Anderlecht against Liverpool

SUB: Riise is replaced by Warnock. Riise has worked very hard and looked really tired as he trudged off the field. Warnock should give the visitors some energy down the left.

Josemi brings down Zetterberg in midfield. The home side take the free-kick quickly as they press forward, but Liverpool manage to break up the attack and take the sting out of the game for a moment or two.

Reina is booked for time-wasting as he delays over a goal-kick. The Liverpool 'keeper insists that he was waiting because he was being pelted with objects thrown from the crowd, but the referee has no sympathy.

NICE MOVE! Vanden Borre and Zetterberg combine superbly down the right-hand side, with the captain's back-heel ending at the feet of the young full-back, who can only prod wide of Reina's goal.

Reina hammers a long clearance up-field, but Liverpool only have Kewell in the Anderlecht half and the home defence allow the ball to run tamely through to Proto.

This will be a hard-fought win should Liverpool manange to see it out; they have been put under a fair bit of pressure by the home side in the second half.

SUB: Sissoko is replaced by Zenden. Benitez attempts to close out the game, bringing on Zenden to try and keep possession and prevent a nervous finish.

Zetterberg's scuffed corner looks like it should be cleared easily, but Kewell simply deflects the ball back in to the six yard box. Carragher has to be at his sharpest to put the ball out for another corner.

Hyypia gets on the end of Hamann's corner, but his knockdown is hoofed clear by the home side.

SAVE! An incredible, instinctive save from Proto; Sissoko breaks on to Garcia's prod and shoots goalwards, but the goalkeeper sticks out his left leg and deflects the shot over the bar.

Zetterberg has been superb for Anderlecht in this second half; he has been all over the pitch, and been at the heart of everything good for the home side.

Liverpool are playing with a very defensive formation at the moment as they try to see out this match; they don't have a recognised striker on the pitch, just Kewell and Garcia.

SUB: Serhat replaces Descacht for Anderlecht.

SUB: Cisse is replaced by Kewell, for Liverpool. This is Kewell's first appearance since the Champions League final in May.

Riise and Traore look very tired on the Liverpool left; they have been very effective in getting forward to support Cisse, but it looks to have taken it out of the pair of them.

The crowd are getting behind their side much more in this second half; they can sense that they are on top and getting close to an equaliser.

Josemi requires some treatment on a dead leg after a collision with Descacht deep in the Liverpool half. The Spanish full-back looks in some pain as he is stretchered off the field.

There is some activity on the Liverpool bench as Benitez prepares to make a change.

Descacht clips a superb left-foot cross in towards the back post; the ball evades Carragher and Hyypia, but Vanden Borre puts his right-foot shot over the bar.

Liverpool are getting a little sloppy at the back, and they needs Alonso to make a crucial interception as Zetterberg prepares to shoot inside the penalty area.

Riise and Traore have switched positions; Riise is now playing at left-back whilst Traore takes the opportunity to push forward a little more.

Oooh! Riise slides Cisse in to the left-hand side of the penalty area, but with only the goalkeeper to beat, the French striker scuffs his left-foot shot wide of the far post.

Benitez might be looking to make a change; a few Liverpool players seem to be tiring quite noticeably.

This could be an interesting final half-hour; Liverpool look dangerous on the break, but have so far been unable to carve out any real chances; Anderlecht seem to have come out with real purpose and desire to keep their Champions League dream alive.

Mpenza reverses a superb pass back to Wilhelmsson, who cuts inside and unleashes a left-foot shot a yard or so wide of the far post.

Anderlecht appeal for a penalty when Carragher slides in to block Zetterberg's cross inside the area. The ball certainly hit the defender's left arm, but the referee deems that it was unintentional.

SUB: Vandergeaighe off, Baseggio on. An attacking change from the home side as they search for an equaliser. They have been much better in the second half.

Alonso is booked for a challenge from behind from Zetterberg.

Garcia slides a great pass in to the feet of Cisse, 30 yards out, but Traore is quick to nick the ball from the striker's foot and clear the danger.

Garcia has had a very average night; he is making some good runs to support Cisse, but his touch and his distribution have been frustratingly poor.

This is a really open match; Liverpool press forward and almost find a way through on the edge of the Anderlecht penalty area, but a poor touch from Garcia ends the pressure.

Anderlecht are putting more pressure on the visitors this half, simply because they are managing to win a few tackles and string some passes together in midfield.

...The German midfield lofts the ball in to the penalty area, Hyypia topples to the ground, but the referee sees no foul. Play on.

Traore makes a good run forward and is brought down by Zetterberg, 40 yards out. Hamann stands over the ball, and Hyypia goes forward...

TACKLE! Reina comes from his goal to clear, but his kick ends at the feet of Jestrovic, 35 yards out. Thankfully for Liverpool, Josemi makes a superb challenge as the Anderlecht striker is about to shoot in to the empty net.

Hamann curls the ball in to the middle; it is half-cleared to Riise, but his left-foot shot from 25 yards is well over the bar.

Liverpool decide the best form of defence is attack, as Garcia breaks in to the penalty area and attempts to chip to Ciise at the back post. Corner.

Liverpool need to see this tricky spell out; Anderlecht have come out very positively in this second half, and are causing a few problems to Carragher and Hyypia for the first time in the match.

SUB: Tihinen is replaced by Traore. The Fin limps off, seemingly with a hamstring problem. His replacement is no relation to Liverpool's own Traore.

Wilhelmsson wins a corner for the home side when Traore puts behind his cross from the right-hand side. Good start to the half by the home side.

SAVE! Reina makes a superb stop as Vanden Borre cuts in to the Liverpool area and prods a shot goalwards. Liverpool's Spanish keeper palms the ball wide for a corner.

Oooh! Carragher chips a hopeful ball over the top of the Anderlecht defence, and Riise smashes a first-time, left-foot volley inches wide of the far post. Great effort.

Liverpool have got some talented attacking players on the bench, should they opt to try and go for a second goal to close out the match; Kewell, Crouch, Zenden...

Anderlecht kick off the second half. There have been no changes at half time.

HALF-TIME: The European champions go in at the break a goal up, thanks to Cisse's thunderous volley.

Liverpool play the ball about with some confidence in midfield as they try to see out the half. Benitez will be delighted if his men can go in at the break a goal to the good.

The referee incurs the wrath of the home fans when he gives a decision in Liverpool's favour, when it looked for all the world that Josemi had been the culprit in a challenge with Descacht.

Hyypia has played every minute of Liverpool's last 53 Champions League matches; an amazing statistic, no?

...Goor plays the set-piece in to the middle, but again Hyypia heads clear. Liverpool have looked very comfortable with anything played high in to their penalty area.

This has been a good spell for the home side; they are beginning to put a few passes together and are making some good runs off the ball. The win a corner when a cross is deflected behind by Carragher...

Oooh! Wilhemlmsson plays a good ball in to the box, where Mpenza nods a header back to Jestrovic, but his left-foot shot is sliced and flies high and wide. A warning shot for Liverpool.

Wilhelmsson, a Swedish international, sets De Man free down the right wing, but Jestrovic's header loops comfortably in to the hands of Reina.

Hyypia and Carragher are winning everything in the air against Jestrovic and Mpenza; the home side are going to have to readjust their gameplan in the second half.

Liverpool aren't rushing to take their set-pieces, and it is annoying the home fans. They responded with jeers and whistles.

Anderlecht look a little ragged as the half is progressing; any confidence they had at the start of the match has disappeared completely, and the crowd are getting on their back.

SAVE! Proto makes a stunning save after Hamann's corner ends at the feet of Traore six yards out.

Liverpool win a corner when Riise's attempted cross is deflected behind. Hamann picks out Alonso on the edge of the box; he feigns one way, before hitting a left-foot shot, which is deflected for a second corner.

Descacgt breaks forward down the Anderlecht left, but his delivery in to the box is shocking and goes high over Reina's crossbar.

Sissoko is playing well for the European champions, out on the right of midfield; he is very strong in the tackle and is full of energy up and down the touchline.

Cisse cuts inside from the left wing and fires a low right-foot shot goalwards, but it flies a couple of yards wide of Proto's near post.

Anderlecht are showing some good positive intent as they go in search of an equaliser, but Benitez seems to have got his tactics spot-on; there is plenty of space for Liverpool to exploit on the break.

Zetterberg wins a soft foul when he tumbles under a challenge from Hamann.

Liverpool have managed to take some of the pace out of the game since they scored, but it is still very open and attacking; it has been a good game to watch.

Traore plays a good ball forward in to the feet of Cisse, but the French striker can't control the ball and Goor robs him just inside the Anderlecht half.

Anderlecht have lost their last ten Champions League games, and are in danger of extending that shocking record tonight. They look very shaky in defence.

Liverpool immediately break; Garcia beats his man down the left wing and plays a good long ball in to the path of Sissoko, breaking in to the Anderlecht penalty area. He lays a pass back to Cisse, but the home side have enough players back to snuff out the danger.

Mpenza wins a free-kick when he is brought down by Carragher. The set-piece is whipped in to the box, but Hyypia heads clear.

Liverpool will now be looking to utilise Cisse's pace on the break as the Belgian side push forward; the home side know that a defeat all-but ends their chances of progressing to the knock-out stages.

Liverpool probably deserve to be in front; they have dominated the opening stages and created a number of chances. It was important that they scored whilst they were in the asscendency - and Cisse obliged with a superb finish.

Anderlecht win a corner immediately after falling behind, but Liverpool stay alert and organised enough to see out the danger.

GOAL! Cisse meets Garcia's corner and smashes an unstoppable volley past the helpless Proto.

Oooh! Riise collects Alonso's fabulous cross-field pass, cuts inside his marker and unleashes a right-foot curler, but Proto makes an excellent fingertip save. Corner.

Liverpool have made much the better start to this game, creating a number of decent half chances.

Garcia drags a right-foot shot well wide of the post after Cisse had held the ball up well just inside the penalty area. He didn't catch the shot well at all.

Riise and Traore combine again down the left-hand side, though the French full-back's cross is straight at the goalkeeper. Poor final ball; Cisse needs better service than that.

Sissoko lofts a high cross towards the back post where Riise pulls back his left boot ready to unleash a volley, though Vanden Borre gets a head to the ball and clears the danger.

Jestrovic is down on the grass after he catches a stray arm in a challenge with Alonso. He seems to have made rather a lot of the tackle, and is soon back on his feet.

Oooh! Riise does superbly to beat his man down the left. He cuts the ball back to Garcia, ten yards out, but the Spaniard sidefoots his shot over the bar. Poor effort.

Liverpool will be looking to capitalise on any set-pieces, as Anderlecht aren't the tallest of teams.

Josemi lofts a high ball over the top of the Anderlecht defence, but Tihinen just manages to get a head to the ball and Liverpool win a corner.

Garcia is the man Benitez seems to have told to get forward to support Cisse, with Sissoko and Riise on either wing also pushing on.

Oooh! Hamann moves forward with the ball, isn't closed down, and decides to have a pop; his right-foot effort skids narrowly wide of Proto's post.

Vanden Borre strikes a shot from distance, but Reina is equal to the task and holds the swerving ball well.

Traore makes an important challenge at the far post as Jestrovic rises to try and meet Wilhelmsson's cross.

It has been quite a bright start to the game, with both sides committing players forward and the front men are making some intelligent runs behind the two defences.

Garcia crumpes to the turf as an attempted clearance catches him in the delicates. He slowly gets to his feet, eyes watering.

Garcia threads a good ball through towards Riise, but there is a slight deflection on the pass and the Norwegian can't quite get it under control on the edge of the penalty area.

Oooh! Reina is forced to make a good stop with his feet after Goor rather fluffs his shot from the edge of the area after being put in to some space by Zetterberg.

Riise and Traore combine down the left, though Traore's low cross is cut out by Tihinen. A good, positive start by Liverpool.

Liverpool kick off. Cisse has matching hair and beard, and he looks moody and keen to impress.

The players emerge from the tunnel and out on to the pitch. The stadium is full to its 21,000 capacity, and the atmosphere is quite raucous. Probably equivalent to that at a Guns and Roses concert in the mid 1990s.

Team news: The defending champions play with just one man up front, Djibril Cisse; he is supported by a midfield of Riise, Alonso, Garcia, Sissoko and Hammann.

Hi, and welcome to coverage of Liverpool's trip to Brussels to play Anderlecht in their Champions League group match.

The crowd are getting behind their side much more in this second half; they can sense that they are on top and getting close to an equaliser.

Josemi requires some treatment on a dead leg after a collision with Descacht deep in the Liverpool half. The Spanish full-back looks in some pain as he is stretchered off the field.

There is some activity on the Liverpool bench as Benitez prepares to make a change.

Descacht clips a superb left-foot cross in towards the back post; the ball evades Carragher and Hyypia, but Vanden Borre puts his right-foot shot over the bar.

Liverpool are getting a little sloppy at the back, and they needs Alonso to make a crucial interception as Zetterberg prepares to shoot inside the penalty area.

Riise and Traore have switched positions; Riise is now playing at left-back whilst Traore takes the opportunity to push forward a little more.

Oooh! Riise slides Cisse in to the left-hand side of the penalty area, but with only the goalkeeper to beat, the French striker scuffs his left-foot shot wide of the far post.

Benitez might be looking to make a change; a few Liverpool players seem to be tiring quite noticeably.

This could be an interesting final half-hour; Liverpool look dangerous on the break, but have so far been unable to carve out any real chances; Anderlecht seem to have come out with real purpose and desire to keep their Champions League dream alive.

Mpenza reverses a superb pass back to Wilhelmsson, who cuts inside and unleashes a left-foot shot a yard or so wide of the far post.

Anderlecht appeal for a penalty when Carragher slides in to block Zetterberg's cross inside the area. The ball certainly hit the defender's left arm, but the referee deems that it was unintentional.

SUB: Vandergeaighe off, Baseggio on. An attacking change from the home side as they search for an equaliser. They have been much better in the second half.

Alonso is booked for a challenge from behind from Zetterberg.

Garcia slides a great pass in to the feet of Cisse, 30 yards out, but Traore is quick to nick the ball from the striker's foot and clear the danger.

Garcia has had a very average night; he is making some good runs to support Cisse, but his touch and his distribution have been frustratingly poor.

This is a really open match; Liverpool press forward and almost find a way through on the edge of the Anderlecht penalty area, but a poor touch from Garcia ends the pressure.

Anderlecht are putting more pressure on the visitors this half, simply because they are managing to win a few tackles and string some passes together in midfield.

...The German midfield lofts the ball in to the penalty area, Hyypia topples to the ground, but the referee sees no foul. Play on.

Traore makes a good run forward and is brought down by Zetterberg, 40 yards out. Hamann stands over the ball, and Hyypia goes forward...

TACKLE! Reina comes from his goal to clear, but his kick ends at the feet of Jestrovic, 35 yards out. Thankfully for Liverpool, Josemi makes a superb challenge as the Anderlecht striker is about to shoot in to the empty net.

Hamann curls the ball in to the middle; it is half-cleared to Riise, but his left-foot shot from 25 yards is well over the bar.

Liverpool decide the best form of defence is attack, as Garcia breaks in to the penalty area and attempts to chip to Ciise at the back post. Corner.

Liverpool need to see this tricky spell out; Anderlecht have come out very positively in this second half, and are causing a few problems to Carragher and Hyypia for the first time in the match.

SUB: Tihinen is replaced by Traore. The Fin limps off, seemingly with a hamstring problem. His replacement is no relation to Liverpool's own Traore.

Wilhelmsson wins a corner for the home side when Traore puts behind his cross from the right-hand side. Good start to the half by the home side.

SAVE! Reina makes a superb stop as Vanden Borre cuts in to the Liverpool area and prods a shot goalwards. Liverpool's Spanish keeper palms the ball wide for a corner.

Oooh! Carragher chips a hopeful ball over the top of the Anderlecht defence, and Riise smashes a first-time, left-foot volley inches wide of the far post. Great effort.

Liverpool have got some talented attacking players on the bench, should they opt to try and go for a second goal to close out the match; Kewell, Crouch, Zenden...

Anderlecht kick off the second half. There have been no changes at half time.

HALF-TIME: The European champions go in at the break a goal up, thanks to Cisse's thunderous volley.

Liverpool play the ball about with some confidence in midfield as they try to see out the half. Benitez will be delighted if his men can go in at the break a goal to the good.

The referee incurs the wrath of the home fans when he gives a decision in Liverpool's favour, when it looked for all the world that Josemi had been the culprit in a challenge with Descacht.

Hyypia has played every minute of Liverpool's last 53 Champions League matches; an amazing statistic, no?

...Goor plays the set-piece in to the middle, but again Hyypia heads clear. Liverpool have looked very comfortable with anything played high in to their penalty area.

This has been a good spell for the home side; they are beginning to put a few passes together and are making some good runs off the ball. The win a corner when a cross is deflected behind by Carragher...

Oooh! Wilhemlmsson plays a good ball in to the box, where Mpenza nods a header back to Jestrovic, but his left-foot shot is sliced and flies high and wide. A warning shot for Liverpool.

Wilhelmsson, a Swedish international, sets De Man free down the right wing, but Jestrovic's header loops comfortably in to the hands of Reina.

Hyypia and Carragher are winning everything in the air against Jestrovic and Mpenza; the home side are going to have to readjust their gameplan in the second half.

Liverpool aren't rushing to take their set-pieces, and it is annoying the home fans. They responded with jeers and whistles.

Anderlecht look a little ragged as the half is progressing; any confidence they had at the start of the match has disappeared completely, and the crowd are getting on their back.

SAVE! Proto makes a stunning save after Hamann's corner ends at the feet of Traore six yards out.

Liverpool win a corner when Riise's attempted cross is deflected behind. Hamann picks out Alonso on the edge of the box; he feigns one way, before hitting a left-foot shot, which is deflected for a second corner.

Descacgt breaks forward down the Anderlecht left, but his delivery in to the box is shocking and goes high over Reina's crossbar.

Sissoko is playing well for the European champions, out on the right of midfield; he is very strong in the tackle and is full of energy up and down the touchline.

Cisse cuts inside from the left wing and fires a low right-foot shot goalwards, but it flies a couple of yards wide of Proto's near post.

Anderlecht are showing some good positive intent as they go in search of an equaliser, but Benitez seems to have got his tactics spot-on; there is plenty of space for Liverpool to exploit on the break.

Zetterberg wins a soft foul when he tumbles under a challenge from Hamann.

Liverpool have managed to take some of the pace out of the game since they scored, but it is still very open and attacking; it has been a good game to watch.

Traore plays a good ball forward in to the feet of Cisse, but the French striker can't control the ball and Goor robs him just inside the Anderlecht half.

Anderlecht have lost their last ten Champions League games, and are in danger of extending that shocking record tonight. They look very shaky in defence.

Liverpool immediately break; Garcia beats his man down the left wing and plays a good long ball in to the path of Sissoko, breaking in to the Anderlecht penalty area. He lays a pass back to Cisse, but the home side have enough players back to snuff out the danger.

Mpenza wins a free-kick when he is brought down by Carragher. The set-piece is whipped in to the box, but Hyypia heads clear.

Liverpool will now be looking to utilise Cisse's pace on the break as the Belgian side push forward; the home side know that a defeat all-but ends their chances of progressing to the knock-out stages.

Liverpool probably deserve to be in front; they have dominated the opening stages and created a number of chances. It was important that they scored whilst they were in the asscendency - and Cisse obliged with a superb finish.

Anderlecht win a corner immediately after falling behind, but Liverpool stay alert and organised enough to see out the danger.

GOAL! Cisse meets Garcia's corner and smashes an unstoppable volley past the helpless Proto.

Oooh! Riise collects Alonso's fabulous cross-field pass, cuts inside his marker and unleashes a right-foot curler, but Proto makes an excellent fingertip save. Corner.

Liverpool have made much the better start to this game, creating a number of decent half chances.

Garcia drags a right-foot shot well wide of the post after Cisse had held the ball up well just inside the penalty area. He didn't catch the shot well at all.

Riise and Traore combine again down the left-hand side, though the French full-back's cross is straight at the goalkeeper. Poor final ball; Cisse needs better service than that.

Sissoko lofts a high cross towards the back post where Riise pulls back his left boot ready to unleash a volley, though Vanden Borre gets a head to the ball and clears the danger.

Jestrovic is down on the grass after he catches a stray arm in a challenge with Alonso. He seems to have made rather a lot of the tackle, and is soon back on his feet.

Oooh! Riise does superbly to beat his man down the left. He cuts the ball back to Garcia, ten yards out, but the Spaniard sidefoots his shot over the bar. Poor effort.

Liverpool will be looking to capitalise on any set-pieces, as Anderlecht aren't the tallest of teams.

Josemi lofts a high ball over the top of the Anderlecht defence, but Tihinen just manages to get a head to the ball and Liverpool win a corner.

Garcia is the man Benitez seems to have told to get forward to support Cisse, with Sissoko and Riise on either wing also pushing on.

Oooh! Hamann moves forward with the ball, isn't closed down, and decides to have a pop; his right-foot effort skids narrowly wide of Proto's post.

Vanden Borre strikes a shot from distance, but Reina is equal to the task and holds the swerving ball well.

Traore makes an important challenge at the far post as Jestrovic rises to try and meet Wilhelmsson's cross.

It has been quite a bright start to the game, with both sides committing players forward and the front men are making some intelligent runs behind the two defences.

Garcia crumpes to the turf as an attempted clearance catches him in the delicates. He slowly gets to his feet, eyes watering.

Garcia threads a good ball through towards Riise, but there is a slight deflection on the pass and the Norwegian can't quite get it under control on the edge of the penalty area.

Oooh! Reina is forced to make a good stop with his feet after Goor rather fluffs his shot from the edge of the area after being put in to some space by Zetterberg.

Riise and Traore combine down the left, though Traore's low cross is cut out by Tihinen. A good, positive start by Liverpool.

Liverpool kick off. Cisse has matching hair and beard, and he looks moody and keen to impress.

The players emerge from the tunnel and out on to the pitch. The stadium is full to its 21,000 capacity, and the atmosphere is quite raucous. Probably equivalent to that at a Guns and Roses concert in the mid 1990s.

Team news: The defending champions play with just one man up front, Djibril Cisse; he is supported by a midfield of Riise, Alonso, Garcia, Sissoko and Hammann.

Hi, and welcome to coverage of Liverpool's trip to Brussels to play Anderlecht in their Champions League group match.