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Live: Champions League Draw / Club Football Awards

The Champions League draw for the group stage (along with club football awards) are now live, both audio and video streaming on UEFA.com.

***Refresh the page here for updates***

Club Football Awards

Club Goalkeeper Of The Year
Petr Cech - Chelsea

Club Defender Of The Year
Paolo Maldini - AC Milan

Club Midfielder Of The Year
Clarence Seedorf - AC Milan

Club Forward Of The Year
Ricardo Kaka - AC Milan

Club Footballer Of The Year
Ricardo Kaka - AC Milan

Champions League Groups

Group A

Liverpool FC
FC Porto
Marseille
Besiktas

Group B

Chelsea
Valencia
FC Shalke 04
Rosenborg

Group C

Real Madrid
Werder Bremen
Lazio
Olympiakos

Group D

AC Milan
Benfica
Celtic
Shakhtar Donetsk

Group E

FC Barcelona
Lyon
Stuttgart
Rangers

Group F

Manchester United
Roma
Sporting Lisbon
Dynamo Kiev

Group G

Inter Milan
PSV Eindhoven
CSKA Moscow
Fenerbahce

Group H

Arsenal
Sevilla / AEK Athens
FC Steaua Bucharest
Slavia Prague

Popularity: 17% [?]

Result: Galatasary 3 - 2 Liverpool

So that didn’t go exactly as I had planned. Blinked and all of a sudden it was 3-1 to Galatasary before Robbie found the net at the end of the game. Nice to see him score twice though, at least scoring at all!

So Liverpool traveled to Galatasary last night and came away with a 3-2 loss, Robbie Fowler scoring in the opening 20 minutes or so of the game to give Liverpool a 1-0 lead before the Turkish side clawed their way up to 3-1 with goals coming through Necate Ates and Okan Buruk in quick succession midway through the first half before Sasa Ilic added a third in the second half. No sign of a big comeback from Liverpool this time around.

Fowler’s first goal came after 22 minutes, finding himself on the end of a low ball from Bellamy, turning the ball in almost on his back over the line past Mondragon in the Galatasary goal.

That would be all from Liverpool for a while as only two minutes later, Necate Ates took a loose ball from Alonso and ran to Dudek, slotting past the Pole with ease. Four minutes later Liverpool heads were spinning as Okan Buruk make it 2-1 with a sublime finish, firing home from all of 40 yards with a huge volley giving Dudek no chance.

Sasa Ilic fired Galatasary a further goal ahead during the second half before Fowler stepped up almost on the stroke of full time with a good header courtesy of a Jermaine Pennant cross.

Not the ideal way to finish the campaign - PSV struggling too last night as they lost to Bordeaux having already qualified - but we’re there on top of the table and we can concentrate on the league until Spring.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Result: Liverpool 2 - 0 PSV Eindhoven

Liverpool came out fighting to get top spot in the group and continued to put in the run of high performances from the group stage, Liverpool gaining top spot in the group for definite with a game to go, beating PSV on home soil 2-0.

Liverpool looked well enough in the first half but it was the second half that mattered, Steven Gerrard opening the scoring for the Reds on the 65th minute, sidefooting past Gomes in the PSV goal before Peter Crouch added Liverpool’s second of the game with a now trademark header in the last minute of normal time to seal the win.

PSV were already assured qualification as well and would have been hopeful of beating Liverpool after our recent run of league form but it wasn’t to be.

Final score from Anfield, 2-0 Liverpool.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Result: Bordeaux 0 - 1 Liverpool

All three points for Liverpool who moved another step closer to qualification for the last sixteen with a 1-0 win over Bordeaux this evening. Liverpool’s only goal, the club’s 150th goal away from home in Europe was bagged by Peter Crouch, getting his head on the end of Craig Bellamy’s corner just before the hour mark.

Chances were plentiful for Liverpool who really should have done better in the first half and make the game move to their advantage but it was the second half that brought life to the side to go out and win the game before facing United at the weekend.

The second half also saw the introduction of Momo Sissoko and Dirk Kuyt who both got almost 30 minutes each on the field when neither were really expected to play earlier in the week.

In the other game in the group tonight, former Liverpool defender Jan Kromkamp helped helped PSV recover from a first half Galatasaray goal to win their game 2-1.

The win for Liverpool comes at a good time as we’ve a tricky enough test on Sunday going up against United. Nice to recover for a recent run of bad form, good to see both Kuyt and Momo on the field in the second half, good to have Stevie back for the weekend and hopefully we can get to Old Trafford and secure three of what are becoming very vital points at this stage of the season.

Final score from France - Liverpool 1, Bordeaux 0.

Popularity: 2% [?]

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: 2% [?]

Result: PSV Eindhoven 0 - 0 Liverpool

Two good things came out of last night’s game that I can think of.

1. Pepe Reina kept a clean sheet, Liverpool’s first in a long time (competitively)
2. Galatasaray and Bordeux played out a useless draw as well

Thats about all the real positives one can take out of last night in a game that I actually thought we had a chance at winning. Sure enough, the team came close and were at least able to find the woodwork in the latter stages of the game - and Steven Gerrard was seriously unlucky with his chance that he clipped the post low, but I expected more on our 2006/07 Champions League debut.

Sami Hyypia got to sit out the game, which was ok. Agger looked well in place of him, partnering the centre with Jamie Carragher. Hyypia, for the most part, had looked sluggish at the weekend, slow to get off the mark, something which couldn’t be afforded last night.

Credit to PSV though, they looked powerful in the first half. Kone looked sharp as did Edison Mendez and Farfan.

Last night’s game was tough on the selection too. Zenden lasted the full 90 minutes, where I would have preferred to see Garcia enter in his place through the later stages of the game. Gerrard started on the bench and when he came on he replaced Bellamy with 20 minutes to play. Bring out Steve Warnock, switch Garcia and Gerrard, and increase the service to the front two. There were signs of it getting there towards the end with both Kuyt and Gerrard going close but they left it too little too late, certainly should have been more of a drive and aggression throughout both halves.

So, we come away with a draw and at least a point, which is still nothing to be sniffed at. No Gerrard, Alonso, Garcia, Hyypia or Crouch in the starting eleven - something which shocked Ronald Koeman after the game.

When I saw their team sheet I was shocked. No Gerrard, no Alonso, no Hyypia, no Crouch. In the end though I was happy with a draw, especially because Liverpool used eight men behind the ball for much of the game.

So now its onwards and upwards, or downwards to London with the visit to Chelsea just a few days away. They’re coming off the back of a nice 2-0 win last night - nothing too convincing against Bremen mind you - but they looked well. Essien’s finish, to some sloppy Bremen defending, was quite good while Ballack nearly bore a hole in the net with his penalty. Everywhere you turn there’s a Chelsea man up front waiting for the ball. But we’re not here to talk about Chelsea! At least not until Sunday anyway.

Final score from Holland last night, PSV Eindhoven 0, Liverpool 0.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Result: Maccabi Haifa 1 - 1 Liverpool

To be fair, I expected an awful lot more from Liverpool last night. Sure enought, there’s the Champions League qualification in the bag, a possible £10m in prize money and other revenue but again we’re left counting the cost of the encounter - this time looking at the loss of Momo Sissoko for a few weeks (possibly missing the Everton and Chelsea league games) along with Stephen Warnock.

After last night’s performance I think Liverpool can be highly thankful of Mark Gonzalez’ game winner at Anfield two weeks ago, his goal proving the vital difference after the draw last night. Even in a tense game, and having gone through a similar tense buildup over the past few days I have to admit that I thought Liverpool would have delivered with a bang last night, and they didn’t really do it.

Following a goalless first half, Peter Crouch put the side ahead with some good team work between himself and Jermaine Pennant. Pennant managed to flit past Magralishvili before picking out Crouch with a pinpoint cross on the near post to give Liverpool a 3-1 aggregate lead on 54 minutes, Crouch nearly boring a hole in the net with the header. Great strength in the buildup from Pennant though and nice to see the English connection starting to click.

It took only ten minutes though for Haifa to find an equaliser, Reina unable to hold onto Andersons’s allowed Colautti to tidy the ball into the back of the net. The goal gave Haifa the incentive to pick up their attacking game though neither they or Liverpool could find another goal in the game.

Steven Gerrard made an appearance during the second half, coming on to replace Momo Sissoko who had fallen quite awkwardly and is now looking at a few weeks out with a knee injury. Fabio Aurélio too made an appearance, coming on for the injured Stephen Warnock who is also looking at time out with an ankle injury, joining Jamie Carragher and John Arne Riise on the sidelines with the same.

The bonus side of things of course is that we’re in the draw on Thursday morning, we’ll see Dirk Kuyt in the Group Stage and we’ve got a European campaign to start building on.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Result: Liverpool 2 - 1 Maccabi Haifa

Liverpool take all three points going into the second leg against Maccabi Haifa in two weeks time but just about scraped the 2-1 win, Mark Gonzalez making a previously unexpected appearance to slot home a late winner.

With the game delayed due to crowd congestion, it took the away team just under a half hour to take a surprise lead goal in the first half, Gustovo Boccoli firing home after 29 minutes, the number 7 firing low into the left corner while Reina looked on helpless.

Credit to Liverpool though as Craig Bellamy fired home an equaliser just 4 minutes later on his competitive debut for the club. Momo Sissoko had teed everything up for Bellamy with his shot saved by Davidovitch as the Welshman found himself in the right spot to tap the ball home from an awkward angle and level the scores at 1-1.

1-1 is how the game would remain as well all the way to the 88th minute when Gonzalez threw Liverpool a lifeline. The Chilean stepped onto the pitch with just over 5 minutes remaining to replace Steven Gerrard and try shake off the knock he had been carrying up until tonight. Within three minutes he had blasted the ball from close range into the top corner to ensure all three points for Liverpool.

Some scares along the way defensively, Liverpool lucky not to be down by an additional goal in the early stages of the second half as Haifa certainly lived up to their “toughest opponents” tag as labeled by Steven Gerrard (in reference to this stage of the competition) prior to kick off. Great game also by Jermaine Pennant who walked away with the Man Of The Match award for his first competitive appearance also putting in some excellent performances down the wing while also coming close on 79 minutes with a deflected free kick.

Both Garcia (for Zenden) and Crouch (for Bellamy) were introduced midway through the second half and although the style of play changed, the end result was hard to create.

We knew this would be a difficult game as they have quality players and play a good counter attack. In the first half we didn’t create a lot of clear chances but in the second half we were much better as we regained more second balls and had more possibilities.

“I wouldn’t say we are now favourites to go through but I think we will be better in the second leg as they now have to come out and attack us so hopefully we will have more space. We have a little advantage and we will be a lot fitter.”

Despite the victory, both Gerrard and Benitez came out saying that Liverpool will be better in the second leg, though Benitiez and the squad know that it will be hard work, particularly when they still don’t know where exactly the match will take place.

The win for Liverpool tonight is their 13th straight win in competitive fixtures and puts them in a good position for the second leg bar conceding an away goal. Hopefully they will take the win and build on it ahead of Sunday’s big clash.

Popularity: 8% [?]

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