It is do or die time for Liverpool.
The English club must beat Marseille on the road today to secure a place in the knockout round of the Champions League, and likely to salvage the job of under-fire manager Rafa Benitez. The match will be shown on ESPN2 at 2:30pm.
This isn't the only match with drama today. Rosenborg and Schalke meet, with Schalke needing a win to secure a place in the knockout round.
All four teams still have hope in Group C, where Real Madrid and Olympiakos can advance with draws. Werder Bremen needs a win against Olympiakos to advance while Lazio needs a multi-goal win against Real Madrid and A Werder Bremen rout to advance. Okay, so maybe Lazio's chances are closer to slim and none.
Real Madrid and Lazio will be the tape-delayed match on ESPN Classic at 5pm.
Here is a rundown of today's matches:
- Besiktas at FC Porto
- Liverpool at Marseille
- Valencia at Chelsea
- Rosenborg at Schalke 04
- Werder Bremen at Olympiakos
- Lazio at Real Madrid
If you will be watching any of the matches today then feel free to share your thoughts on the matches in the comments section below. I wasn't planning on doing a running commentary on Liverpool-Marseille but I may join in with one.
Enjoy today's action.
Hopefully Nasri can put on a show coming back from injury and put 'pool out of their misery....
I would go to myp2p today but I actually have a bunch of work to do. (Shocking.)
Also, just wanted to put his out there: (sorry for the repost)
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=489717&cc=5901
England decided to deport Watford's 19-year-old midfielder Al Bangura back to war-torn Sierra Leone, even though he pays taxes and has been in England since he escaped civil war, a war that killed his father, at age 15.
He is a war refugee for crying out loud, how can England try to deport the kid? He doesn't even have ANY immediate family in Sierra Leone and who knows what awaits him there.
I hope someone in MLS is paying attention. If England does not agree to Watford's appeal and deports the kid, there has to be some way to get Bangura into the US and play in the MLS.
He is uncapped and can conceivably play for the USMNT down the road.
Keeping the guy safe in a safe country is the most important thing but he can conceivably add talent to the MLS and US Soccer pool.
What do you think Ives? And thoughts from others?
Posted by: Dominghosa | December 11, 2007 at 01:35 PM
I think ill have a hissy fit if Bremen loses to Olympiakos. Olympiakos has had a better run of things but there is not a chance in hell that they are a superior squad.
Posted by: Ossington Mental Youth | December 11, 2007 at 01:40 PM
I'll be trying to catch the Liverpool Marseille match.
Posted by: Tim | December 11, 2007 at 01:42 PM
Come on Marseille, come on!!
Posted by: chicago millonario | December 11, 2007 at 02:13 PM
'pool can actually still make it in with a draw if Porto loses.
Dominghosa, I could be wrong but I think I read somewhere this morning that Nasri is out. Anyway, good thought on Bangura. I mean, the situation is ludicrous and I have trouble believing that the decision won't be reversed, but then again I have trouble believing that the decision was made in the first place. If he really is deported MLS would be wise to give him a ring, which probably means it won't.
Posted by: Joamiq | December 11, 2007 at 02:18 PM
No Nasri. In fact, I don't recognize anyone on that bright-uniformed squad.
Posted by: RK | December 11, 2007 at 02:46 PM
Definitely a PK -- Gerrard taken down.
Posted by: RK | December 11, 2007 at 02:48 PM
Gerrard gets his own PK rebound to put them up early 1-0.
Posted by: RK | December 11, 2007 at 02:49 PM
Yeah, oh well, an injured Nasri isn't as fun to watch anyway.
'Pool 1-nil.
Posted by: Dominghosa | December 11, 2007 at 02:49 PM
Wow, Torres just shredded Marseille's defense. This one is over after 12 minutes.
Posted by: Ives | December 11, 2007 at 02:57 PM
'pool 2-0, Torress beats and goes around three players starting at the left edge of the box and slots it past the GK far post. nice moves. too bad you can hardly tell what was going on with espn blacking out.
Real Madrid just scored as well, 1-0.
Posted by: Dominghosa | December 11, 2007 at 02:58 PM
Baptista finds himself open five yards outside of the box and blasts it in.
Posted by: Dominghosa | December 11, 2007 at 02:59 PM
Real Madrid's match is also over after just 15 minutes. Raul's header off Robinho's cross makes it 2-0.
Posted by: Dominghosa | December 11, 2007 at 03:01 PM
Well I guess that's what I get for turning on the games 15 minutes late...
Posted by: Joamiq | December 11, 2007 at 03:09 PM
Nasri's coming in. Hopefully the kid can do something exciting. He already gets points for popping the collar.
Posted by: Ives | December 11, 2007 at 03:18 PM
Give and go from Robinho and Ruud results in a 3-0 score, Robinho receives the give-back pass from just 4 yards out from goal and easily puts it in.
Posted by: Dominghosa | December 11, 2007 at 03:22 PM
Dirk Kuyt buries Liverpool's third and NOW it's over. Wow. Terrible defending by Marseille.
Posted by: Ives | December 11, 2007 at 03:51 PM
Big boys came to play on matchday six.
Posted by: Tim F. | December 11, 2007 at 03:54 PM
3-0 is the scoreline of the day. Olympiacos up 3-0 over Werder Bremen.
Posted by: Tim F. | December 11, 2007 at 04:18 PM
YES LIVERPOOL!! Talk about domination...and, on the other end, complete humiliation.
Posted by: Collin | December 11, 2007 at 06:07 PM
"3-0 is the scoreline of the day. Olympiacos up 3-0 over Werder Bremen."
Humiliating.
Time for my hissyfit.
They didnt deserve to go through. Definitely not with a score like that.
Posted by: Ossington Mental Youth | December 11, 2007 at 06:31 PM
Does anyone know why Liverpool didn't have "Carlsberg" on their chest's today? Is there a French law against alcoholic sponsors?
Posted by: Steve | December 11, 2007 at 10:12 PM
Steve -
You're correct. That's why the rugby Heineken Cup is advertised and known only as the H-Cup over there.
Posted by: Robbo | December 12, 2007 at 02:01 AM