- 75'
Straight ball over the top finds Camara. He does exceptionally well to bring it down under close control but, before he can turn and shoot, the referee blows for offside.
- 74'
Baros, with virtualy his first touch, wories the defence by running at retreating players. Shapes to shoot before cutting across the 18 yard line. This time does shoot but a combination of defenders crowd him out. Positive stuff from the Czech.
- 73'
Perez skips past a challenge from Alonso before feeding Maicon out wide. His low cross along the six yard line is well defended by Hyypia.
- 72'
liverpool really do need a second before they can relax.
- 71'
Delivery from the corner is good as well and Adebayor rises highest to meet it. Downward header is on target but Dudek saves down to his right.
- 70'
And they nearly do. Great cross into the Liverpool box causes confusion/hesitation between Carragher and Dudek. Carragher eventually takes the initiative but almost turns into his own net in the process.
- 69'
Liverpool still the better team but Monaco are still capable of getting a goal back.
- 68'
Substitution for Liverpool and it's a straight swap. Off goes the goalscorer Cisse and on comes Milan Baros.
- 67'
Sharp break down the right by Gerrard followed by a wonderful flighted pass to pick out Kewell in space at the far post. Unfortunately for Liverpool the Australian's cut back across the box finds noone.
- 66'
Maicon shows the best of himself and also the worst. Jinking little run takes the ball up field and leaves a couple of Liverpool men for dead. Then, when he had run down an blind ally, he through himself shamelessly over Hyypia's leg. The referee was not fooled.
- 65'
A few misplaced passes from Liverpool has allowed Monaco back into this but it is still scrappy for the most part.
- 63'
Long, cross field ball picks out Kewell. He does well to win the header but it's not one of his strengths and the effort is weak.
- 62'
Spell of possession for Monaco but all the good work is wasted with a speculative shot from 25 yards that fails to trouble Dudek.
- 61'
In the home team had their collective shooting boots on tonight this game would be over. As it is Monaco are still very much in it.
- 60'
Liverpool very much on top now. Ball ricochets out of the box and finds Gerrard in a shooting spot that he has exploited a couple of times this season already. This time, however, after bringing it down, hislooping shot loops away from the goal.
- 59'
Liverpool again coming up with some nice little moves. Kewell this time drives it, nipping past a couple of men, playing short to Garcia who gave him back a perfect ball. Kewell continued his run and then slotted Cisse in on goal. Roma stood up well though and saved his goalbound effort low to his left. Great goalkkeping.
- 58'
Corner picks out Kewell, unmarked outside the box but his volleyed shot is spooned high into the stands.
- 57'
Cleverly worked free-kick. Gerrard looks to be playing it short for Alonso to shoot. He does but Alonso just helps it on again square to the unmarked Riise, dead centre. He cracks it but unfortunately into the shins of Rodriguez.
- 56'
Givet earns a caution by holding back the advancing Garcia.
- 55'
Another promising Liverpool move promted by a great pass from Alonso sets up another crossing opportunity for Finnan to cross but he puts it too close to the keeper.
- 54'
More intelligent triangles in the left back position from Liverpool launches an attack with Cisse with only one man to beat. He looks like he might until the ball gets caught in his feet and he falls over. Groan!
- 53'
Scrappy, almost nervous opening to the second half.
- 52'
Cisse, looking busy, comes deep to collect a short pass, turns and goes for a shot from a long way out. Nothing was on in terms of a pass but the shot is blocked.
- 51'
Alonso shows his passing ability with a glorious raking ball wide to Finnan.
- 49'
Slightly mistimed challenge from Gerrard on Rdriguez. He actually tried to pull out of it but slipped but the reaction of the Monaco players more than anything prompts the referee to hand out the second yellow of the night.
- 48'
Inswinging cross easily dealt with by the French defence.
- 47'
Space in the Monaco half for Josemi to stride purposefully into before trying his luck from distance. Signposted his intent and Monaco are able to block at the expense of a corner.
- 46'
Camara makes and early contribution by muscling his way into the box and cutting back a ball that just fails to find a team-mate.
- 45'
Monaco show some attacking intent - they needed to - by taking of left wing-back Evra and bringing on a striker, Camara. They will now switch to a flat back four with a diamond in midfield - probably with Kallon at it's front.
- 45'
That's entertainment? No, not really though, thanks to some slick passing moves from the home side, the highlights package will look alright. Liverpool have created a few chances with Monaco reducing themselves to the occasional break up field. The home team deserve the lead, the home fans deserve the improvement of the last ten minutes to continue whilst the Monaco players deserve a good talking to at half-time.
- 45'
Half-time arrives with Liverpool still the single gaol to the good.
- 45'
Liverpool actually growing into this game. Gerrard given time and space in central midfield, slightly out right. Sent over one of his trade mark curling cross field diagonal balls (his first of the game now I think about it, I knew something was missing) that bounces once as it curls behind a static Monaco defence. At the back post it sits up perfectly for Garcia to head at goal but he burries it in the side netting. Wonderful ball that deserved a better finish.
- 44'
Great little move down the left this time from Liverpoll. Gerrard released Cisse who played a ludicrously long one two with Garcia to get into the box. Real chance but the Frenchman's first touch let him down. Should have done better after doing the hard work.
- 43'
This really is a tame affair.
- 42'
Perhaps appropriately, the second dead ball, also, is wasted.
- 41'
Kallon free-kick from wide right is terible. However, in striking it straight at the first man, Kewell, he earns a corner he didn't deserve.
- 40'
Half chance or perhaps better for Liverpool. Long throw into the box is flicked on by Kewell, obviously aimed for Garcia in space 12 yards out but his little glancing header does not get enough on it and, despite it heading for the top corner, the pace allows Roma to easily catch.
- 39'
great little improvised back heel flick from Gerrard to keep alive a neat passing move down the Liverpool right that ultimately wins them a throw-in down by the corner flag.
- 37'
Cisse gets flagged offside for what feels like the 41st time tonight.
- 36'
Swift break from the home side as Cisse again cleverly pulls out wide to find space - Monaco are playing with three centre backs which is crowding the middle - but, with options to hit in the centre, he wastes the opportunity with a poor cross.
- 35'
Resulting free-kick to the back post sees Hyypia arrive unmarked but unable to profit.
- 34'
Gerrard stretches for a loose ball he was never going to give up and gets caught on his ankle by the trailing leg of Kallon. An accident after a genuine attempt to play the ball but the Liverpool captain hobbles to the sideline in some discomfort.
- 33'
A lot of Liverpool's attacks coming down the right but it's not really a fruitful tactic as Evra is patrolling that flank with authority for the French.
- 32'
Josemi and Kallon clash and tangle on the floor a bit after the ball has gone. Nothing in it really but I'm clutching at very thin straws with this game to be honest.
- 31'
Succession of corners come to nought for the French and Liverpool ride out a mini-period of pressure.
- 30'
Farnerud fires a deep free-kick into a crowded Liverpool box. The ball is dipping a swerving but a Liverpool man gets the final touch for a corner.
- 29'
Long ball from Josemi disects the Monaco back two between which Cisses strides but he just can't control the ball as he does.
- 27'
Great save from Roma - and it had to be. Wonderful build up play from Liverpool resulting in a deft flick on from Alonso that put Garcia free in the box, but wide left. The Spaniard pulled the trigger and it was going in until Roma's intervention. Good football all round.
- 26'
Another quick free-kick from the middle of the pitch for Liverpool sets Alonso free of the Monaco midfield but a crowd of white shirts block the shooting opportunity.
- 25'
Perez gets the better of Riise on the right to swing a high, looping cross that Dudek does well to watch all the way into his hands.
- 24'
Interesting to see if Monaco change their way of playing. They were happy to sit deep and break but now they are chasing the game, Hopefully it draws them out.
- 23'
Finnan shows willing to chase a long ball all the way to the Monaco goal-line but Evra also has some pace on him and recovers to tackle just as Finnan was lining up a cross.
- 22'
A quick free kick in the centre circle started it then triangles between Garcia, Gerrard and then Cisse put him through and his shot sent the helpless keeper the wrong way. 1-0 Liverpool after a tepid opening 20 minutes.
- 21'
And now they get some reward. Cisse benefits from some simple passing between Garcia and Gerrard and finishes emphatically when one on one with the keeper. It's an easy game.
- 19'
Liverpool uping the tempo a bit through the dribbling - not always successful - of Kewell and Garcia and the powerful tackling of Alonso. Promising at least.
- 18'
Maicon drives a low shot across the face of goal that Dudek can just watch drift to safety.
- 17'
Garcia's turn to try one from distance and it's not too far away. Took the ball down about 35 yards and hit a first time effort with the outside of his foot that curled back in enough but was too high.
- 16'
Cisse, looking full of running, drifts wide to the right and sends over a firm cross that Maicon casually back heels clear. Nice.
- 15'
First booking of the game as Zikos crunches in on Garcia. It was a bad foul but not that bad.
- 14'
Farnerud, who has looked good so far rather makes a hash of a cross field pass on the edge of the box and slices it high and wide. He is capable of better.
- 13'
Cisse and Garcia nearly create a spark. Sharp ball up to Cisse is flicked with the outside of the foot for the on running Garcia who had played the pass. Would have opened up a gap but the pace of the ball elluded him.
- 12'
Very staid opening to this one I'm afraid. 'Liverpool in Europe, what do you expect.' Who said that?
- 11'
Evra clatters Finnan a bit drawing a few words but nothing worse from the referee.
- 9'
Liverpool enjoying all the possession but I suspect Monaco have no problem with that as it's not in dangerous areas.
- 8'
Terrible corner finds no one and the impetus is lost.
- 7'
Garcia tries a flick with the back of his heel on the edge of the box but messes it up. Alonso though takes control to playa great ball wide to Finnan and his decent cross earns the first corner of the game.
- 6'
Liverpool take their time bringing the ball out of defence as Monaco are reluctant to press. Eventually Gerrard plays a sloppy pass and concedes possession.
- 5'
He's back on now anyway and running freely.
- 4'
Worrying sight for Liverpool fans as Gerrard makes his way to the touchline looking uncomfortable. I think it's just a problem with his boots though.
- 3'
Cisse's first chance to show his pace with a long hopeful ball aimed towards the corner flag but he is pulled up for offside.
- 2'
Outrageous attempt from Kallon who has a pop from the centre circle. He spotted Dudek off his line but the Pole is grateful to see it sail over. Not a bad try.
- 1'
Liverpool knock it around on a pitch that looks like a bowling green in an unspectacular opening.
Liverpool to kick off and top level European football returns to Anfield for nearly two years.
Injury and suspensions have hit Monaco hard. Javier Saviola is banned and Ernesto
Chevanton and Shabani Nonda are out injured. Mohamed Kallon and Emmanuel
Adebayor start up front for a side who lost six players from last season's surprise Champions League finalists.
Rafael Benitez has left out German midfielder Dietmar Hamann to allow GBP11million
Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso to take a central role against last season's
Champions League runners-up in this Group A opener at Anfield.
Otherwise it is the same team which comfortably beat West Brom on Saturday with Chris
Kirkland over his back problem and returning on the bench; where he will be kept company by Hamann, Milan Baros and Igor Biscan amongst others. Which will be nice for him.
Tonight Liverpool host Monaco, last season's UEFA Champions League runners-up. Can the Reds start with a win against top class opposition? Find out here from 19.45 UK time.
PSGParis Saint-Germain
