball into the back of the net.