Liverpool vs AS Monaco, 2004/05 UEFA Champions League, 2004 First Phase

· UEFA Champions League

Liverpool

22': Djibril Cissé
84': Milan Baros

FT
2 - 0

AS Monaco

About

Liverpool are hosting AS Monaco at Anfield, Liverpool, England, starting on . The match is a part of the UEFA Champions League.

Match Timeline

0': Tonight Liverpool host Monaco, last season's UEFA Champions League runners-up. Can the Reds start with a win against top class opposition? Find out here from 19.45 UK time.
0': Rafael Benitez has left out German midfielder Dietmar Hamann to allow GBP11million Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso to take a central role against last season's Champions League runners-up in this Group A opener at Anfield. Otherwise it is the same team which comfortably beat West Brom on Saturday with Chris Kirkland over his back problem and returning on the bench; where he will be kept company by Hamann, Milan Baros and Igor Biscan amongst others. Which will be nice for him.
0': Injury and suspensions have hit Monaco hard. Javier Saviola is banned and Ernesto Chevanton and Shabani Nonda are out injured. Mohamed Kallon and Emmanuel Adebayor start up front for a side who lost six players from last season's surprise Champions League finalists.
0': Liverpool to kick off and top level European football returns to Anfield for nearly two years.
1': Liverpool knock it around on a pitch that looks like a bowling green in an unspectacular opening.
2': Outrageous attempt from Kallon who has a pop from the centre circle. He spotted Dudek off his line but the Pole is grateful to see it sail over. Not a bad try.
3': Cisse's first chance to show his pace with a long hopeful ball aimed towards the corner flag but he is pulled up for offside.
4': Worrying sight for Liverpool fans as Gerrard makes his way to the touchline looking uncomfortable. I think it's just a problem with his boots though.
5': He's back on now anyway and running freely.
6': Liverpool take their time bringing the ball out of defence as Monaco are reluctant to press. Eventually Gerrard plays a sloppy pass and concedes possession.
7': Garcia tries a flick with the back of his heel on the edge of the box but messes it up. Alonso though takes control to playa great ball wide to Finnan and his decent cross earns the first corner of the game.
8': Terrible corner finds no one and the impetus is lost.
9': Liverpool enjoying all the possession but I suspect Monaco have no problem with that as it's not in dangerous areas.
11': Evra clatters Finnan a bit drawing a few words but nothing worse from the referee.
12': Very staid opening to this one I'm afraid. 'Liverpool in Europe, what do you expect.' Who said that?
13': Cisse and Garcia nearly create a spark. Sharp ball up to Cisse is flicked with the outside of the foot for the on running Garcia who had played the pass. Would have opened up a gap but the pace of the ball elluded him.
14': Farnerud, who has looked good so far rather makes a hash of a cross field pass on the edge of the box and slices it high and wide. He is capable of better.
15': First booking of the game as Zikos crunches in on Garcia. It was a bad foul but not that bad.
16': Cisse, looking full of running, drifts wide to the right and sends over a firm cross that Maicon casually back heels clear. Nice.
17': Garcia's turn to try one from distance and it's not too far away. Took the ball down about 35 yards and hit a first time effort with the outside of his foot that curled back in enough but was too high.
18': Maicon drives a low shot across the face of goal that Dudek can just watch drift to safety.
19': Liverpool uping the tempo a bit through the dribbling - not always successful - of Kewell and Garcia and the powerful tackling of Alonso. Promising at least.
21': And now they get some reward. Cisse benefits from some simple passing between Garcia and Gerrard and finishes emphatically when one on one with the keeper. It's an easy game.
22': A quick free kick in the centre circle started it then triangles between Garcia, Gerrard and then Cisse put him through and his shot sent the helpless keeper the wrong way. 1-0 Liverpool after a tepid opening 20 minutes.
23': Finnan shows willing to chase a long ball all the way to the Monaco goal-line but Evra also has some pace on him and recovers to tackle just as Finnan was lining up a cross.
24': Interesting to see if Monaco change their way of playing. They were happy to sit deep and break but now they are chasing the game, Hopefully it draws them out.
25': Perez gets the better of Riise on the right to swing a high, looping cross that Dudek does well to watch all the way into his hands.
26': Another quick free-kick from the middle of the pitch for Liverpool sets Alonso free of the Monaco midfield but a crowd of white shirts block the shooting opportunity.
27': Great save from Roma - and it had to be. Wonderful build up play from Liverpool resulting in a deft flick on from Alonso that put Garcia free in the box, but wide left. The Spaniard pulled the trigger and it was going in until Roma's intervention. Good football all round.
29': Long ball from Josemi disects the Monaco back two between which Cisses strides but he just can't control the ball as he does.
30': Farnerud fires a deep free-kick into a crowded Liverpool box. The ball is dipping a swerving but a Liverpool man gets the final touch for a corner.
31': Succession of corners come to nought for the French and Liverpool ride out a mini-period of pressure.
32': Josemi and Kallon clash and tangle on the floor a bit after the ball has gone. Nothing in it really but I'm clutching at very thin straws with this game to be honest.
33': A lot of Liverpool's attacks coming down the right but it's not really a fruitful tactic as Evra is patrolling that flank with authority for the French.
34': Gerrard stretches for a loose ball he was never going to give up and gets caught on his ankle by the trailing leg of Kallon. An accident after a genuine attempt to play the ball but the Liverpool captain hobbles to the sideline in some discomfort.
35': Resulting free-kick to the back post sees Hyypia arrive unmarked but unable to profit.
36': Swift break from the home side as Cisse again cleverly pulls out wide to find space - Monaco are playing with three centre backs which is crowding the middle - but, with options to hit in the centre, he wastes the opportunity with a poor cross.
37': Cisse gets flagged offside for what feels like the 41st time tonight.
39': great little improvised back heel flick from Gerrard to keep alive a neat passing move down the Liverpool right that ultimately wins them a throw-in down by the corner flag.
40': Half chance or perhaps better for Liverpool. Long throw into the box is flicked on by Kewell, obviously aimed for Garcia in space 12 yards out but his little glancing header does not get enough on it and, despite it heading for the top corner, the pace allows Roma to easily catch.
41': Kallon free-kick from wide right is terible. However, in striking it straight at the first man, Kewell, he earns a corner he didn't deserve.
42': Perhaps appropriately, the second dead ball, also, is wasted.
43': This really is a tame affair.
44': Great little move down the left this time from Liverpoll. Gerrard released Cisse who played a ludicrously long one two with Garcia to get into the box. Real chance but the Frenchman's first touch let him down. Should have done better after doing the hard work.
45': Liverpool actually growing into this game. Gerrard given time and space in central midfield, slightly out right. Sent over one of his trade mark curling cross field diagonal balls (his first of the game now I think about it, I knew something was missing) that bounces once as it curls behind a static Monaco defence. At the back post it sits up perfectly for Garcia to head at goal but he burries it in the side netting. Wonderful ball that deserved a better finish.
45': Half-time arrives with Liverpool still the single gaol to the good.
45': That's entertainment? No, not really though, thanks to some slick passing moves from the home side, the highlights package will look alright. Liverpool have created a few chances with Monaco reducing themselves to the occasional break up field. The home team deserve the lead, the home fans deserve the improvement of the last ten minutes to continue whilst the Monaco players deserve a good talking to at half-time.
45': Monaco show some attacking intent - they needed to - by taking of left wing-back Evra and bringing on a striker, Camara. They will now switch to a flat back four with a diamond in midfield - probably with Kallon at it's front.
46': Camara makes and early contribution by muscling his way into the box and cutting back a ball that just fails to find a team-mate.
47': Space in the Monaco half for Josemi to stride purposefully into before trying his luck from distance. Signposted his intent and Monaco are able to block at the expense of a corner.
48': Inswinging cross easily dealt with by the French defence.
49': Slightly mistimed challenge from Gerrard on Rdriguez. He actually tried to pull out of it but slipped but the reaction of the Monaco players more than anything prompts the referee to hand out the second yellow of the night.
51': Alonso shows his passing ability with a glorious raking ball wide to Finnan.
52': Cisse, looking busy, comes deep to collect a short pass, turns and goes for a shot from a long way out. Nothing was on in terms of a pass but the shot is blocked.
53': Scrappy, almost nervous opening to the second half.
54': More intelligent triangles in the left back position from Liverpool launches an attack with Cisse with only one man to beat. He looks like he might until the ball gets caught in his feet and he falls over. Groan!
55': Another promising Liverpool move promted by a great pass from Alonso sets up another crossing opportunity for Finnan to cross but he puts it too close to the keeper.
56': Givet earns a caution by holding back the advancing Garcia.
57': Cleverly worked free-kick. Gerrard looks to be playing it short for Alonso to shoot. He does but Alonso just helps it on again square to the unmarked Riise, dead centre. He cracks it but unfortunately into the shins of Rodriguez.
58': Corner picks out Kewell, unmarked outside the box but his volleyed shot is spooned high into the stands.
59': Liverpool again coming up with some nice little moves. Kewell this time drives it, nipping past a couple of men, playing short to Garcia who gave him back a perfect ball. Kewell continued his run and then slotted Cisse in on goal. Roma stood up well though and saved his goalbound effort low to his left. Great goalkkeping.
60': Liverpool very much on top now. Ball ricochets out of the box and finds Gerrard in a shooting spot that he has exploited a couple of times this season already. This time, however, after bringing it down, hislooping shot loops away from the goal.
61': In the home team had their collective shooting boots on tonight this game would be over. As it is Monaco are still very much in it.
62': Spell of possession for Monaco but all the good work is wasted with a speculative shot from 25 yards that fails to trouble Dudek.
63': Long, cross field ball picks out Kewell. He does well to win the header but it's not one of his strengths and the effort is weak.
65': A few misplaced passes from Liverpool has allowed Monaco back into this but it is still scrappy for the most part.
66': Maicon shows the best of himself and also the worst. Jinking little run takes the ball up field and leaves a couple of Liverpool men for dead. Then, when he had run down an blind ally, he through himself shamelessly over Hyypia's leg. The referee was not fooled.
67': Sharp break down the right by Gerrard followed by a wonderful flighted pass to pick out Kewell in space at the far post. Unfortunately for Liverpool the Australian's cut back across the box finds noone.
68': Substitution for Liverpool and it's a straight swap. Off goes the goalscorer Cisse and on comes Milan Baros.
69': Liverpool still the better team but Monaco are still capable of getting a goal back.
70': And they nearly do. Great cross into the Liverpool box causes confusion/hesitation between Carragher and Dudek. Carragher eventually takes the initiative but almost turns into his own net in the process.
71': Delivery from the corner is good as well and Adebayor rises highest to meet it. Downward header is on target but Dudek saves down to his right.
72': liverpool really do need a second before they can relax.
73': Perez skips past a challenge from Alonso before feeding Maicon out wide. His low cross along the six yard line is well defended by Hyypia.
74': Baros, with virtualy his first touch, wories the defence by running at retreating players. Shapes to shoot before cutting across the 18 yard line. This time does shoot but a combination of defenders crowd him out. Positive stuff from the Czech.
75': Straight ball over the top finds Camara. He does exceptionally well to bring it down under close control but, before he can turn and shoot, the referee blows for offside.
76': Substitution for Liverpool. Off goes Kewell and on comes Stephen Warnock.
77': Garcia looked to have fouled Rodriguez in muscling him off the ball deep in the Monaco box. Referee is impassive and so Roma is called into action to save at his near post.
78': End to end stuff now - how things have changed. Kallon shows great skill to evade two challenges and send over an angled cross to the far post. Adebayor had pulle doff the back of Carracgher and, had the cross been a yard shorter then Liverpool would have been in real trouble.
79': Monaco's turn to try and change things. Givet is replaced for the final ten minutes by Hassan El Fakiri. Norweigan in case you're wondering.
80': An early contender for miss of this, or any other, season. Hopeful ball pumped up to the right hand side of the Monaco area from Hyypia. Finnan did exceptionally weel to not just win the header but put it in front of Garcia. Unmarked. 8 yards out, Keepr scrambling across his goal. And....he draged it about 10 yars wide. Oh dear, oh dear.
82': Anxious closing moments now then for Liverpool.
82': But not any more. A moment of glorious skill from Baros and it's 2-0 Liverpool. Game over.
83': Hoofed ball up field finds Baros with two defenders for company on the edge of the box. Difficult to control but he did it well and turned to face his markers. Head down, he drove round them but too wide to get a shot in. With players arriving in support, Baros just cut back a little and dinked a little chip over the keeper. Great composure and a great eye for goal.
85': Understandable change made by the home side. Garcia makes way for the more defensive Igor Biscan.
86': Baros almost makes it three. Latching on to a mistake by Rodriguez he once again found himself one-on-one with the keeper. Cutting into the box from the right he slipped past the advancing Roma but, just as the goal opened up for him, he stumbled over the ball and the Keeper recovered to make the save.
87': Monaco stretched now and the fresh legs of Warnock drving up and down the left flank to good effect.
88': 'You'll never walk alone' ringing down from the stands signal a satisfactory nights work for the home side.
89': Liverpool playing a bit of keep ball in the Monaco half now.
90': Final whistle sounds and it is a winning start to Rafa Benitez's Liverpool European career. Monaco were a shade of last year's vintage but credit to Liverpool for some moments of attacking verve. Final score 2-0 to Liverpool.
90': What started off as a pretty tortuous game to watch actually grew into and entertaining match. Liverpool were the better team throughout but always looked uncomfortable with a single goal lead. Gerrard, Cisse, Kewell and Garcia were intermittently on song and Baros settled the tie with a great piece of striking play. But the star of the show was Xabi Alonso who's range of passing and solid ball winning dictated the play in midfield and provided the platform for the victory.

Game Information

Competition: UEFA Champions League

Venue: Anfield
Location: Liverpool, England
Attendance: 33,517

UEFA Champions League Table

#	TEAM	GP	GD	PTS
1	Arsenal	8	+19	24
2	Bayern Munich	8	+14	21
3	Liverpool	8	+12	18
4	Tottenham Hotspur	8	+10	17

Full Table

Line-Ups

Liverpool

No.	Name
1	Jerzy Dudek (GK)
17	Josemi
23	Jamie Carragher
4	Sami Hyypiä
3	Steve Finnan
6	John Arne Riise
8	Steven Gerrard
14	Xabi Alonso
7	Harry Kewell
10	Luis García
9	Djibril Cissé

Liverpool Substitutes:

Chris Kirkland, Djimi Traoré, Salif Diao, Dietmar Hamann, Igor Biscan, Stephen Warnock, Milan Baros.

AS Monaco

No.	Name
30	Flavio Roma (GK)
32	Gaël Givet
19	Sébastien Squillaci
27	Julien Rodriguez
13	Maicon
15	Akis Zikos
5	Diego Pérez
21	Pontus Farnerud
3	Patrice Evra
8	Mohammed Kallon
24	Emmanuel Adebayor

AS Monaco Substitutes:

Fabien Audard, François Modesto, Arnaud Lescure, Gregory Lacombe, Jimmy Juan, Hassan El Fakiri, Souleymane Camara.

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