LIVERPOOL crashed out of the Champions League after a bitterly disappointing victory in the Hungarian capital last night. They needed to win to give themselves any chance of reaching the last 16, but events in Florence ended those dreams with Fiorentina achieving the victory they needed to qualify.

RAFAEL BENITEZ brushed aside criticism of Liverpool’s downbeat 1-0 Champions League victory over Hungarian champions Debrecen last night by insisting he was happy because it was a win.

Liverpool 1 Debrecen 0

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has tonight named an unchanged side for their opening Champions League match at home to newcomers Debrecen, his 300th match in charge.

Panionios: Colceag, Dodd, Vlcek, Giannopoulos, Zimonjic, Parodi, Makos, Domoraud, Spiropoulos, Breska, Tsiolis. Subs: Sotiriou, Meszaros, Goundoulakis, Lagonikakis, Exouzidis, Mitrou, Mantzios.