Rufete goal sinks Pool

Liverpool 0 Valencia 1

And it left a bitterly disappointed Liverpool needing almost certainly to win their last Group B match in Basle in a fortnight to join them.

Steven Gerrard and Emile Heskey were back for Liverpool, with Salif Diao winning the vote in midfield ahead of Bruno Cheyrou.

Valencia were without Argentinian back Roberto Ayala, who is suspended, bringing in Carlos Marchena. Rafael Benitez sprung a surprise by including the wide attacker Kily Gonzalez.

The Valencia defence were able to pick off Liverpool’s early through balls and stunted the supply to Michael Owen, while Ruben Baraja and David Albelda patrolled midfield with style and incisive control. Diao almost found gaps on two occasions, once with a shot deflected wide and then just failing to get on the end of a fierce Jamie Carragher cross from the right. But the advancement of Carragher left space for Gonzalez, and he got away on the left after 10 minutes to send in a swirling cross that hung in the air and clipped the crossbar with Reds goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek unable to do anything about it.

A challenge coaxed from Sami Hyypia on Carew a yard outside the box gave Aimar the chance with a free-kick, but with much expected, - and feared by those in the Kop - the effort curled over the crossbar.

Diao, usually a natural defensive midfielder, was being given a far more attacking role, and one surge forward ended with a pass out to Owen who had found a few yards of space to cut into the box from the left and curl a shot over the angle.

However, it was Valencia producing the more considered, thoughtful approach play. They controlled possession in their own half, the ball worked through Baraja to the ever-available Aimar and on 33 minutes, the Spanish champions were ahead. Anfield was reduced to silence when Curro Torres’ cross was laid back by Carew to Francisco Rufete, whose shot from the edge of the box clipped Hyypia and left Dudek for dead, finishing in the bottom corner of the net.

Baraja and Aimar were combining with quick, neat passing moves and were beginning to shred their way through Liverpool’s defensive shield.

Valencia goalkeeper Santiago Canizares had not needed to get his yellow outfit vaguely dirty until the 40th minute when Owen’s touch found Gerrard in space 15 yards out, but the keeper hurled himself out to block the midfielder’s effort. Then, on 48 minutes, Danny Murphy battled for possession and fed Gerrard, whose ball sent Heskey away on the right. When the pass was laid back for Owen, the striker shifted the ball on to his right foot but saw Canizares save to his left. In the 54th minute Gerrard’s ball to the far post presented Hamann with a chance, but again Canizares was equal to the effort.

There was now fire and movement from Liverpool and Houllier gambled by taking off Murphy and sending on Vladimir Smicer, with Heskey being withdrawn to allow Milan Baros into the fray, both moves designed to give Pool that extra invention and pace. With 16 minutes to go Baraja was found in space 20 yards out, and his fierce drive which went just a foot wide of the target, showed the dangers which still lurked as Liverpool pressed.

Angulo then found a similar amount of time and space for a searching drive which forced Dudek into an excellent save. Carew was then withdrawn on 78 minutes and replaced by Mista, and Albelda was booked a minute later for a foul on Smicer. Liverpool, with nine minutes left, sacrificed a defender in Carragher for Cheyrou’s attacking skills with time running out. Hamann, from a touched free kick, got the ball through the wall with five minutes left but Canizares held it at the second attempt. LIVERPOOL: Dudek, Riise, Traore, Hyypia, Carragher, Murphy, Hamann, Diao, Gerrard, Heskey, Owen.

VALENCIA: Canizares, Curro Torres, Marchena, Pellegrino, Carboni, Rufete, Albelda, Baraja, Gonzalez, Aimar, Carew.

Referee: Terje Hauge (Norway).