Result: Liverpool 3 - 2 Galatasaray

Liverpool finally managed to score in a European game, and finally managed a win as well but gave up two goals midway through the second half to making the finish a little nervey. All the same, the club now sit at the top of the group with 4 points from 2 games, albeit for having scored more goals as PSV could only manage the one goal against Bordeux in a dull affair in the group’s other game.

Liverpool couldn’t have asked for a brighter start being two goals up within the opening fifteen minutes of the game, really setting the tone for the evening. Peter Crouch fired the his first and Liverpool’s first of the game past Mondragon in the Galatasaray goal after just nine minutes. Fabio Aurélion made some excellent space down the left flank, crossing from deep with an absolute pin-perfect cross for Crouch to jump and get his foot onto, hammering past Mondragon from close range.

Goal number two game just five minutes later, again supplied through the air, this time for Luis Garcia to grab his first goal of the season with a bullet header with Mondragon taken out of play with some nice football at the near post.

Liverpool were crusing at this stage and continued to test the Turkish defence, with Kuyt, Gerrard and Fabio Aurélio all going close.

The second half continued as brightly as the first, Peter Crouch popping up shortly after the break with a spectacular goal, Finnan crossing in from the right of the box for Crouch to hit a sweet overhead kick past the keeper who could do nothing but stare in amazement as the giant English man hammered the ball past him again.

Cruising at 3-0 wouldn’t last too long however as either side of the hour mark Liverpool conceded to two fine Umit Karan headers, Karan coming off the bench for the second half to aide the Turkish attack and although we had more chances after a few changes the scoreline would remain 3-2.

Fantastic start, bit of a rattle to the cage for the finish but its three points in the bag and two fine goals from Peter Crouch to leave us top of the group.

Popularity: 1% [?]