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

· UEFA Champions League

AS Monaco

54': Javier Saviola

FT
1 - 0

Liverpool

About

AS Monaco are hosting Liverpool at Stade Louis II, Monaco, France, starting on . The match is a part of the UEFA Champions League.

Match Timeline

0': A vital game for Liverpool. A win would all but put them through, a loss would all but condemn them. Join us at 19.45.
0': Steven Gerrard returns to Liverpool's starting line-up as boss Rafael Benitez makes sweeping changes to his line-up, leaving out Josemi, Harry Kewell and Xabi Alonso. The Spanish coach gives 22-year-old striker Neil Mellor - recently the subject of a phantom enquiry from Sheffield United - his first ever European match up front. Steve Finnan comes in at right-back for Josemi, while Igor Biscan starts in midfield alongside Gerrard.
0': A win would take Liverpool into the second stage of the tournament, a draw no bad thing but a defeat would put them in an almost impossible finish. Liverpool with a makeshift attack against last year's losing finalists who haven't won in eight domestic matches - your guess is as good as mine for this one.
1': Liverpool get us started and immediately look for Mellor who, it is clear, will be playing up alone with a five man midfield supporting.
2': Heard this one before? Injury blow for Liverpool! Garcia pulled up untouched clutching his hamstring and has been stretchered off whilst Liverpool play 10 v 11.
3': Garcia is not coming back from his injury tonight. On comes Josemi to replace the Spaniard. Finnan moving in to midfield.
4': Hopeful ball over the top from Monaco draws Kirkland out of his box to head clear.
5': Gerrard in his typical pugnacious bustling fashion rides a couple of tackles in midfield before finding Riise wide left. He heads on but Mellor was always second in the race to the ball with Roma in the Monaco goal. Doesn't stop Mellor having a kick of the ball in the keepers hands.
8': Traore, who had found himself high up the field with no pass on, skipped round a couple of Monaco challenges before slipping a delicate pass through to Riise. He is offside though good stuff from Traore.
9': Saviola shows himself for the first time by latching on to a through ball from Chevanton but he too is pulled up by the flag.
10': The Brazilian right-back Maicon shows endeavour in getting forward butRiise and Traore combine to block his path.
11': A momentary loss of concentration from Josemi gifted the ball to Saviola who very nearly got round him to face Kirkland. To Josemi's credit he made the recovering tackle but untidy, nervy football from the Spaniard.
12': Liverpool showing plenty of energy and purpose in this but Monaco will still fancy their chances of breaching the visiting defence. regardless of this there hasn't been a chance yet for either team.
13': Carragher does well to marshal Nonda who is getting nothing out of him tonight.
15': Zikos looks to pick a pass through the ranked mas of Liverpool defenders after Monaco's counter attack lacked speed. He over hit it and Monaco waste possession again.
16': Saviola does Josemi like a kipper in 'earning' a free-kick off him when the Spaniard got to close. Needless. Josemi not having the best of times.
17': Free-kick from left of centre about 25 yards from goal. Chevanton takes it and it is no overstatement to say I could have done better than that.
18': Traore, in stretching his huge legs around Plasil to cleanly win the ball, falls awkwardly and looks to be in some pain. Another Liverpool man leaves the field for treatment.
19': Liverpool looking vulnerable at the back now as Saviola and Squillaci in particular are starting to run at them.
20': Traore back on the pitch and running freely.
21': And, from a Liverpool point of view, it's a good job. Saviola, head down, looked favourite to find a way through the back line with a jink and a swerve but Traore was strong enough to rob him cleanly. Great tackle.
23': Kirkland called out of his box to use his feet once again but the clearance is not convincing. fortunately for him it bobbles to Josemi who completes the clearance.
24': Saviola again causing problems down the right with his touch and balance. Gave Traore a roasting before laying off for Nonda but the two had not read each others movement and a promising attack breaks down.
25': This game is being well contested but neither side has done enough to suggest they deserve to be in front. The infamous pitch is playing its part as time and again the ball bobbles up making control, particularly at pace, more difficult than it might be.
26': Great piece of skill from Nonda who dealt with a bouncing ball by smartly hooking it over Hyypia's head and into the path of Chevanton. his first time effort rattles the bar but it wouldn't have counted anyway as he was a yard offside. Good football though.
28': Once more Monaco, who are definitely on top now, break down the right through Nonda, Plasil and then the speedily overlapping Maicon who draws another fine, saving tackle from the overworked Traore at the expense of a corner.
29': Plasil takes it from the right left-footed but the inswinging cross is bread and butter for Hyypia.
30': Half a chance for Liverpool to nick a lead. Biscan drove through midfield with intent before flicking a pass on to riise, level with the flat defence. It was a little high up his body but if Riise could have controlled it better he would surely have scored; he didn't and so he didn't.
31': Zikos in some pain as Biscan kicked him hard on hisright hand - a pure accident but it looked painful.
33': Both sides have no qualms about giving in an old fashioned hoof up-field every no and again and the game is suffering for it.
34': Biscan nearly opens the scoring and it would have been a goal befiting the game so far: scrappy and uninspiring. Long throw into the box wasn't dealt with by Maicon who let it bounce and then fluffed a clearance. Biscan didn't have a lot of time and it was an awkward hieght but he still should have hit the target rather than volleying wide of a gaping goal.
35': Melloer is running gamely but you feel Liverpool's best chance of a goal is from a set piece or a mistake.
36': Monaco's turn to waste a chance. Chevanton did well to work his way into a dangerous position on the edge of the box. Laboured to get the ball to Nonda who had a chanc eto shoot from dead centre, edge of the box. He turned and twisted until eventually running out of space.
38': Traore blemishes his night's work by being booked for a late rather than vicious foul on Maicon in the Monaco right back position.
40': Liverpool work the ball - slowly - down the right flank before a Riise long throw in to the box is headed clear of Hyypia to launch a counter attack that goes nowhere.
41': Carragher underlines his importance to Liverpool again. Looping forward ball looks to have sneaked past the Liverpool defence and into the path of the onrushing Nonda until carragher stretched a leg and took it from him. Difficult, high ball dealt with calmly and with authority by Carragher.
42': Corner ball sent over finally reaches Saviola in space, 10 yards out, wide of the goal. He shows great technique to get his foot over the ball and flash a shot across the face of goal but inches wide. Closest we've come to a goal so far.
44': Hamann joins Traore in the book after a mistimed tackle on Maicon. A little unlucky and he'll miss the final group game for Liverpool next month.
45': Half-time and no goals in the first 45 minutes.
45': Not really much of a spectacle this one. Mellor is a willing front man but is not getting any sort of service from a Liverpool midfield low on creativity - Garcia's second minute departure did not help, nor does Gerrard's need to settle in and start picking his passes better after a period on the sidelines.
45': Monaco look sharper up front with the skill of Saviola and strength of Nonda bringing the best out of Traore and Carragher. And that's about it. Few chances and not much to get the pulse racing. Both teams, however, will fancy they can win this so perhaps the second-half might be better.
45': Monaco get us restarted with neither side showing any changes to the sides that finished the first-half.
46': Low key start to the second period with both sides getting into good positions and then spoiling it with a poor final ball.
47': good passing and possession football from the home team allows them to come again after an attack down the right was rebuffed.
48': Chevaton shows a willingness to take people on and is rewarded with a lucky break of the ball to Saviola. Space opened in front of him but he sliced the shot well wide in the end.
49': One of the best moves of the match comes after Gerrard gave the ball away cheaply. Interchange of passes between Cheanton and Maicon took out Traore and the cross found Saviola in acres of space. however, the centre was marginally to high and evaded his leap.
51': Finnan and Maicon both have high feet as they clash in competition for the ball. finnan comes off worse but they are both up and running quick enough.
52': Biscan broke up and attack and cleverly fed Gerrard in space in the centre. Gerrard tried to thread the ball through retreating defenders for Mellor to chase but he put far too much on it. Linford Christie wouldn't have been able to reach that one.
53': Game opening up a bit now and all the better for it.
54': Deadlock has been broken and it saw fine skill and a little controversy. Saviola the man to find the net but it looked like he used his hand in the build up. 1-0 to Monaco it is nonetheless.
55': Nonda gave a short ball to Saviola on the edge of the box and his deft first time pass rolled into his path again perfectly. Nonda was about to unleash a shot when traore threw himself into a fantastic challenge. the ball broke to Saviola - and seemed to hit his arm - and he took his chance clinically.
56': Potentially a fatal blow for Liverpool - what will there response be now?
57': Nearly a quick way back into it for Liverpool through a Gerrard free-kick from distance. Straight and true but Roma was behind it all the way and saves comfortably.
58': Fear not Liverpool fans Rafa's making a change. Off goes Traore - who has had a decent game - and on comes Harry Kewell. Oh dear, oh dear...
59': An ugly clash of heads between Josemi and Evra. Both players only had eyes for the ball but clattered into each other at some force. THe blood soaked Josemi will play no further part in this game; head strapped up a la Terry Butcher (for those that remember), Evra will.
61': Continued hold up in the play as Josemi in particular is dealt with and removed from the pitch.
62': Game resumes with Liverpool reduced to ten men.
63': Patient build up from Liverpool results in Kewell cutting in from the right with menace but his cross was deflected and eventually cleared. Liverpool continue to pressure though and earn a free-kick in the Monaco half.
64': Stephen Warnock enters the fray. To see Gerrad swing in a free-kick that Roma can only punch clear.
65': Better from Stevie G. Barnstorming run, albeit a short one, followed by a shot angled low across the keeper but Roma watched it well and got down to save.
66': Wonderfully perceptive diagonal ball from Plasil bisects the Liverpool defence and sets Chevanton clear on goal. Offside, though, the decision.
67': And that was Chevanton's final contribution, replaced as he is by fellow countryman Emmanuel Perez.
69': With Monaco playing deep Liverpool are seeing more of the ball. A Kewell dink over the top just evades Mellor this time but they are increasing the urgency as you would expect.
70': Perez and Maicon - who gets forward at a frightening pace from full-back - combine well down the right but the cross can't pick anyone out.
71': Fine save from Kirkland. Ball sent over rather bobbled off Nonda but fell invitingly for Farnerud who struck his shot with some venom. Kirkland got both hands on it top force it down before getting it under his control at the second attempt. How important might that be?
73': Like for like substitution for Monaco sees Adebayor come on in place of Saviola.
74': Woeful passing from both sides. Maicon had time and space to pick a man before drilling it straight at Gerrard who inturn tried a 40 yard pass with the outside of the boot when he had time and space. Awful stuff.
75': Adebayor - all legs and arms - is causing Liverpool problems already with his range and pace. he kept a ball in he had no right in doing and almost put Evra in. He looks a handful.
77': Liverpool had a little spell in the middle of this half when they looked threatening but at the moment there only looks to be one team in this match and it isn't them.
78': Substitution for Monaco: Off goes Farnerud; on comes Modesto.
79': Warnock welcomes Modesta to the action with a late, dangerous lunge that rightly earns him a yellow card.
80': Maicon - a constant thorn in Liverpool's side tonight - span round Biscan and tried to release Nondo, got the rebound and lashed a shot wide.
82': Zikos beat Gerrard in a 50/50 before releasing Adebayor in the box. Adebayor tried a stepover but, such is the length of his limbs, it took him until the ball was within reach of Kirkland to complete.
83': Liverpool mounting a late charge perhaps. Gerrard, who has been well below par tonight, is at least trying to drive his team-mates on.
84': Corner ball swung over for Liverpool just shaves Finnan's head when unmarkered before Hamann threw it back from the left and Hyypia rose to head down on goal. liverpool appeals that the ball crossed the line but it looked like a wonderful goal-line save from Roma as he spooned it away from his near post.
86': More precious time eaten up by an unfuitful Liverpool foray. gerrad flighted the ball up to Biscan who nodded on to Kewell. Had every right to try a shot from 25 yards but seemed to pull out of it mid way through and just fluffed it soft and wide.
87': More Liverpool pressure earns a throw deep in Monaco territory.
88': Riise hurled a bomb into the box, Hyypia flicked on but the long legs of Maicon sent it clear before anyone in yellow could react.
89': Corner for Monaco finds one Frenchman in the box. Short one, obviously, keeps the ball in and around the corner flag, as is the way with these things.
90': Adebayor, unlike his team-mates, is still intent on attack and plays a one-two with Nonda that, but for the intervention of Carragher, would have put him clear on goal.
90': Final minute of stoppage time begins.
90': Warnock pulled up for high feet but Mellor plays on to put the ball in the net. Monaco defenders are angry and the clock is eaten up.
90': Finals whistle signals a Liverpool defeat in Monaco. Not much of a game on a poor pitch to be honest.
90': Liverpool will point to the use of Saviola's hand as he scored the only goal of the game as reason to feel aggrieved but they have no real cause for complaint as they did nothing to merit a win themselves. Monaco were marginally the better team, for their attacking invention - occasional though it was - alone. Liverpool looked like what they are: an average team with no fit strikers.

Game Information

Competition: UEFA Champions League

Venue: Stade Louis II
Location: Monaco, France
Attendance: 15,000

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

AS Monaco

No.	Name
30	Flavio Roma (GK)
3	Patrice Evra
6	Jaroslav Plasil
13	Maicon
15	Vassilis Zikos
18	Shabani Nonda
19	Sébastien Squillaci
21	Pontus Farnerud
32	Gaël Givet
10	Ernesto Javier Chevanton
9	Javier Saviola

AS Monaco Substitutes:

Fabien Audard, François Modesto, Dayo Oshadogan, Diego Pérez, Hassan El Fakiri, Mohammed Kallon, Emmanuel Adebayor.

Liverpool

No.	Name
22	Chris Kirkland (GK)
3	Steve Finnan
23	Jamie Carragher
4	Sami Hyypiä
21	Djimi Traoré
8	Steven Gerrard
16	Dietmar Hamann
25	Igor Biscan
6	John Arne Riise
10	Luis García
33	Neil Mellor

Liverpool Substitutes:

Jerzy Dudek, Josemi, Harry Kewell, Xabi Alonso, Salif Diao, Stephen Warnock, Florent Sinama-Pongolle.

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