Liverpool 8-0 Besiktas: Record-breaking Reds
Wahaha... So cool lar! See the words in bold. MUST see!
Liverpool regained their European pride and gave themselves a fighting chance of salvaging their Champions League dreams with a stunning 8-0 defeat of a woeful Besiktas.
Yossi Benayoun grabbed a hat-trick as the Turks were over-run in this critical Group A clash. And Liverpool achieved their biggest winning margin in Europe since a 10-1 win over Finnish side Oulun Palloseura in 1980, and this on boss Rafa Benitez's 50th European match in charge at Liverpool.
The win was also the biggest winning margin in a Champions League game.
The breakthrough came when Voronin prodded a pass through the middle and Crouch forced his way between two defenders to see his first shot blocked by Arikan, before following up to stab home the lose ball.
With Steven Gerrard everywhere and Liverpool dominating at a high tempo it was no surprise that a harassed Besiktas wanted to calm things down. But the second arrived on 32 minutes after Riise got away with stealing several yards at a quick throw. He sent Voronin racing away on the left and, when the cross arrived in the box, Benayoun had time and space to lash the ball home.
And two goals in two minutes achieved that. On 52 minutes Voronin worked his way in from the left before offering Riise the chance to test Arikan from 12 yards. The keeper could only parry the effort, allowing Benayoun a six-yard finish for the third.
Two minutes later Benayoun grabbed his hat-trick. Lamine Diatta had fouled Voronin on the edge of the box, and Gerrard's fierce free-kick was too much for Arikan. (I love this statement. Man! its simply good.)
The ball was again half-stopped and there was Benayoun with another close-range finish from the rebound.
Arikan's confidence was shot to pieces by now. He had angered the Kop by collapsing as an after-thought following a Gerrard challenge, rolling around in mock agony.
Voronin, having his best game for the club, played Gerrard in with a fine one-two and the skipper responded with a fierce dipping drive that left Arikan standing. (Skipper = captain = Gerrard)
Crouch, having started the rout, was the last to strike, heading in his second from another Benayoun cross after 88 minutes.
The scorers
Peter Crouch (19)
Steven Gerrard (69)
Ryan Babel (78)Ryan Babel (81)
Peter Crouch (89)
Wahaha! Liverpool rocks! =P
EnEn on 10:58 AM