Gerrard brace gets Liverpool off to flyer
Gerrard now has 99 Liverpool goals
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Tuesday, 16, Sep 2008 10:28
Liverpool came from behind for the second time in three days to win 2-1 away at Marseille in their opening Champions League encounter.
Steven Gerrard's scored twice to give the Reds a hard-earned victory which gets Rafa Benitez's men off to a flying start in Group D.
Liverpool started brightly, with Gerrard going closest to breaking the deadlock, but in front of their passionate home fans Marseille took the lead after 20 minutes.
The impressive Benoit Cheyrou – brother of former Liverpool player Bruno – flicked the ball over the Liverpool back four.
Lorik Cana beat the offside trap and slipped the ball past Pepe Reina, who may have felt he could have come and cleared Cheyrou's pass.
The lead lasted just four minutes and the equaliser came from yet another outstanding Gerrard goal.
The England man picked up Dirk Kuyt's pass and hit a wonderful curling shot into the top corner from 25 yards.
Eight minutes later Liverpool had a penalty when the lively Ryan Babel was brought down in the area.
Gerrard sent the spot kick low to Steve Mandanda's left, but was ordered to retake it as several players had encroached into the area.
Gerrard put the re-take in exactly the same spot to register his 99th goal for Liverpool.
Marseille pressed strongly in the second-half and Karim Ziani (6) fired over when he should have done better.
Babel very nearly added a third but fired straight at Mandanda from six yards.
Mamadou Niang had a great chance to equalise two minutes into injury-team but Reina stood up well and saved with his legs as Liverpool clung on for victory.