Match Reports
Liverpool 0-0 Galatasaray Liverpool dropped two more home points in the Champions League, despite a dominant display against the Turkish Champions. It was to be a highly frustrating night for Liverpool, who had plenty of chances, the first of which came from a long range shot by Hamann, which flashed just wide of the Galatasaray goal. Free kicks also resulted in Liverpool's next two opportunities, with firstly Steven Gerrard curling a long range shot into the arms of Mondragon, and that was followed by a ferocious drive by Riise which was heading goalwards until the Gala keeper pulled off a good save, getting both hands to the ball to push it out for a corner. Mondragon was outstanding throughout, and the best save of the night was next up. Sami Hyypia glanced a header towards goal, but Mondgragon somehow managed to get his fingertips to the ball and force the ball onto the post. Hamann was next to test the Colombian 'keeper, but was again kept out in a similar fashion to the earlier save from Riise's shot. But even when the keeper was left helpless, Liverpool still could not take the lead, with a Galatasaray defender blocking a close range shot by Heskey. The Galatasaray players further frustrated Liverpool and the fans with a string of blatant diving and timewasting, which was a feature of their game that Sami Hyypia had warned his teammates of, prior to the kick off. Liverpool again had a hatful of chances in the second half, buta combination of poor finishing and good goalkeeping made sure that a first win in the second phase was not going to arrive tonight. Emile Heskey came closest of all with a header which hit the top of the bar and bounced over, but Danny Murphy created possibly the best chance of the game. After breaking into the area, Murphy poked the ball past two Gala defenders and from 8 yards out, scuffed a poor shot wide of the near post. To make matters even worse for Liverpool, Steve Gerrard was stretchered off after injuring his groin when stretching for the ball. It summed up a disappointing result to a game in which a win would have moved Liverpool to within a point of top spot after Barcelona and Roma drew in the Nou Camp.
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