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Wednesday, 11 April 2007, 20:33 GMT 21:33 UK

Liverpool 1-0 PSV (agg 4-0)

By Chris Bevan

Peter Crouch celebrates scoring Liverpool's winner Liverpool set up a Champions League semi-final with Chelsea after sealing a comfortable aggregate win over PSV Eindhoven through Peter Crouch's goal.

The Reds led 3-0 from the first leg and PSV's lack of adventure meant their progression was never in doubt.

Reds keeper Jose Reina did have to make two smart saves from Jefferson Farfan.

But PSV had Dirk Marcellis sent off for a foul on Bolo Zenden before Crouch tapped in Robbie Fowler's cross to give Liverpool a 1-0 victory on the night.

It was always going to take something extraordinary for PSV to stop Liverpool becoming the third English team to book their place in the last four of the competition and they never looked capable of doing so.

True, Ronald Koeman's injury-hit and out-of-form side did threaten in the third minute when Reina tipped over Farfan's header, but that was as close as the visitors got in the first half.

A Liverpool side lacking Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher were hardly firing on all cylinders either but then again they had done all the hard work in the first leg.

The home supporters had clearly come to party but they had precious little to get excited about until the 26th minute when Gomes tipped Crouch's bouncing shot over the bar after some good work from Jermaine Pennant.

Zenden also curled a free-kick inches wide on the stroke of half-time but you sensed Reds boss Rafa Benitez was more concerned by the condition of Craig Bellamy, forced off with a knee injury, than events on the pitch.

Bellamy was stretchered off in the first half

Luckily the fans on the Kop were in the mood for entertaining themselves and kept the volume up to prevent the atmosphere at Anfield falling flat.

PSV were showing a distinct lack of adventure given their situation, but they did threaten again after the break when Farfan's low shot brought a second fine save from Reina.

Liverpool continued to hold back too and it was only when Marcellis saw red for a late tackle on Zenden that they began to threaten, with their goal following soon after.

Gomes tipped away Crouch's first effort from John Arne Riise's cross but Fowler quickly squared the ball for the big striker to tap home.

606: DEBATE
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It could have got better for the Reds before the end as they at last began to open PSV up.

Another Riise cross was deflected into Crouch's path by Eric Addo but he headed weakly over.

Pennant was also denied twice in quick succession by Gomes after a mistake by Sun Xiang.

Not that it mattered of course - the game was long since up for the visitors.

But a much sterner test awaits Benitez and his team when they face Chelsea in a repeat of their 2005 semi-final that the Reds won 1-0 on aggregate.


Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Hyypia, Agger (Paletta 78), Riise, Pennant, Sissoko, Alonso (Gonzalez 72), Zenden, Crouch, Bellamy (Fowler 17).
Subs Not Used: Dudek, Gerrard, Mascherano, Carragher.

Goals: Crouch 68.

PSV: Gomes, Marcellis, Simons, Addo, Salcido, Feher (Sun 62), Cocu, Vayrynen, Culina, Farfan (Kluivert 62), Kone (Van Eijden 71).
Subs Not Used: Moens, Da Costa, Tardelli, Ter Horst.

Sent Off: Marcellis (64).

Booked: Salcido.

Att: 41,447.

Ref: Roberto Rosetti (Italy).




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Related to this story:

Benitez expects test from Chelsea (11 Apr 07 |  Europe )
Champions League clockwatch (11 Apr 07 |  Europe )
Champions League pictures (11 Apr 07 |  Football )
PSV Eindhoven 0-3 Liverpool (03 Apr 07 |  Europe )

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