Liverpool’s forced entry

Liverpool 0 CSKA Sofia 1

Anfield breathed a collective sign of relief as an under-strengthen Liverpool were run ragged by Sofia, who took a 15th-minute lead through Valentin Iliev and threatened throughout to extend that lead.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez made five changes from the side that beat Sunderland. With Steven Gerrard injured, Benitez also rested Jose Reina, Xabi Alonso, Jamie Carragher and Bolo Zenden, and brought in Josemi, Scott Carson, Dietmar Hamann, John Arne Riise and Darren Potter.

With Friday's Super Cup in Monaco against CSKA Moscow in mind, the Anfield chief was clearly intent on saving the legs of some of his stars for UEFA's showpiece match.

Twice in the opening minutes Djibril Cisse went close, first when Riise's touch put him through only for Dejan Maksic to make a fine save at his feet, and then when Morientes supplied the pass and again the France forward went close.

Cisse then set up Morientes, but again the shot from 20 yards sailed over. Any thoughts, though, that Liverpool were going to cruise through was ended on 15 minutes when CSKA took the lead.

Mohamed Sissoko was penalised for a foul on Emil Gargorov, and when Yordan Yurukov laid the ball back, Valentin Iliev saw his curling 20-yard shot escape Carson's dive and nestle in the far corner to the shock of the Kop.

Liverpool almost let in another on 20 minutes when Carson raced outside his box to block Guillame Zadi's run, but the ball broke for Yordan Todorov, some 25 yards out, to lift his shot over an open goal.

Liverpool responded as Dietmar Hamann touched a free-kick to Cisse and the Frenchman struck a fierce drive into the body of Maksic before Riise had another effort charged down. But Liverpool were rattled. There was a lack of height at the back and Hyypia needed to be at his best to plug the gaps, while the central midfield partnership of Sissoko and Hamann lacked understanding.

Liverpool were snatching at possession and conceding the ball too easily, while Sofia had tremendous pace which constantly worried the home side. Liverpool made one change at the break, taking off teenager Potter and sending on the more experienced Luis Garcia to add some invention.

Riise, having fluffed a free-kick delivery, then saw his swerving 30-yard shot from the rebound touched over the bar by Maksic on 47 minutes. Soon after Riise fired inches wide after taking a Morientes pass in his stride.

But CSKA were soon back at Liverpool's defence, causing mayhem with their passing and pace and Gargorov lashed a 20-yard free-kick inches wide of a post following another foul by Sissoko.

The tension around Anfield was growing, the crowd losing patience with their side and their play was riddled with errors and the fear of making mistakes. Morientes could do nothing right, constantly caught in possession, as Liverpool tried to be to elaborate.

On 64 minutes Stephen Warnock was replaced by Zenden, with Riise dropping to left-back in an increasingly desperate search for a goal that would kill the tie. Riise saw a fierce 20-yard effort deflected over, but CSKA were still able to find space on the flanks, while Todorov and Murad Hidiouad controlled midfield.

Luis Garcia tried a shot from the edge of the box, saved easily by Maksic and the pressure was soon back on Liverpool.

Morientes also squirmed his way through, beating two men in the box, but Hidiouad cleared from under his own bar before CSKA sent on Stoyko Sakaliev for Yurukov.

Liverpool finally acquired some decent possession and got themselves into the Bulgarian box, with Luis Garcia and Zenden both going close.

Sissoko, despite showing his immaturity by conceding too many free-kicks, was now drovedriving Liverpool on as they struggled to see out the final few minutes. It was Sissoko who smacked an effort against the bar in the closing seconds.

Sinama-Pongolle came on as substitute for Cisse, the little French Under-21 striker back in the side for the first time since damaging his knee at Watford in the Carling Cup in January. Sofia then replaced Guillame Zadi with Petar Dimitrov.

Sofia even had the ball in the net in injury time, but Velizar Dimitrov strayed into an offside position as he tapped in from close range.

LIVERPOOL: Carson, Finnan, Josemi, Hyypia, Warnock, Potter, Hamann, Sissoko, Riise, Cisse, Morientes.

CSKA SOFIA: Maksic, Zabavnik, Iliev, Gueye, Silva, Todorov, Gargorov, Hidiouad, Yurukov, Velizar Dimitrov, Zadi.

Referee: Wolfgang Stark