MATCH STATS

GOALS: Gerrard 65, Crouch 89 Watch these goals

LIVERPOOL TEAM: (4-4-2) - Only one change from the weekend's game - Peter Crouch returns to the starting XI with Bellamy making way.

Substitutions:
Zenden for Alonso (29) injury
Garcia for Gonzalez (34) injury
Bellamy for Pennant (78) injury

OPPOSITION

PSV Eindhoven: Gomes, Kromkamp, Da Costa, Alex, Salcido, Mendez (Beerens 81), Simons, Feher (Tardelli 68), Afellay, Farfan, Kone. Subs Not Used: Moens, Reiziger, Cocu, Addo, Lamey.

Att: 41,948
Ref: Domenico Messina (Italy)

Alonso first on the stretcher	Then Gonzalez as the reds start to look worried	But Gerrard gets the opening goal to leave the reds top of the table

MATCH REPORT

Goals from Steven Gerrard and Peter Crouch secured Liverpool victory over PSV Eindhoven and the top spot in Champions League Group C.

Gerrard sidefooted home midway through the second half after a devastating three-pass move that involved Jose Reina, Steve Finnan and Dirk Kuyt.

Late on Crouch sealed the win with a close-range header after Kuyt headed the ball back across goal.

Soon after Reina saved with his feet to deny PSV substitute Diego Tardelli.

However Liverpool's win came at a cost as they lost three players to leg injuries.

Manager Rafael Benitez had to make two substitutions during the first half as first Xabi Alonso went off with a hip injury and then Mark Gonzalez was stretchered off after tearing his hamstring.

With 11 minutes to go Jermaine Pennant also had to be stretchered off to be replaced by Craig Bellamy.

Gonzalez injured himself after breaking clear on the left and delivering a dangerous cross that Alex slid in to clear with Crouch lurking just behind the Brazilian.

Gonzalez's loss entailed Pennant moving from the right to the left wing.

Pennant had made a bright start before that switch, putting in a cross for Gonzalez and freeing Kuyt with an incisive pass.

While Liverpool passed the ball well they proved less adept at testing PSV goalkeeper Gomes, who was called into action just once when he clutched Boudewijn Zenden's swerving shot to his chest.

Gerrard worked relentlessly in midfield and the Liverpool captain was responsible for delivering the best pass of the opening 45 minutes when he almost teed up Crouch with a delicately flighted delivery.

Gerrard had a chance himself when he collected a pass from Crouch only to put his shot narrowly wide.

PSV found it equally difficult to create goalmouth chances though Arouna Kone briefly threatened before he was superbly tackled by Finnan.

Liverpool's Republic of Ireland defender was soon at the other end of pitch when he sent over a cross for Crouch, who put in a dangerous header.

Just before the hour Carlos Salcido tried his luck with an outrageous long-distance shot that had Reina backpedalling.

With PSV suddenly looking more of a prominent force in attack, Liverpool took the lead with a well-worked goal.

After collecting a pass from Reina, Finnan played the ball forward to Kuyt, who spun away from Alex, before touching the ball to Gerrard.

The speed of the move left Gerrard with just Gomes to beat and the Liverpool captain swept the ball incisively past the PSV keeper to claim his second goal of the season, goals that have both come in European games.

Crouch then scored his fourth Champions League group goal this season when he nodded home following good work by Kuyt and Luis Garcia.

BBC Sport

(Back to top)

MEDIA/PRESS REPORTS

PA

Carl Markham's Match Report

(Back to top)