Liverpool turning into road warriors

LONDON — Liverpool won its second straight away game in the Champions League, beating PSV Eindhoven 3-0 Tuesday in the first leg of the quarter-finals.

Bayern Munich twice came back with goals from Daniel Van Buyten to hold six-time European Cup champion AC Milan to a 2-2 draw, giving the German team two away goals heading into next Wednesday's second leg.

Steven Gerrard, John Arne Riise and Peter Crouch scored for Liverpool, which won its fifth European Cup two seasons ago.

Gerrard jumped over the back of teammate Dirk Kuyt in the 27th minute to head in a cross from Steve Finnan. Kuyt had looked as if he was going for a shot, but he ducked in time for Gerrard to knock the ball past PSV goalkeeper Gomes.

Riise made it 2-0 in the 49th, controlling a poor clearance from Timmy Simons with his chest in the centre of the field and then sending a long-range shot past the diving Gomes.

Finnan set up Crouch for the third goal in the 63rd, crossing into the centre for the tall England forward to head in. Crouch scored three goals against Arsenal on Saturday in the Premier League in his return from injury.

"It is painful," Simons said. "I think their players were more disciplined and we made plenty of mistakes."

Jefferson Farfan, PSV's leading scorer with 17 goals this season, came off at halftime and was replaced by China defender Sun Xiang.

PSV, the 1988 European Cup champion, has not won a match since defender Alex injured his hamstring on March 11 against Excelsior Rotterdam.

Gerrard's goal was his 15th in the European Cup, making him Liverpool's all-time leader in the competition. The Liverpool captain has scored 19 goals in all European competition, trailing only Ian Rush and Michael Owen.

Liverpool also started with an away win in the previous round, beating last year's champion FC Barcelona 2-1. The English team then advanced to the quarter-finals on away goals despite a 1-0 loss at home in the second leg.

Van Buyten first equalized for Bayern in the 78th minute, scoring from close range after picking up a loose ball. He scored his second goal in the third minute of injury time with a volley off a free kick.

Andrea Pirlo gave Milan the lead in the 40th by looping a header over Bayern goalkeeper Michel Rensing.

Rensing, who was making only his second Champions League appearance, started in place of regular goalkeeper Oliver Kahn. The Bayern captain was banned from Tuesday's game for improper conduct after throwing his urine sample during a doping test after his team's win over Real Madrid in the previous round.

Kaka again put Milan ahead in the 84th from the penalty spot after Lucio took down the Brazil playmaker a minute earlier.

Replays clearly showed that Lucio cleared the ball correctly, however, and Kaka scored after vehement arguments from Bayern.

Besides playing at Bayern next week, Milan will also be without striker Alberto Gilardino. He was given a yellow card in the 53rd for continuing to play after being whistled for offsides, ruling him out of the second leg because of too many cards.

Filippo Inzaghi, who replaced Gilardino in the 72nd, is likely to get the start instead.

On Wednesday, AS Roma hosts Manchester United and Chelsea takes on Valencia.

Roma is playing in the quarter-finals for the first time since the tournament was renamed the Champions League in 1992. The last time the Italian team advanced to the last eight of the European Cup in 1984 it reached the final.

Man United is trying to repeat its 1999 feat of winning the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup.

Gerrard gets record

Steven Gerrard is now Liverpool's record goalscorer in the European Cup.

Gerrard's goal in last night's comprehensive 3-0 defeat of PSV Eindhoven was his 15th in the competition and takes him one goal ahead of Ian Rush in the list of Liverpool's all time record goalscorers in the European Cup. Gerrard is now one goal behind Rush in all european competitons and three behind all time top european scorer Michael Owen.

Gerrard rejects semi-final talk

Tue 03 Apr, 11:00 PM

Steven Gerrard refused to look beyond the return leg of their Champions League quarter-final with PSV Eindhoven despite an emphatic 3-0 win.Gerrard opened the scoring in the first half with a header before John Arne Riise and Peter Crouch completed a victory after the visitors dominated the game in the Philips Stadium.

However, the England midfielder dismissed the suggestion the Reds were already in the last four and would not consider the identity of their potential opponents.

Gerrard told ITV1: "I don't think we'll worry about that at the moment. We need to finish it off, there are still 90 minutes to play and [we will] worry about that [the semi-final] once we are there. We need to be professional."

Team-mate Crouch admitted the scoreline was better than he imagined before the game, saying: "We came to not concede and get an away goal so it's even better. To score three goals away in Europe is always good.

"I don't know if it is about the rotation system but all the lads looked fresh out there tonight.

"It was great result away from home."

PSV Eindhoven - Liverpool: Player Ratings

Goal.com's Rob Hogley weighs up the performances at the Phillips Stadion on Tuesday night...

PSV Eindhoven:

Gomes 6.5 - Could do nothing with the three goals, but flapped away a cross nicely in the shaky early second half minutes.

Kromkamp 6 - Showed why Liverpool didn't require his services. Average display.

Da Costa 5 - PSV sorely missed Alex at the back and Da Costa's display didn't help that.

Simons 4 - Gifted the ball away before Riise's crucial goal for Liverpool

Salcido 5 - Infrequently looked a threat out wide.

Mendes 4 - The rated Ecuadorian was very poor, and was hauled off the pitch after the second goal.

Vayrynen 5 - Threatened in the first half, but was rarely seen after the break.

Cocu 6 - PSV needed his experience, but his distribution was often lacking.

Culina 6 - Another player that only showed glimpses of an attacking threat.

Farfan 6 - Was clattered by Reina in the first half and then didn't appear after half-time.

Diego 5 - The midfield failed to provide the service, but Diego was still a disappointment.

Substitutes:

Sun 6
Kluivert 5
Feher 5

Liverpool:

Reina 7 - A very comfortable evening for the Spaniard.

Finnan 8.5 - Great all-round display and two sensational crosses from the right that led to Gerrard and Crouch's goals.

Carragher 8 - Faultless at the back and almost scored in the first half

Agger 7.5 - Made defending look very easy.

Riise 7.5 - A trademark finish from a key man for Liverpool in the Champions League,

Gerrard 8.5 - A typical captains performance from Gerrard. He was at the heart of everything and scored the opener.

Mascherano 8 - The Argentine looked like he'd been competing in the Champions League for years. Very accomplished.

Alonso 6.5 - Did what needed to be done, but not Liverpool's best player.

Aurelio 7 - The match was tarnished by an awful injury to the wideman. He had previously had a good game.

Kuyt 7 - Worked tirelessly but had little involvement in the final third.

Crouch 7 - The in form striker took his goal well with a fine header.

Subs

Zenden 6
Pennant 6
Gonzales 7

PSV EINDHOVEN 0 - 3 LIVERPOOL

Tuesday 03 April 2007 19:45 , Champions League Quarter Final (1)

REDS CRUISE TO Q-FINAL FIRST LEG SUCCESS

Liverpool have one foot in the semi-final of the Champions League following an impressive 3-0 victory against PSV in the Philips Stadium on Tuesday night.

Goals from Steven Gerrard, John Arne Riise and Peter Crouch fired the Reds to a comfortable quarter-final first leg success that leaves them odd on favourites to secure their place in the last four.

And on what was another memorable night of European football, Gerrard rewrote the history books - his goal taking him beyond legendary Anfield striker Ian Rush as the club's all-time top marksman in the European Cup.

The skipper broke the deadlock in the 27th minute, heading home from a Steve Finnan centre to register his 15th goal in the competition, and from that point the outcome never seemed in doubt.

Any faint hope the lacklustre Dutch side may have had of forcing their way back into the game evaporated shortly after the break when Riise increased the lead with a trademark thunderbolt finish from 30-yards out.

Crouch then sealed the emphatic win when he towered above the home defence to head Finnan's cross into the top corner of the net.

The only downside to the evening was an Achilles injury sustained by Fabio Aurelio midway through the second half; the Brazilian pulling up when unopposed in the opposition half and stretchered off.

But even that couldn't dampen the mood of the jubilant travelling Liverpudlians who headed for home with their dreams of another European Cup triumph in May firmly intact.

Teams

Liverpool: Reina, Riise, Agger, Carragher, Finnan, Aurelio, Gerrard MBE (captain), Alonso, Mascherano, Crouch, Bellamy. Subs - Hyypia, Zenden, Gonzalez, Pennant, Arbeloa, Bellamy, Dudek

PSV Eindhoven: Gomes, Simons, Vayrynen, Mendez, Kromkamp, Culina, Cocu, Da Costa, Salcido, Farfan, Tardelli. Subs - Addo, Marcellis, Kluivert, Moens, Feher

Referee: Bertrand Layec (France)

Conditions: Dry and mild

Attendance: Unknown

Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Javier Mascherano

Breakdown

18:05 GMT : Match Starts
18:46 GMT : Match Starts
1 min : PSV kick the game off but Liverpool are on the attack straight away
2 mins : Vayrynen turns and shoots over from just insude the box
6 mins : Carragher puts the ball behind for a throw in as PSV attack
11 mins : Masherano does well to win the ball but PSV pick up a pass and start an attack
15 mins : Riise attempts to hook the ball into the area but the ball is deflected behind for a corner
16 mins : Carragher header well saved by Gomes is the PSV goal
19 mins : A move between Agger, Gerrard abd Kuyt breaks down just over the half-way line
20 mins : Crouch shoots high and wide from outside the box
22 mins : PSV go close to taking the lead but a close range shot is deflected over the bar
27 mins : GOAL! Steven Gerrard MBE: Great header from the captain
33 mins : PSV win a corner after a free-kick floated into the box is put behind by a Liverpool defender
37 mins : REina saves well as PSV mount a rare attack
38 mins : First Booking: Javier Mascherano: Late challenge sees the midfielder enter the book
40 mins : Reds attack breaks down as Alonso and Kuyt attempt to link up together
43 mins : Crouch shoots well wide of goal from distance
19:30 GMT : Half Time Reached
19:46 GMT : Second Half Begins
46 mins : Alonso hits a shot against the ground the bounces over the bar
49 mins : GOAL! John Arne Riise: Great half-volley from outside the box
51 mins : Substitution: Patrick Kluivert for Edison Mendez:
56 mins : Riise almost takes advantage of a misunderstanding inside the PSV area
58 mins : Alonso attempts a chip over the PSV 'keeper from just over the half-way line but his shot clears the bar
62 mins : GOAL! Peter Crouch: Heads home into the top corner from a Finnan centre
65 mins : Substitution: Boudewijn Zenden for John Arne Riise:
67 mins : Substitution: Csaba Feher for Jan Kromkamp:
69 mins : Salcido shoots well wide after the ball breaks free inside the Liverpool box
71 mins : First Booking: Diego Tardelli:
72 mins : Aurelio goes down clutching his leg despite no challenge. It looks a serious injury
74 mins : Substitution: Mark Gonzalez for Fabio Aurelio:
76 mins : Kuyt wins a free-kick inside the PSV half but Liverpool, can't make it count
77 mins : Gonzalez shoots wide of goal from distance
82 mins : Gonzalez beats teh offside trap but his cross is deflected behind for a corner
84 mins : Substitution: Jermaine Pennant for Peter Crouch:
86 mins : Gonzalez shoots high over the bar after a great attack is started by Gerrard
20:34 GMT : Match Over

GERRARD: WE STILL HAVE TO BE PROFESSIONAL

Paul Eaton 03 April 2007

Steven Gerrard insists Liverpool can't yet look forward to the semi-finals of the Champions League despite a comfortable first leg quarter-final success in Eindhoven.

Goals from Gerrard, John Arne Riise and Peter Crouch have given Rafael Benitez's side a 3-0 lead to defend at Anfield next week, but despite the one-sided scoreline the captain insists there's still work to be done and he isn't yet entertaining the prospect of a last four clash with Chelsea or Valencia.

"We can't think about that just yet," he said. "There's still work to be done in this tie and we have to make sure we're professional at Anfield next week and finish the job off. There's still 90 minutes to play.

"If we do that then we can think about playing Chelsea or Valencia, but not yet.

"It was a good performance from us tonight. We were solid and hard to break down. Once we got the first goal we knew what we wanted to do and we did it well."

Crouch netted his second headed goal in the space of two games to give the Reds a three goal lead and he admits it was a better result than they were expecting.

"The idea was not to concede and try to score an away goal," he said. "To score three was better than we'd planned for.

"To win 3-0 away anywhere in Europe is a great result and we're all delighted."

Steven Gerrard added an honour from the Queen

March 22, 2007 12:00am

ENGLAND and Liverpool star Steven Gerrard added an honour from the Queen to his collection of sporting medals today when he picked up an award at Buckingham Palace in London.

The 26-year-old was made an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) - and said meeting the queen was a more important event than the biggest cup final match.

"I've played in special games with special people but I've never experienced anything like this,'' he said.

"It's completely different nerves to football. In football, I know what I'm going to do but today is a big day and a proud day for me.''

The Liverpool captain, who has won two English FA Cups and a Champions League winners' medal, added: ``I've achieved a lot but I'm still only 26 and it's early in my career. I'm hungry for more.''

Gerrard, who is also England's vice-captain, was joined at the palace by his girlfriend Alex Curran.

- AFP

Medal with a difference: Liverpool and England star Steven Gerrard and partner Alex Curran were guests of the Queen at Buckingham Palace today, when Gerrard was awarded the MBE for his services to English football. Picture: AP

Liverpool's Steven Gerrard Profile

Position: Midfielder Date of Birth: 30/05/1980 Height: 6' 0 Weight: 12st 6 1st team games: 378 1st team goals: 71 International caps: 53 International goals: 10 Former clubs: Trainee Birth Place: Whiston

He was also named PFA Player of the Year for 2006 and was awarded the MBE in the Queen's honours list at the start of 2007. He also gave an inspirational peformance when he scored twice to help Liverpool win the FA Cup against West Ham. His last gasp sensational strike forced extra-time and broke Hammers fans hearts and sent Reds fans ecstatic.

Gerrard is the driving force of the team and plays with a great passion for the red shirt. He signed a new four year contract in the summer of 2005 and put an end to the speculation about his future.

In Istanbul Gerrard scored the first goal that got Liverpool back into the game in the Champions League final against AC Milan, and also won the penalty that enabled Xabi Alonso to equalise.

A boyhood Liverpool fan, Gerrard is living the dream of playing for his team and is considered by many to be the complete midfield player.

Tough tackling and with great passing vision Gerrard is also capable of scoring spectacular goals. Indeed his strike against Manchester United during the 2000/01 treble season was voted the club's best ever Premiership goal, in an exclusive poll on Liverpoolfc.tv

Gerrard's medal collection with his boyhood team now reads Champions League, two FA Cup, two League Cup (Worthington and Carling), UEFA Cup, UEFA Super Cup. Gerrard also picked up the PFA Young Player of the Year award in 2001.

Gerrard made his Reds debut in November 1998 as a second half substitute for Vegard Heggem against Blackburn. His full debut came in the UEFA Cup against Celta Vigo and despite the Reds losing on the night, Gerrard's outstanding performance belied his tender years.