23 November 2006, by Sean Gillen

Liverpool cruise to group victory

Liverpool 2-0 PSV

Liverpool cruised to a comfortable victory over Dutch champions PSV at Anfield in what was essentially a playoff for top spot in Group C between two already qualified teams. Second-half goals from Steven Gerrard and Peter Crouch saw the Premiership side maintain their unbeaten record in the competition and secure top spot ahead of the draw for the next round.

The home side enjoyed plenty of possession in the first half, but created few clear-cut goalscoring chances against a PSV defence containing Portuguese defender Manuel da Costa, with Steve Gerrard and Boudewijn Zenden’s long-range shots and Crouch’s header all failing to find the target.

The deadlock was broken on 65 minutes, and it was a well-worked goal. Dutchman Dirk Kuyt turned brilliantly to find the run of Gerrard and put the Liverpool captain through on goal to slot the ball past Gomes.

Kuyt was again the provider for the second, heading a deep cross back across goal for Crouch to nod over the line in the final minute of the match. Brazilian striker Diego Tardelli came close to registering a late consolation for the visitors, only to be denied by Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina.

After the match, PSV manager Ronald Koeman was counting the cost of a suspect defensive display: “In the last two matches we have been quite sloppy at the back and you are not going to create much by being sloppy,” said the former Benfica boss.

“Overall the second half was better but in the first half we lost a lot of possession of the ball. I felt we had chances before the first goal and I felt we were in control. We have put together a good run of matches, qualified and, on the whole, we have played quite well.”

Liverpool:
Reina, Finnan, Riise, Agger, Carragher, Alonso (Zenden, 21), Gerrard, Pennant (Bellamy, 78), Gonzalez (Luis Garcia, 36), Crouch, Kuyt
Yellow Cards: None

PSV:
Gomes, Kromkamp, Salcido, Da Costa, Alex, Simons, Feher (Tardelli, 68), Mendez (Beerens, 81), Afellay, Farfan, Kone
Yellow Cards: None

Goals:
[1-0] Gerrard, 65
[2-0] Crouch, 89