Liverpool sets Champions League record with 8-0 win

BELGRADE: Liverpool revived its hopes of reaching the Champions League last 16 with a record 8-0 drubbing of Besiktas while Rosenborg beat Valencia 2-0 to hand Ronald Koeman a disappointing start at the Mestalla on Tuesday.

Liverpool's best performance of a patchy season in its Group A match at Anfield provided a record-breaking Champions League scoreline, beating 7-0 wins by Arsenal over Slavia Prague last month and Juventus against Olympiakos Piraeus in December 2003.

Liverpool's win was a breakthrough for manager Rafa Benitez, who came under strong pressure after a 2-1 loss at Besiktas a fortnight ago left his side staring at early elimination.

It was a different story on Tuesday, though, as Yossi Benayoun grabbed a hat-trick, Ryan Babel and Peter Crouch scored two goals each and Steven Gerrard added another to give Liverpool its first win in the group.

The 2005 champion has reignited its campaign and moved up a place to third on four points, one more than Besiktas.

Chelsea stayed on course to reach the knockout stages after a 0-0 draw at Schalke 04 in Group B while AC Milan's Filippo Inzaghi equaled Gerd Muller's all-time record of 62 goals in European club football in its 3-0 win at Shakhtar Donetsk.

Celtic also remained in the hunt in Group D with a 1-0 win over Benfica after 21-year-old midfielder Aiden McGeady rifled in a deflected long-range winner on the stroke of halftime.

The result left Gordon Strachan's side third on six points, three ahead of Benfica and level with second-placed Shakhtar.

Inzaghi, who was a 63rd minute substitute in Ukraine, fired Milan ahead three minutes later and put his name in the history books with an injury-time goal after Kaka steered in the second.

The win over Shakhtar left European champion Milan top of the group on nine points and with a chance to seal a berth in the last 16 when it visits Benfica on November 28.

Porto, which won Europe's premier club competition in 2004, leapt into the driving seat in Group A with eight points after a 2-1 home win over Olympique Marseille that left the French side in second place on seven points after four matches.

Moroccan striker Tarik Sektioui sent Porto on its way with a dazzling solo run from the halfway line and Lisandro Lopez headed the winner off the underside of the bar after Mamadou Niang had equalized with a diving header.

Chelsea's seven-game winning streak under Avram Grant ended in Gelsenkirchen but the stalemate left it a point ahead of Rosenborg, who registered its second 2-0 win over Valencia in as many weeks thanks to a Steffen Iversen double.

The former Tottenham Hotspur striker gave the Norwegian side a 31st minute lead with a low shot that went in off the post and sealed the win shortly before the hour when he was left unmarked at the far post to nod the ball home.

Chelsea (8 points) visits Rosenborg (7) later this month while Schalke (4) is at bottom side Valencia (3) as the battle for the top two qualifying spots and a consolation UEFA Cup berth for the third-placed team intensifies.

Real Madrid leads Group C on eight points after a goalless draw at Olympiakos Piraeus, who has five points along with Lazio following a 2-1 home win over Werder Bremen.

Agencies

(China Daily 11/08/2007 page23)