Maccabi Haifa against Liverpool

Golautti hits a superbly-struck shot from the left corner of the box looked to be sailing into the top corner, but Reina's full-stretch save denies the striker a stunning goal.

Steven Gerrard gets his first sight of goal. His curling drive from 25 yards drifts into the midrift of the Maccabi goalkeeper. There doesn't look like too much is wrong with the skipper. His stomach bug seems to have cleared up quickly.

Shlomi Arbaitman comes on for Haifa to help the home side find their crucial goal.

Liverpool are rocking. Bokoli escapes the cluthces of the Liverpool defence and almost squeezes his out-stretched shot beyond Reina. But the keeper gets just enough on it for his defenders to recover and scramble it to safety.

Haifa are a goal away from forcing this match into extra-time. Masudi sees an acrobatic volley sail over from just inside the box. In truth, he should have at least his the target.

Liverpool are starting to invite pressure now. Haifa need a goal and must get players forward to find one.

The locals are enjoying themselves in the stadium. The weather has improved and a Mexican wave ensues. With the game being interrupted due to injuries and substitutions, the crowd make their own entertainment, and make more movement the the Haifa midfield has all evening.

Sissoko can't continue, he'll have to spend the rest of the match on the treatment table. Not a bad replacement to come on though. Steven Gerrard fills the gap in midfield.

Sissoko's in trouble. I'm no medical expert but the Frenchman looks in a whole world of pain. On comes a golf buggy to pick him up and escort him off the field. By the looks of his grimacing, he won't be able to continue.

Anderson's persistence forces a low save from Reina in the box but the rebound falls to the feet of Colautti who taps into an empty net from six yards.

GOAL: MACCABI HAIFA 1-1 LIVERPOOL Roberto Colautti

Mark Gonazalez breaks through and fires a fierce left-foot strike into the side netting. There's no tactical change to sit back from Liverpool, they're going for the jugular.

The goal was coming and the men in red deserve their lead. Their aggregate lead is now 3-1. Surely there is no way back for Haifa?

Jermaine Pennant's determined run down the right gives the winger time and space to deliver a pin-point cross for Peter Crouch who nips in at the near post to steer his header past Davidovitch.

GOAL: MACCABI HAIFA 0-1 LIVERPOOL Peter Crouch

Former West Ham striker Yaniv Katan goes on a mazy run but is stopped in his tracks by the awesome Sami Hyypia.

Xabi Alonso almost finds the breakthrough from a set-piece on the right-hand edge of the box. His curling effort avoids the wall but again drifts past the far post.

Liverpool carry on where they left off - smooth, calm, confident and industrious. Without putting a curse on the Merseysiders, it's only a matter of time before the opening score.

Play restarts in Ukraine with Liverpool in pole position to progress to the Champions League proper.

Liverpool will be buoyed by their first-half performance. They have been the aggressors and dominated proceedings. Maccabi have goalkeeper Nir Davidovitch to thank for heading into the break on level terms. If they keep this up Liverpool should be home and dry.

HALF-TIME: MACCABI HAIFA 0-0 LIVERPOOL

Finnan gets forward for the first time down the right and finds Peter Crouch who neatly lays in Garcia. But the light-weight attacker is forced off the ball by Dekal Keinan.

Anderson finds his way into the referee's black book while Sissoko finds himself on the receiving end of a crunching, late tackle.

What has Luis Garcia got to do to score? Peter Crouch's nod down is directed goalwards by the midfielder, only for his nemesis Davidovitch to smother the chance.

Maccabi need to get to grips with Liverpool's offside trap. They've been caught more times than Rafa Benitez has signed a Spaniard.

Maccabi's most dangerous outlet looks to be down their right flank. If they can show more ambition and quality, they may just catch the replacement left-back out.

Stephen Warnock's injury has been revealed as an ankle injury. A similar knock to his teammate and fellow full-back John Arne Riise is suffering from.

Liverpool have looked the more likely to score and always look like forcing a chance. Davidovitch has kept his side in it so far with three decent saves.

Crouch's aerial dominance is causing all sorts of problems from crosses. His header followed by Garcia's close-range nod brings a fine double save from Davidovitch.

Maccabi haven't been able to penetrate the Liverpool back-line. They look keen to release Katan and Colautti, but the quality is so far poor.

Xabi Alonso's over-eagerness earns himself a yellow card. A silly foul means he'll have to be careful and will carry his caution into the group stages.

Warnock can't continue. More left-back woes for Liverpool. Marco Aurellio comes on to fill in at Liverpool's now troublesome position.

Gustavo Bokoli embarks on a swashbuckling run only to be thwarted by the rock in the Liverpool defence - Sami Hyypia.

Maccabi need to concentrate at the back though. Luis Garcia looks in the mood and fires another left-foot effort that brings another fine save from Davidovitch.

The disallowed goal has buoyed the Israelis, they look far more assured going forward and their early nerves look to have vanished.

Agony for Maccabi Haifa. The free-kick cause all kinds of problems for the Liverpool defence and Dirceu's header ends up in the back of the net. But it won't count! The flag is up for offside against Katan. Relief for the Reds.

The 'home' side are growing in confidence and clever work down the Liverpool left earns them a free-kick and a chance to send in a cross.

Mohammed Sissoko and Alonso look to have the central midfield under control with the latter finding space to break forward and try his luck from distance.

It's a decent start for Liverpool, although Maccabi haven't looked like threatening Jose Reina's goal.

Davidovitch is called into action for the first time as Luis Garcia drills a close-range effort straight down the keeper's throat. The Spaniard should have done better from that range.

Xabi Alonso looks to stamp his authority on the match with a curling drive from 20 yards. Unfortunately for the Spaniard, it drops just wide.

Crouch looks isolated up front. Liverpool's 4-5-1 formation will test the England front man as well as the two supporting wingers.

It's a low-key start but Crouch has the first real chance of the match. The striker snatches at his shot after a neat pass by Jermaine Pennant.

The Valeri Lobanovski Stadium usually plays host to Dinamo Kiev and the majority of the crowd inside the stadium are locals. Only 500 have travelled over from Israel while few have made the trip from Merseyside.

Free-kick swung in by Yaniv Katan is well turned away by the lofty Peter Crouch.

Mark Gonzalez hits the deck inside the Maccabi penalty area. The referee chuckles and awrds a goal kick instead.

We're under way in the pouring rain in Ukraine

Former West Ham striker Yaniv Katan goes on a mazy run but is stopped in his tracks by the awesome Sami Hyypia.

Xabi Alonso almost finds the breakthrough from a set-piece on the right-hand edge of the box. His curling effort avoids the wall but again drifts past the far post.

Liverpool carry on where they left off - smooth, calm, confident and industrious. Without putting a curse on the Merseysiders, it's only a matter of time before the opening score.

Play restarts in Ukraine with Liverpool in pole position to progress to the Champions League proper.

Liverpool will be buoyed by their first-half performance. They have been the aggressors and dominated proceedings. Maccabi have goalkeeper Nir Davidovitch to thank for heading into the break on level terms. If they keep this up Liverpool should be home and dry.

HALF-TIME: MACCABI HAIFA 0-0 LIVERPOOL

Finnan gets forward for the first time down the right and finds Peter Crouch who neatly lays in Garcia. But the light-weight attacker is forced off the ball by Dekal Keinan.

Anderson finds his way into the referee's black book while Sissoko finds himself on the receiving end of a crunching, late tackle.

What has Luis Garcia got to do to score? Peter Crouch's nod down is directed goalwards by the midfielder, only for his nemesis Davidovitch to smother the chance.

Maccabi need to get to grips with Liverpool's offside trap. They've been caught more times than Rafa Benitez has signed a Spaniard.

Maccabi's most dangerous outlet looks to be down their right flank. If they can show more ambition and quality, they may just catch the replacement left-back out.

Stephen Warnock's injury has been revealed as an ankle injury. A similar knock to his teammate and fellow full-back John Arne Riise is suffering from.

Liverpool have looked the more likely to score and always look like forcing a chance. Davidovitch has kept his side in it so far with three decent saves.

Crouch's aerial dominance is causing all sorts of problems from crosses. His header followed by Garcia's close-range nod brings a fine double save from Davidovitch.

Maccabi haven't been able to penetrate the Liverpool back-line. They look keen to release Katan and Colautti, but the quality is so far poor.

Xabi Alonso's over-eagerness earns himself a yellow card. A silly foul means he'll have to be careful and will carry his caution into the group stages.

Warnock can't continue. More left-back woes for Liverpool. Marco Aurellio comes on to fill in at Liverpool's now troublesome position.

Gustavo Bokoli embarks on a swashbuckling run only to be thwarted by the rock in the Liverpool defence - Sami Hyypia.

Maccabi need to concentrate at the back though. Luis Garcia looks in the mood and fires another left-foot effort that brings another fine save from Davidovitch.

The disallowed goal has buoyed the Israelis, they look far more assured going forward and their early nerves look to have vanished.

Agony for Maccabi Haifa. The free-kick cause all kinds of problems for the Liverpool defence and Dirceu's header ends up in the back of the net. But it won't count! The flag is up for offside against Katan. Relief for the Reds.

The 'home' side are growing in confidence and clever work down the Liverpool left earns them a free-kick and a chance to send in a cross.

Mohammed Sissoko and Alonso look to have the central midfield under control with the latter finding space to break forward and try his luck from distance.

It's a decent start for Liverpool, although Maccabi haven't looked like threatening Jose Reina's goal.

Davidovitch is called into action for the first time as Luis Garcia drills a close-range effort straight down the keeper's throat. The Spaniard should have done better from that range.

Xabi Alonso looks to stamp his authority on the match with a curling drive from 20 yards. Unfortunately for the Spaniard, it drops just wide.

Crouch looks isolated up front. Liverpool's 4-5-1 formation will test the England front man as well as the two supporting wingers.

It's a low-key start but Crouch has the first real chance of the match. The striker snatches at his shot after a neat pass by Jermaine Pennant.

The Valeri Lobanovski Stadium usually plays host to Dinamo Kiev and the majority of the crowd inside the stadium are locals. Only 500 have travelled over from Israel while few have made the trip from Merseyside.

Free-kick swung in by Yaniv Katan is well turned away by the lofty Peter Crouch.

Mark Gonzalez hits the deck inside the Maccabi penalty area. The referee chuckles and awrds a goal kick instead.

We're under way in the pouring rain in Ukraine