Europa League
18th March, 2010
Liverpool
José Reina
25
Glen Johnson
2
Jamie Carragher
23
Daniel Agger
5
Emiliano Insua
22
Dirk Kuyt
18
Javier Mascherano
20
Lucas
21
Ryan Babel
19
Steven Gerrard
8
Fernando Torres
9
SUBSTITUTES
Sotirios Kyrgiakos
16
Yossi Benayoun
15
David N'Gog
24
Degen
27
Nabil El Zhar
31
Diego Cavalieri
1
Martin Kelly
34
Lille
16
Mickael Landreau
18
Franck Beria
22
Aurelien Chedjou
23
Adil Rami
15
Emerson
24
Mavuba
4
Eden Hazard
7
Florent Balmont
26
Yohan Cabaye
17
Ludovic Obraniak
10
Pierre Alain Frau
SUBSTITUTES
3
Jerry Vandam
11
Pierre Emerick Aubameyang
20
Larsen Toure
29
Stephane Dumont
1
Ludovic Butelle
6
Souare
35
Arnaud Souquet
Referee: Nicola Rizzoli
© 2010 STATS Europe BV. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS Europe BV is strictly prohibited.
Liverpool book their place in the last eight of the Europa League. They rode their luck at times, despite Steven Gerrard's early strike, but a second half double from Fernando Torres was more than enough to kill off the French challengers. Playing in a more advanced role, Lucas was outstanding and it was the Brazilian's slalom run that handed Liverpool the perfect start. Chances came and went after Gerrard's opener, but it was Lille who came closest when Eden Hazard was somehow foiled by Pepe Reina when one-on-one. Torres settled the nerves just four minutes into the second half and, as the French side pushed forward in search of an away goal, Liverpool's star striker sealed a well-deserved 3-0 win from close range. Next stop, Old Trafford.
Sotirios Kyrgiakos replaces Daniel Agger, while David Ngog trots on in place of the clinical Fernando Torres.
Au revoir, Lille. Mickael Landreau can only parry Steven Gerrard's rocket after good work from Kuyt and up pops FERNANDO TORRES with a textbook poacher's finish from seven-yards.
Pepe Reina comes and flaps at a Lille corner. He gets nowhere near it and only Glen Johnson's quick-thinking spares the Spaniard's blushes.
Strange one - star man Eden Hazard off; Jerry Vandam on.
Mascherano feeds Kuyt, who strolls into space and unleashes a real firecracker. It's travelling, but Landreau palms it behind. Liverpool come again and Kuyt's foiled once more by the paws of Lille keeper Mickael Landreau.
Rafa throws on Yossi Benayoun in place of the tiring Ryan Babel, while Yohan Cabaye picks up a booking for dissent.
Lille are asking questions of Carragher and co. Hazard's cross though is too close to Reina.
The sight of Yossi Benayoun readying himself for action prompts a chorus of approval from the Kop. It's suddenly very tense...
Emiliano Insua does just enough to shepard Cabaye's teasing ball away from the gallivanting Hazard.
Jabber, jabber, jabber. Silly booking for Torres, who talks his way into the book.
Lille go for broke, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang joining the action at the expense of Florent Balmont.
Javier Mascherano spots Mickael Landreau a few yards off his line and the Argentine's Beckham-esque effort from halfway drifts narrowly wide.
Up the other end where Jamie Carragher upends Ludovic Obraniak, whose ensuing free kick is gobbled up by Pepe Reina.
Ludovic Obraniak handles on the edge his own area, but Glen Johnson's delivery falls straight into the arms of Landreau.
It's all gone a bit flat at Anfield. Liverpool continue to monopolise possession against a Lille side who just don't look like scoring.
Obraniak bundles Glen Johnson to the turf in Gerrard territory. The Reds skipper takes it quickly, but Dirk Kuyt slams it over before being flagged for offside.
No surprises as Larsen Toure replaces the feckless Pierre-Alain Frau.
Gerrard bends in a teasing cross, which Rami flicks behind ahead of the lurking Torres. It's the same combo from the resulting corner, but El Nino's header is straight at the keeper.
Lucas breezes past Frau and slips in Torres, who arrows one wide of the post from 20-yards. This is probably the best shift Lucas Leiva has ever put in since joining the Anfield club.
Balmont has a pop from 25-yards, but it's bread and butter stuff for Pepe Reina.
FERNANDO TORRES fires Liverpool closer to the last eight of the Europa League. The Spaniard pounces on Rami's woeful attempt to clear Ryan Babel's hopeful punt up from the back and coolly lifts the ball over the advancing Landreau. World-class finish.
Almost a carbon copy of the Lucas run that won Liverpool an early spot-kick as Lille's Mavuba races forward. Jamie Carragher's at full-stretch, but times his challenge perfectly to flick the ball away for a corner.
Up and running again at Anfield.
All square on aggregate. Steven Gerrard levelled things early on from the spot, but Lille are by no means out of this. Despite bossing the first 45, the Reds almost shot themselves in the foot when Lille starlet Eden Hazard burst clear, only to be denied by Pepe Reina. It's one hell of a cliche, but the next goal will be crucial.
Lille have grown in confidence in the last few moments. Hazard's beginning to weave his magic wand and is brought down for his troubles - Emiliano Insua, the culprit.
Dirk Kuyt does the hard work down the Liverpool right. The Dutchman whips one across to the unmarked Fernando Torres, whose towering header drops the wrong side of the post.
Mavuba sticks out a leg under pressure from Stevie G as Livepool win a corner. Danny Agger meets Gerrard's inch-perfect cross, but nods wide.
A Lille counter - their first attack - exposes Liverpool. Hazard plays a quick one-two with Obraniak on the edge of the area and suddenly finds himself one-on-one with Reina. You'd fancy him to score, but the teenager's chip sails behind off the keeper's head.
Brace yourselves. Dirk Kuyt picks out Liverpool's stand out player, Lucas (no, you're not seeing things. The Brazilian charges forward, urged on by the home fans, and fires straight at Landreau. The little man is flying tonight.
A Steven Gerrard corner picks out the head of Danny Agger, who forces a decent save from Landreau. The ball falls for Kuyt, but he gets his bearings wrong and the chance is gone.
Steven Gerrard falls awkwardly on the edge of the Lille 'D'. The play continues, before the Liverpool skipper eventually gets to his feet.
Dirk Kuyt works an opening out on the right and swings a ball into the danger zone. Lille clear only as far as Glen Johnson, who stings the palms of Landreau.
Not much happening at the mo', with both sides trading blows in the centre of the park. The French side really miss Tulio De Melo's movement.
Lille look to build up a head of steam as Obraniak wins a free kick, but Franck Beria completely overcooks it.
Liverpool are bossing this; Rafa's side clearly have their hearts set on a May night in Hamburg. Lille just can't get out of their own half.
Mascherano picks out Fernando Torres, who takes it in his stride and rifles a fierce strike just over. Could be a long night for the French side, or a very frustrating one for Rafa.
Fernando Torres leaves Chedjou for dead and only a last-ditch challenge from Rami denies the Liverpool no.9 a certain goal. Anfield's bouncing.
Game on. Cool as you like from STEVEN GERRARD, who takes a short run up and sends the keeper the wrong way to level the tie.
Lucas Leiva takes the initiative, the Brazilian bursting into the box and drawing the foul from Rami. No complaints - stonewaller...
Obraniak whips in a dangerous free kick from the left and Lucas glances it out for a corner, which comes to nothing.
Ryan Babel shifts in from the left and looks to bend one in at the keeper's near post. The Dutchman doesn't quite get behind it though and the ball sails wide.
Promising stuff in the opening stages - plenty of Liverpool possession, with Lille pinned back in their own half.
Danny Agger almost makes a mess of a routine backpass as Frau hares in on goal, but Reina tidies up.
The ball's rolling at Anfield.
Strike pair Gervinho and Tulio De Melo miss out, meaning a lone role for Pierre-Alain Frau up front. Eden Hazard, who scored the winner in the first leg, starts.
Dirk Kuyt and Lucas Leiva return as the Reds look to book their place in the Europa League last eight. Maxi Rodriguez (ineligible) and Alberto Aquilani (virus) make way.
Can Rafa stop 'the sinking ship', or will the French title-chasers condemn the Reds to another trophy-less campaign? Join us around 1940GMT for confirmed team news followed by live text commentary from Anfield, with kick-off at 2005GMT.
There must be something about our friends across the Channel that brings out the fighting spirit in Liverpool. The Reds overcame St Etienne 33 years ago en route to a first-ever European Cup triumph. Then, in November 1991, Liverpool overturned a two-goal deficit for the first and so far only time by beating Auxerre on another rip-roaring Anfield show-piece. Now, amidst talk of dressing room unrest and the potential departure of Fernando Torres, Rafael Benitez's side must heed those lessons as they look to make amends for last week's surprise 1-0 defeat in Lille.
Alberto Aquilani is doubtful for tonight's last-16 tie. The Italy midfielder – who scored his first goal for Liverpool against Portsmouth on Monday – missed training on Wednesday. Fellow midfielder Maxi Rodriguez is ineligible for European competition and Martin Skrtel (foot) and Fabio Aurelio (thigh) are also missing. Lille, meanwhile, are without defensive duo Nicolas Plestan and Mathieu Debuchy, as well as forwards Tulio de Melo and Gervinho.
For all the talk of make or break matches for Liverpool this season, this evening's Europa League second-leg clash at home to Lille really does have some conclusiveness to it. It's the Reds' only chance at silverware, and if they don't bag a couple of goals (or at least one to send it to extra time), it'll be the last 90 minutes Liverpool play in search of actually winning something. The equation is simple. Win. Win. Win.