Liverpool 1 - 2 Fiorentina: Late lapse costs Liverpool yet again

Published on Thursday 10 December 2009 00:19

IT WAS an apt ending to what has been a miserable Champions League campaign for Liverpool.

It had happened in both games against Lyon, and last night is was Fiorentina's turn to steal a win in injury time. The goal came from Alberto Gilardino in the second minute of added time and was enough to clinch top spot in Group E for the Italians.

But there were plus points for Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez. He started with Alberto Aquilani at last – and Fernando Torres returned from a groin injury for the final 25 minutes. Yossi Benayoun's first-half header gave Liverpool hope in a game they largely controlled, but defensive uncertainty in the home ranks gave Denmark winger Martin Jorgensen the chance to drive home the equaliser in the second period.

Benayoun headed Liverpool in front from a 43rd-minute free-kick by Steven Gerrard, only for Jorgensen to equalise with a shot past reserve goalkeeper Diego Cavalieri from a pass by Gilardino.

Fiorentina, aware that Lyon were hammering Debrecen, realised they needed to win to make sure of top spot in the group, and they piled on some belated pressure. It paid off.

Substitute Juan Vargas set up Gilardino for a fierce finish that sent the Fiorentina fans wild, and the club's coaching staff into delirious jigs of delight.

Liverpool are destined for the Europa League, and have now been told by Uefa that they will not be seeded.

Benitez said: "The result and the way it happened just about sums up our Champions League campaign. Another last-minute goal, and we are disappointed with that for the third time in this group.

"Now we must be ready for the next game at home to Arsenal on Sunday. We worked so hard, we had chances, so they are the only positive that we can take from the game."

Benitez, who rested Jamie Carragher, Jose Reina, Glen Johnson and Lucas and would have left out Dirk Kuyt had David Ngog not been taken ill earlier in the day, was happy, though, with the full debut of 20million Aquilani, and the return from injury of Torres. Youngster Stephen Darby had a rare run-out at right-back.

Benitez said: "To see Aquilani, to see Torres, those were the real positive things for the next match and the rest of our season. Aquilani showed his quality, his touch was good. His vision and passing were good, but obviously he will have to work on his match fitness.

"Everyone is available for Sunday, if he trains well he could well be involved against Arsenal. We are still trying to see the positives, we are playing better and we must now must take that into a very important game. It is the beginning of a new season for us now, I hope.

"We will not be seeded in the Europa League, we must cope with that and be strong to handle what ever comes our way now."

Fiorentina head coach Cesare Prandelli was delighted with his side's victory and top spot in Group E.

He said: "I felt tremendous joy when I saw the winner go in and our supporters celebrating. I am very proud of the team despite all the absentees, we did not leave our strength behind.

"I said that this game was the beginning of a new future for us, and that is what has happened. We are through to the next stage, a tremendous achievement and topped off with a victory at Liverpool, a true great of European football.

"It is important to have played well at Anfield, we can now grow more. When you win here, against players like Steven Gerrard, a team does grow in confidence. We will try now to go into the next stage with this pride and this character, we are not thinking of objectives, just happy to be in the next phase. We can find solutions to whatever we are asked to face."

Liverpool: Cavalieri, Darby, Skrtel, Agger, Insua, Aquilani (Pacheco 76), Mascherano (Aurelio 86), Benayoun, Gerrard, Dossena, Kuyt (Torres 65). Subs not used: Reina, Kyrgiakos, Carragher, Spearing.

Fiorentina: Frey, Comotto, Natali, Kroldrup, Pasqual, De Silvestri (Castillo 83), Montolivo, Donadel, Jorgensen (Vargas 71), Santana (Marchionni 71), Gilardino. Subs not used: Avramov, Seculin, Aya, Carraro. Booked: Montolivo, Gilardino.