Champions League Group A – November 7th 2007 – Result
Liverpool 8 Besiktas 0
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Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez: “We try to win trophies and be in the (record) books but if you can’t win trophies at least you have a record and that’s a positive thing. We knew we needed to score and when we scored the first goal they had to go forward and it was easier for our strikers.
“Crouch was very good and Voronin was fantastic but I prefer to think about the whole team. The midfielders and defenders were also good and we managed to keep a clean sheet which was important too. There were two or three things we could have done better but after a night like that you can’t say that. You can see the team has enough power for scoring goals. We are creating chances, we just need a bit of luck. In the last few matches we have been creating chances and not scoring goals but today once we got the first it was easier for us to go on and score the second and then the other goals.
“We had the belief that we could qualify and now we know we need to win our next two games and normally we would be there. The next one is against Porto and at least we will have confidence and the supporters will believe. Porto need to come here to Anfield and they will be worried for sure. We knew we needed to win the last three games. We will try to win against Porto and see what happens in the last one.”
Hat-trick scoring Yossi Benayoun: “I am happy to score but what was important was the way we won. We just need to continue to improve all the time. We knew we had our backs to the wall because we had to win three games. I’m sure this win will give us a lot of confidence.”
Scorer of the first and eighth goals Peter Crouch: “Although it is a big win, it is only three points. We need to win the other games and make sure we can qualify.”
Besiktas coach Ertugrul Saglam: “It’s been a very bad night for the team and for the fans. The result is very upsetting for all of us. We would like to say sorry to all our fans. It’s very difficult to accept the result.”
Liverpool: Reina, Aurelio (Babel, 63), Hyypia, Carragher, Arbeloa, Riise, Mascherano, Gerrard (Lucas, 72), Benayoun, Voronin (Kewell, 72), Crouch.
Unused subs: Martin, Finnan, Torres, Kuyt.
Goals: Crouch 19, 89, Benayoun 32, 53, 56, Gerrard 69, Babel 79, 81
Besiktas: Arikan, Uzulmez, Toraman, Diatta, Kurtulus (Higuain, 62), Sedef (Ricardinho, 78), Cisse, Avci, Ozcan (Tandogan, 46), Delgado, Bobo.
Unused subs: Rustu, Yozgatli, Kas, Karadeniz.
Booked: Ozcan.
Stats: (Liverpool – Besiktas)
Possession: 58% – 42%
Shots on target: 20 – 1
Shots off target: 11 – 2
Corners: 3 – 2
Fouls: 11 – 14
Attendance: 41,143
Referee: Markus Merk (Germany).
Hello,
Liverpool/Besiktas I watched a boring football match
8:0 and then you hear they are planning to build a new stadium and that was a score record. we all know football is not what it was before it is more luckily to be these days fantasies matches like last night and then are talking about peter crouch who scored twice. Look at around you to realise he is only a the spit of European’s football
Not a fark’s idea what ye yabbling about, mate.
Alright mates!
I just watched something that should have been the norm AGES ago. I’m talking about the way we won last night – a way that the mancs and gooners have gotten used to! Rafa’s been asking for us to finish teams when we got our noses in front, and we did that. I am happilly old enough to remember the 9-0 result over Crystal Palace, and rubbing it in with my Eagles supporting workmate the next day. Oh yeah! Only wish I knew someone from Turkey right now.
My only missgivings right now are the murmurings about Kuyt’s poor chance/goal ratio and the apparent lack of a cohesive team. Injuries aside, I feel that our midfield presents the greatest problem. The front men have proved their worth, and only when Rafa has decided who can give us that solid unit behind them will we challenge for the premiership. On Kuyt – if you see the goals he has got, they were all nice and clean. Perhaps he lacks the edge to win a game goal-wise, but its the quality of his support work that speaks volumes. Riise is the one who is off-colour, wasting shots and giving the ball away in crucial areas – infact add Hyypia to that. I could go on but for now I wish to bathe in last night’s ray of sunshine 🙂