Liverpool absorb Anderlecht pressure to secure vital win

Anderlecht 0 Liverpool 1

Anderlecht 0 Liverpool 1

Djibril Cisse bagged his 12th goal in 22 matches for club and country this season to move the European champions a step closer to regaining their crown.

The Frenchman netted with an impressive volley after 20 minutes for Rafael Benitez’s team, who created a string of glorious chances and were almost made to pay for their wastefulness as Anderlecht staged a brave second-half comeback.

It was Liverpool’s second away win in group G, but with Chelsea storming to victory over Real Betis, the Merseysiders have lost top spot.

But they have much to thank the Londoners for, because with Betis now four points adrift of Liverpool, Benitez’s side now look a good bet to reach the last 16.

The game summed up all of Liverpool’s problems, though. They looked complete masters in the first half with movement, pace and creativity.

But the Belgians, who have now lost 10 successive group matches, were at their throats after the break and will feel they deserved something from the game.

Peter Crouch and Fernando Morientes were left on the bench alongside Harry Kewell, making his comeback from injury having last played for Liverpool in the Istanbul final – if only for the opening exchanges.

Anderlecht started with pace and movement and almost unhinged Liverpool after just two minutes.

Swede Christian Wilhelmsson carved his way through the visitors’ defence to set up Bart Goor for a 12-yard shot which Jose Reina stopped with his legs.

Five minutes later after more purposeful approach work, Anthony Vanden Borre produced a swerving 20 yarder from the right that Reina pulled down at full stretch.

But from then on Liverpool bossed the first half with lightening counter attacks and could and should have been much further ahead than just Cisse’s splendid 20th minute volley.

Dietmar Hamann and Jamie Carragher both had shots blocked and Liverpool should have been ahead when John Arne Riise got to the byline and pulled the ball back for Luis Garcia, 10 yards out – but the Spaniard lifted his effort over a gaping goal.

Luis Garcia wasted another chance after Cisse had juggled the ball into his path inside the box, then Riise’s angled drive was touched wide of the far post by Silvio Proto.

But from the corner Liverpool eventually took the lead, with Cisse crashing Hamann’s corner home with an impressive first-time volley.

Liverpool found acres of space to attack behind Anderlecht’s defence, but they lacked the clinical finish to wrap up the game before the break – Mohamed Sissoko wasting another quick break before Cisse cut inside to drive wide again.

But while Anderlecht could not defend, the skill and pace of Mbo Mpenza up front caused Liverpool problems, as did striker partner Nenad Jestrovic.

There was always the fear Anderlecht would create something with Liverpool attacking so freely – and it almost came when Mpenza set up Goor, but his effort was wildly off target.

Liverpool started the second period in the same vein, Riise lashing a drive inches wide.

The longer the Reds went without adding to the lead, the more chance there was of Anderlecht snatching something.

And when Reina sliced a clearance to Jestrovic, it took a fine block by Sami Hyypia to rescue the situation.

Alonso was booked on the hour for a foul on Wilhelmsson before Anderlecht had a strong shout for a penalty when Carragher threw himself in the path of Wilhelmsson’s cross.

Cisse wasted another chance to settle things with an angled drive skidded wide of the far post.

But Anderlecht were an increasing danger, going forward down both flanks and profiting from Liverpool conceding possession.

Alonso produced a fine tackle to dispossess Wilhelmsson and – despite loud Anderlecht appeals for a penalty – referee Massimo Busacca waved the claims away.

Benitez sent on Kewell for Cisse, while Anderlecht responded with another striker in Akin Serhat for Olivier Deschacht.

But Liverpool still lived on their nerves, trying to snatch a decisive breakaway goal while being subjected to far more pressure than they can have expected at half-time when the game was going their way.

The goal should have come when Alonso and Luis Garcia combined to send Sissoko clear, but Proto made a fine save at his feet.

Bolo Zenden replaced Sissoko with nine minutes left, then Vanden Borre had a great late chance after a sweeping Anderlecht move, but he stabbed the ball wide after being played into the box.

Reina was booked for time wasting at a goal-kick while complaining that home fans were pelting him with rubbish from behind the goal – but Liverpool clung on for three points which should see them reach the last 16.

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