A match that meant so much to Rafa and his Merrymen in RED especially after all the pre-match ranting by Albert Reira who likened the manager and his team to a captain and his sinking ship. Luckily, Gerrard and Torres were back in the starting lineup and things were looking up despite the negativity surrounding the RED half of Merseyside since the beginning of the season.

Liverpool started the match knowing that conceding another goal to Lille would probably a bridge too far as Liverpool would have to win by 2 goals due to the advantage of an away goal to Lille. Rafa opted for Riena, Johnson, Carra, Agger, Insua, Kuyt, Mascherano, Lucas, Babel, Gerrard and Torres due to the unavailability of the Italian prince, Aquilani due to a bug and Rodriguez due to ineligibility in this season’s Europa Cup as the latter had already represented Athletico Madrid. Anfield also had a special guest in the Argentinian legend, Maradona who was present to check personally on Mascherano and Insua. He was greeted in the Directors’ box by Maxi.

Liverpool started tentatively but managed to create an opening on the ninth minute when Lucas burst through to goal only to be clipped by Rami and the Ref had option but to award a penalty to Liverpool. Gerrard duly converted the penalty sending Landreau the wrong way to the delight of the Kop.

It was a good first half performance although Lille were dangerous on the break especially when 19 year Belgian, Eden Hazard broke free from the middle and duly charged through on a one-on-one with Pepe but somehow managed to deflect the chipped shot off his chin! What a let-off and what a save by Pepe to keep Liverpool ahead on the night and level on aggregate.

Just shortly after half-time in a lighting counter attack by Liverpool, Babel (yes, he played well and contributed defensively too!!) launched a clearance which evade Rami (who conceded the 1st half penalty on Lucas) which allowed Torres a clear run onto Landreau’s goal and with Cejdrou trailing in his footsteps, Torres with all the calmness of mind, dinked the ball over the on-rushing keeper to make it 2-0 on the night and 2-1 on aggregate sending the Kop into rapture and madness in celebration.

Eventhough Lille were 2-0 down on the night, they were in with a chance as another would draw the aggregate score level and they would go through due to the advantage of an away-goal and they were playing with confidence and purpose. There were several close calls during the 2nd half although they almost scored.

Kuyt unleasehed several shots from outside the penalty box and Landreau was upto to it and palmed them away for corners. In the final minutes, in a scene accumtomed to by the Liverpool fans, Kuyt disposed the Chedjou and turned to ball to Lucas who then immediately lashed the ball to Gerrard who unleashed his trademark venom shot which Landreau did well to palm it but fortunately for Liverpool, Torres was on hand to shot the ball over the keeper and his defenders on the line. Game over and Liverpool qualified for the quarterfinals of the Europa Cup.

It was a difficult match and fairly even and the difference was that man called Fernando Torres and if he had been in the opposition instead, then Lille could easily have trouced Liverpool. Kudos to Lille who played very well over the 2 legs and showed that the French (and some Belgians too) are on the up again.

We should also be thankful for Rafa as he manage to hold his team together and overcome a stubborn and technically and tactically well-honed team in Lille. Next up in the Europa Cup is Benfica in the quarter-finals who defeated us in 2006 in the champions league – expect another bruising encounter although we will have the advantage of playing at Anfield in the 2nd leg.

But first, Rafa and his merry men will have to deal with SAF at Old Trafford this weekend.