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Wednesday, September 19, 2007

No Drogba or Lampard at Old Trafford?

Chelsea could face Manchester United in the biggest game of their season so far without England midfielder Frank Lampard and Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba.

Coach Jose Mourinho confirmed that neither player is expected to be back for Sunday's clash at Old Trafford as Chelsea remain in the grip of a goalscoring crisis.

Mourinho admits he is alarmed by Chelsea's failure to score goals but refused to blame his strikers after unfashionable Rosenborg held the English side to a 1-1 draw in their Champions League opener last night.

Miika Koppinen stunned the home side with a 24th-minute volley but Mourinho's blushes were spared by a second-half leveller from Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko.

Lampard (thigh) and Drogba (knee) contributed more than 50 goals last season and Mourinho is bemoaning their absence.

'I am getting no good news from the medical department,' he said. 'I don't think they will be back for Sunday.

'The news is not getting worse but I want them to tell me the players are ready to train. But there is no good news.'

The Portuguese coach was clearly frustrated and alarmed by his team's failure to score more than one goal against the Norwegians even though they created a hatful of opportunities.

Mourinho declared: 'Of course I am alarmed. I am not happy. We cannot score goals.

'I am disappointed but the history of the game was simple, we had 20 chances and scored one goal. So maybe we need 40 chances to score two and 60 to score three.

'Our 20 chances were not enough to score two goals. It is not my strikers it is my team.

'My team played against a team that in my opinion did its game. Like smaller teams do when they visit the better teams, they come here to defend and are organised.

'But Chelsea produced 20 chances and got one in the net. We can speak and speak and speak but we could not score more than one goal. Nobody is happy.'

Mourinho admits that qualifying for the knockout phase will have been made harder by their draw.

He added: 'This was the kind of game you have to win. The kind of game you have to win at home against the weakest team in the group. So it is not a good result.

'But we are not scared of the situation in the Champions League. Maybe it is now more difficult to be first and maybe we need four points against Valencia.

'I don't think it is a drama - for me the drama is that in the last three matches we have dominated games but scored just one single goal.'

Source: Soccernet.com

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UEFA Champion League Schedule on Wednesday, September 19, 2007


Group D:


















19:45 UKBarcelona - Lyon[Preview]
19:45 UKRangers - Vfb Stuttgart[Preview]


Group E:

















19:45 UKAS Roma - Dynamo Kiev[Preview]
19:45 UKSporting Lisbon - Manchester United[Preview]


Group F:

















19:45 UKFenerbahce - Inter Milan[Preview]
19:45 UKPSV Eindhoven - CSKA Moscow[Preview]


Group G:

















19:45 UKArsenal - FC Sevilla[Preview]
19:45 UKSlavia Prague - Steaua Bucuresti[Preview]

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UCL: Slavia Prague v Steaua Bucuresti



















19:45 UKSlavia Prague - Steaua Bucuresti


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UCL: Arsenal v FC Sevilla: Preview



















19:45 UKArsenal - FC Sevilla



Manager Arsene Wenger maintained it was business as usual today ahead of Arsenal's Champions League clash with Sevilla despite the news Russian businessman Alisher Usmanov has increased his shareholding in the club.

The purchase - which was announced this morning to the Stock Exchange - makes Usmanov's investment company, Red and White Holdings Limited, the club's second-highest shareholder behind Danny Fiszman.

Despite the continued speculation, this latest move is likely to lead to a formal takeover and the possible return of former vice-chairman David Dein, who left the club last season after a rift with the board over the role of American investor Stan Kroenke, the Gunners boss insists nothing has changed in terms of his day-to-day job.

``I am responsible for the results at the club and not for the rest,'' said Wenger, who earlier this month agreed a new three-year deal with Arsenal.

``People will buy and sell shares or not want to sell shares only if a club is doing well.

``My job is to make sure the club does well.''

Wenger insisted: ``I am not concerned about a Russian takeover I am concerned about tomorrow's game. It will not disrupt anything.

``As we said many times, the shares are 50% inside the board and 50% outside the board. That will not change anything.''

Wenger has an excellent working relationship with the current board, which proved pivotal in his decision to stay at the club he has transformed over the past decade.

The Arsenal manager sees no reason to believe that will change.

``What is important to me is that the board have faith in me and let me to work like I want to work, support me when I want support and give the feeling to the outside that there is unity inside,'' said the Frenchman.

``It difficult to be successful when everyone is successful there is no good harmony any more it is very difficult.

``I try to do my job well. I have continued because I had support inside the club.''

Usmanov, who formed Red and White Holdings Limited alongside fellow investor Farhad Moshiri specifically to hold equity in the north London club, first bought into Arsenal when he paid Dein around £75million for his 14.65% holding in August and Dein - a close ally of Wenger when on the board - has been installed as the company's chairman.

The announcement Red and White Holdings have upped their stake to 21% prompted suggestions Dein was soon set for a dramatic return to Emirates Stadium.

But Despite all of the uncertainty off the pitch, the Gunners have made a superb start to the new campaign as Wenger's young side sit top of the Premier League table with four wins and a draw from their five matches after Saturday's 3-1 triumph at arch-rivals Tottenham.

Defender Kolo Toure insists the coaching staff and players do not concern themselves with any power struggle in the board room.

He said: ``In the dressing room we just enjoy talking about the games because we know the most important thing for the club is to win games.

``When the club wins games, everything is fine. At the moment we are really focused on the game and do not listen what is said around the club.''

Source: Soccernet.com

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UCL: PSV Eindhoven v CSKA Moscow: Preview



















19:45 UKPSV Eindhoven - CSKA Moscow



PSV Eindhoven coach Ronald Koeman knows his team will have to work hard to break down a CSKA Moscow defensive wall on Wednesday in the Champions League.

The Dutch and Russian champions face off in a Group G game and Koeman is adamant his team must dominate the match as they regularly do in the Eredivisie.

Koeman said: ``We need balance as we do in the Dutch League. Sometimes we play excellently and create chances while in other aspects we give away too much space. Against teams like CSKA Moscow with five defenders this is fatal.''

Even though PSV have been regulars in the Champions League it is the first time they have played a Russian club.

Captain Timmy Simons said: ``Our goal is to go into the next round but we don't know a lot about them. But one thing is clear - you need at least one point if you are playing at home.''

Koeman must do without the suspended Mike Zonneveld and the injured Ottman Bakkal, who has a knee problem.

CSKA Moscow goalkeeper Veniamin Mandrykin looks set to make his Champions League group stage debut.

The 26-year-old custodian, signed from Alania Vladikavkaz in 2001, has acted mainly as understudy to first-choice Igor Akinfeev during his spell at the club, and has appeared in just one of the 40 European matches in that time.

But with Akinfeev still recovering from cruciate knee ligament damage that has kept him out of action since May, the patient Mandrykin finally looks set to make his long-awaited debut on Europe's biggest stage.

He told Russian paper Sport Express: ``I remember how much was said back in spring when Akinfeev got injured. I hadn't played in the Russian league for three years.

``But each time I answered that, of course, it would be better to be playing regularly, but it's not the main thing.

``Naturally if I'd played more often in European competition, it would be better, but on the whole it doesn't matter too much.''

Despite his lack of experience in the Champions' League, he admits he won't be overcome by the occasion, saying: ``I feel nerves prior to every match, but I don't feel any fear. Football isn't a game for those who get scared.''

Valeri Gazzaev has decided against risking another long-term absentee, Brazilian international Daniel Carvalho, who has stayed behind in Moscow, as has Nigerian defender Chidi Odiah.

But for his three long-term absentees, Gazzaev can call upon a full-strength side.

Meanwhile, CSKA officials, management and players have collectively called upon their fans to behave on Wednesday night at the Philips Stadium.

CSKA have had several run-ins with UEFA about the behaviour of their supporters over the past few seasons, and have called for composure following UEFA's announcement of stricter sanctions against those clubs whose fans misbehave at European matches.

Source: Soccernet.com

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UCL: Sporting Lisbon v Man Utd: Preview



















19:45 UKSporting Lisbon - Manchester United



Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson fears Cristiano Ronaldo is being targeted by referees because of his extreme talent.

Ronaldo was only just returning from a three-match ban following his dismissal by Steve Bennett for headbutting Portsmouth's Richard Hughes when he was cautioned by Alan Wiley for diving during the Premier League win at Everton on Saturday.

Ferguson has reviewed both incidents on video and on each occasion, he feels the official clearly got it wrong.

And, on the eve of Ronaldo's return to his former club Sporting Lisbon, the Red Devils chief has expressed his anxiety over the treatment his star man is receiving.

``It is a worry for us,'' said Ferguson.

``It is almost as though Cristiano is being punished for his success.

``There is no question in my mind there is an unfairness about it all.

``We have looked at the Portsmouth one from another angle and it was a quite ridiculous decision. Hughes said Cristiano never touched him, so he gets a three-match ban for that.

``And the one on Saturday was even more ludicrous. Quite clearly, Cristiano was tripped on the edge of the area. Why would Cristiano go down when he can score? On that occasion, the referee reacted far too quickly.''

It is clearly an opinion Ronaldo concurs with, even though, sat two feet to his manager's right, the Portugal international opted not to enter the debate.

``What the boss says is true,'' said the 22-year-old.

``But I don't want to talk about referees. I only want to speak about them to my manager and my team-mates.''

Ferguson's concerns about the Champions League Group F opener at the Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon were only heightened when he was informed excitable German referee Herbert Fandel was in charge.

It would be fair to conclude United have an unhappy history as far as Fandel is concerned.

A trained pianist, Fandel has played all the wrong notes for Ferguson in the past, sending off Roy Keane during a stormy last 16 tussle with FC Porto three years ago before producing another red card to get rid of Paul Scholes in last season's quarter-final first leg against Roma.

Initially, Ferguson buried his head in his hands as Fandel's name was mentioned, before jokingly adding: ``We need a supply of mogadon.''

Whether he felt the calming drug was for Fandel or his own temper, Ferguson did not say.

However, it is a fair bet he will settle for a similar performance from Ronaldo to the one he produced the last time the two sides met in 2003.

Even though it was a pre-season friendly, the then 17-year-old wide man was so impressive in Sporting's 3-1 win, no lesser figures than Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs spent time on the flight back to Manchester imploring Ferguson to sign the unknown youngster.

Within weeks, the Scot had done just that, the £12million outlay now ranking among Ferguson's shrewdest investments.

``It is always difficult when you sign a boy of that age,'' he said.

``He has to grow and develop and also get used to living in another country, which is never easy.

``Under those circumstances, the rapidity of his rise has been absolutely amazing.

``Now we are seeing a maturity in his performance of someone in their mid-20s.''

After torrid returns to his homeland against Porto and, twice, Benfica, Ronaldo is expecting a more positive reception at his former club.

Madeira-born, Ronaldo claims Sporting is his `second' home and is even still to decide whether to celebrate should he find the net for a fourth time in Champions League combat.

However, he has also warned Sporting his fondness does not translate into any willingness to go easy on his old club.

``I played here for seven years, I have a lot of friends here and I have always wanted to come back,'' he said.

``I know people like me here. At Benfica they barrack me, here my reception will be good.

``I am very excited about the game and am looking forward to it so much.

``But however much I like the club, my first colours now are red and I hope to win with Manchester United.''

Source: Soccernet.com

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UCL: Rangers v VfB Stuttgart: Preview



















19:45 UKRangers - VfB Stuttgart



Rangers manager Walter Smith faces an anxious wait to discover whether captain Barry Ferguson will be fit for tomorrow's Champions League opener against Stuttgart at Ibrox.

The midfielder aggravated a knee ligament injury, which he had been carrying for several weeks, in training yesterday and now faces a late fitness test.

Ferguson was a surprise omission from the team which started against Hearts in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League at the weekend, with Rangers slumping to a 4-2 defeat.

He played the second half in Edinburgh but the reverse at Tynecastle, the first of the season for Smith's men, underlined the importance of the club captain's contribution with tomorrow night's game looming large.

``Barry will get treatment today and there will have to be a fitness test tomorrow before we know if he will be fit or not,'' said Smith.

``Obviously we hope he is. He has been playing for the last three weeks or so with this injury and it's just when he gets a little knock on it, as he did in training yesterday, that it becomes rather painful.

``We are hopeful it will settle down and he will be fit and will be able to play.''

Smith assured concerned fans that 29-year-old Ferguson's problem is not serious, adding: ``It's just a small ligament injury. If it was a major injury, he wouldn't have been able to play with it.

``It will clear up the longer he goes without getting a knock on it.''

The nerves which accompanied Rangers` Champions League qualifiers against FK Zeta and Red Star Belgrade may not be so prevalent against Stuttgart, now that Rangers have at least six guaranteed Champions League games to relish, but Smith warned against losing a competitive edge in the wake of the defeat to Hearts.

He said: ``I don't really want us to relax, no. We relaxed a bit on Saturday and that's as relaxed as I want us to get.

``If you are involved in a competition, you are involved in it to do well and you need your competitive edge to be there. The tension that's involved in the previous rounds is there because it's a knockout stage.

``But, because you are in a group section, it doesn't mean the competitive edge is not still there.''

He added: ``When you lose in the manner we did on Saturday, then any game would be a welcome one to try to show that we don't normally play in that manner.

``It was a disappointing result and performance but we can't be accused of playing in that manner on a regular basis.

``We have had some good form this season, and last season as well, so I hope we can show it was a slip-up on Saturday and we can get back on track again.''

Source: Soccernet.com

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UEFA Champion League Result on Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Group A:
















FC Porto1 - 1Liverpool[Result]
Marseille2 - 0Besiktas[Result]


Group B:















Chelsea1 - 1Rosenborg[Result]
Schalke 040 - 1Valencia[Result]


Group C:















Olympiakos1 - 1Lazio[Result]
Real Madrid2 - 1Werder Bremen[Result]


Group D:















AC Milan2 - 1Benfica[Result]
Shakhtar Donetsk2 - 0Celtic[Result]

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UCL: Shakhtar Donetsk 2-0 Celtic




































Shakhtar Donetsk2 - 0Celtic
6'Brandao1 - 0
8'Cristiano Lucarelli2 - 0

20



Shakhtar Donetsk struck twice in the first eight minutes to record a 2-0 victory over Celtic in their Champions League Group D opener on Tuesday.

Brazilian striker Brandao opened the scoring for the Ukrainians in the sixth minute, beating keeper Artur Boruc with a rising shot from the edge of the box after Celtic's defence gave the ball away.

Italy forward Cristiano Lucarelli added a second with a diving header two minutes later following a pin-point cross from Razvan Rat.

Shakhtar could have increased their goal tally in the next 20 minutes, the unmarked Lucarelli wasting a good chance and Brandao having an effort disallowed for offside.

The pattern continued after the break, with Shakhtar again dominating for long stretches.

At the other end Vennegoor of Hesselink came close with a header, providing the Scottish champions with their only real chance in the second half.

'We wanted to put pressure on them right from the start and we executed our game plan to perfection,' Shakhtar's Romanian coach Mircea Lucescu told a news conference.

Celtic, who squeezed into the Champions League by beating Spartak Moscow in a penalty shootout in the third qualifying round, have now lost 13 of their last 14 away matches in Europe's premier club competition.

Source: Soccernet.com

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UCL: Chelsea 1-1 Rosenborg: Sheva saves Chelsea





































Chelsea1 - 1Rosenborg
24'Miika Koppinen0 - 1
53'1 - 1Andriy Shevchenko

11

Chelsea 1-1 Rosenborg, Goals + Highlights


Chelsea failed to make a winning start to their Champions League campaign as Rosenborg held on for a creditable draw at Stamford Bridge.

The Londoners were expected to make short work of their unfashionable opponents in their Group B opener but lacked sufficient threat up front.

Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard scored more than 50 goals between them last season but their absence through injury once again highlighted the Blues' attacking shortcomings.

The Norwegians stunned Jose Mourinho's side by taking a 24th-minute lead through Miika Koppinen and only a second-half leveller from Andriy Shevchenko spared Mourinho from proverbial egg on his face.

Chelsea began brightly enough and they should have taken the lead in the ninth minute but Salomon Kalou headed Joe Cole's inswinging cross onto the top of the goal instead of into the net.

Two minutes later Michael Essien blasted wide after Shevchenko's neat header had put the Ghanaian through on goal.

Chelsea had not scored in their two previous Barclays League games and the lack of a cutting edge was all too evident.

The misfiring Shevchenko looked pedestrian while Kalou flattered to deceive with jinking runs which failed to produced the end product.

Perhaps it was the half-empty Stamford Bridge which had put the Blues off their stride but they were caught out when Marek Sapara's free-kick was volleyed home by Koppinen.

Lampard's absence was clearly a factor as nobody in the Chelsea line-up, not even the powerhouse frame of Essien, was prepared to step up to the plate and drive the side on.

In the 32nd minute a cleverly worked corner saw Alex head a cross from Florent Malouda just wide of the target.

Two minutes later Joe Cole fed the sprinting Kalou with a delightful pass but the Ivorian striker, short on confidence, fired his angled drive beyond the far post.

It was yet another indication of Chelsea's lack of firepower and while all their passing looked pretty on the eye, there was little penetration.

In the 38th minute it was Shevchenko's turn to fire a left-foot shot the wrong side of the upright as the English side strived to get themselves back into the game.

Mourinho had made it clear on the eve of the match that a good start to the campaign was vital.

The Portuguese coach must have been seething by the way his side lacked invention, ideas and an instinct for goal.

Prior to the game, Mourinho's analogy for being without his injured players was to claim their absence was like trying to make an omelette without the best eggs available.

His comments certainly impacted on the Waitrose supermarket chain he mentioned as they delivered some cases of eggs to the ground prior to kick-off.

The attendance of 24,973 was the worst for Chelsea for four years and they had a lucky escape in the 51st minute when Alexander Tettey fired high over the crossbar from 18 yards.

It was a costly miss for the Norwegians as Chelsea finally found the net in the 53rd minute when Shevchenko headed a cross from Malouda over Lars Hirschfeld and into the net for the equaliser.

The goal was greeted by much celebration among the Chelsea players but Mourinho was far from impressed.

The Portuguese coach wanted his players back in their own half and concentrating on the task ahead.

His concern was underlined moments later when Petr Cech was forced into a flying save to deny Yssouf Kone.

It was just the warning Chelsea required and the home side increased the pace of the game almost immediately.

Chelsea almost cracked it in the 61st minute when Shevchenko and Malouda combined superbly only for the France winger to see his shot cannon back off a post.

Chelsea were now camped in Rosenborg's half and in the 64th minute a cross from Ashley Cole almost found its way into the path of Shevchenko but the Ukrainian striker failed to connect with the loose ball.

In the 75th minute, Kalou shaved an upright with a curling shot after Shevchenko had found him with a simple pass.

Chelsea tried everything to find the winner, even throwing defender John Terry into attack. But Rosenborg held on to take a point and the home side were greeted with more booing on the final whistle.

Source: Soccernet.com

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UCL: Marseille 2-0 Besiktas: French leave it late





































Marseille2 - 0Besiktas
76'Julien Rodriguez1 - 0
90'Djibril Cisse2 - 0

20



Second-half goals by Julien Rodriguez and Djibril Cisse gave Olympique Marseille a 2-0 win over Besiktas in their Champions League Group A opener on Tuesday.

Centre back Rodriguez poked the ball home in the 76th minute after a Samir Nasri corner kick hit the far post and France striker Cisse wrapped up the win in injury time to earn the Ligue 1 side their first home victory of the season.

Albert Emon's side dominated throughout and were barely bothered by a feeble Besiktas side.

Marseille, who won the Champions League in 1993, lead their group after five-times champions Liverpool were held to a 1-1 draw at Porto.

'We're feeling better. The Champions League is such an important competition,' Emon told reporters.

'We put our Ligue 1 problems behind us. This game is a boost for our confidence. The players have been strong from the first to the last minute.'

Besiktas coach Ertugrul Saglam added: 'We did not create enough chances and we lacked some luck. Marseille played roughly and the referee was not severe enough.'

Serdar Kurtulus and Ricardinho were both replaced in the first half with suspected injuries following rough tackles.

Marseille started brightly, with Senegal striker Mamadou Niang a permanent threat to the Besiktas defence, but proved too clumsy in front of goal.

Cisse had the clearest chance in the 11th minute but his attempt was blocked by Hakan Arikan.

The Besiktas goalkeeper pulled a superb save seven minutes into the second half when he tipped a Karim Ziani shot over his bar.

Marseille next travel to Anfield, where no French club has won, while Besiktas host Porto.

Source: Soccernet.com

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UCL: FC Porto 1-1 Liverpool: 10-man Reds hang on







































FC Porto1 - 1Liverpool
8'Luis González (pen)1 - 0

17'

1 - 1Dirk Kuyt

1

1

Liverpool escaped with a precious point from a dreadful performance in their opening Champions League Group A clash against Porto in the Estadio Dragao.

Liverpool, particularly in the first period, were just awful and at times Porto threatened to over-run them.

The Anfield men played the final 32 minutes with 10 men after Jermaine Pennant tested the patience of referee Michel Lubos once too often with a frustrated, fractious display that cost him two yellow cards.

Porto had led early on through a Lucho Gonzalez penalty but had to thank Dirk Kuyt for a priceless header on 17 minutes.

That gave Liverpool something to cling onto, and they at least managed that level of resilience when it mattered.

As it was the heroes were the hard-working Kuyt and dependable defender Alvaro Arbeloa as Porto failed to find a way through.

Last season's beaten finalists looked a shambles in the opening period, a segment of play as bad as anything they have produced under Rafael Benitez.

They were without midfielder Xabi Alonso, who had failed to recover from an ankle problem initially sustained at Portsmouth on Saturday, and aggravated last night in training, but there was no excuse for such a disjointed spell.

Benitez had made six changes from the side that drew at Fratton Park, with Sami Hyypia at the back, Steven Gerrard, Javier Mascherano and Ryan Babel returning to midfield with what looks now like his first-choice front pairing of Fernando Torres and Kuyt.

And they looked like strangers against a slick attack. The Portuguese champions were led by inspired skipper Gonzalez, a summer target of Everton, plus the exciting skills of Ricardo Quaresma who has been linked to Chelsea.

And it was the 23-year-old who almost set up a second minute Porto goal when his cross was deflected straight to Lisandro Lopez, standing six yards out and unmarked. Somehow Jose Reina got his body in the way of the instant shot.

Liverpool were under intense early pressure and another Quaresma angled effort flew just over, with Pennant fortunate not to be booked for slashing at Quaresma's legs.

Liverpool were barely in the game and a goal was inevitable. It came on eight minutes when Hyypia was slow to close down Tarik Sektioui, and Reina's challenge sent the Dutch striker to the ground. Gonzalez crashed home the penalty.

Liverpool's game was still error-strewn, but somehow they struck back on 17 minutes. Steve Finnan lifted a free-kick deep into the box where Hyypia headed back across goal for Kuyt to head home from six yards.

Pennant was booked for another foul on Quaresma, and from the free-kick Bruno Alves headed wide from a glorious unmarked position in the box.

Lopez charged down a Hyypia clearance and Reina had to kick desperately to safety, Liverpool's back-line having plenty of trouble containing three swift strikers.

The unlikeliest of people, Gerrard, Mascherano and Jamie Carragher, kept giving the ball away or were caught in possession.

Pennant had to be pulled away from referee Lubos by Kuyt early in the second half as the winger complained about another decision going against him, the Slovakian official showing remarkable restraint.

Still Porto had much of the possession, moving it quickly to the flanks, in particular the right where Quaresma was a constant threat.

Pennant was not going to last much longer in this fractious mood, and on 58 minutes the referee lost patience.

Pennant chased a long pass into the corner and sent Raul Meireles crashing over the line in his eagerness to get the ball. He then claimed a corner and turned to argue with the linesman and referee.

The yellow card was already out, followed by the red and Pennant was off, a lack of discipline that will enrage Benitez who barely looked at the winger as he marched down the tunnel.

Hyypia cleared away from an open goal from Quaresma's lob.

Porto sent on Mariano Gonzalez and Mario Bolatti for Meireles and Sektioui on 65 minutes.

Torres was booked for dissent on 73 minutes, Kuyt for a foul two minutes later.

A minute later a disappointed Torres, who had worked hard but got nowhere all evening, was replaced by Andriy Voronin.

Gerrard had a rare chance in the box when he volleyed wide from an Arbeloa angled ball into the box, but it was soon all hands to the pump at the other end.

On 85 minutes, Fabio Aurelio came on for Ryan Babel and Liverpool managed to get away with a point from one of their poorest displays in a long time.

Source: Soccernet.com

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