Champions League: Liverpool run Galatasaray gauntlet

Liverpool ran the Galatasaray gauntlet at the Ali Sami Yen in Istanbul tonight.

Galatasaray 0, Liverpool 0 (half-time)

Chris Kirkland was right in the firing line on a tension-filled night in Istanbul.

The young goalkeeper made a string of fine saves and almost gifted Galatasaray a goal as Liverpool battled to contain the Turks in fierce, high-speed Champions League showdown.

But although under intense pressure at times, Michael Owen, John Arne Riise, twice, and Vladmir Smicer should have scored for the English visitors.

Liverpool were being subjected to high-speed running from midfield and were beginning to conceded a string of free-kicks as the pressure continued to build.

But a 21st-minute break involving Emile Heskey and Owen put Smicer clear in the box, but Mondragon saved well, just as he did so often at Anfield last week.

The visitors then somehow survived on 25 minutes when Carragher sliced a clearance straight up into the air.

Kirkland kicked away acrobatically and Hasan Sas’ header was cleared off the line by Hyypia and the keeper was then up in time to make a fine save from Berkant Goktan’s follow-up drive.

Hamann was booked for a trip on Erdem after 34 minutes, stopping a flowing Gala move which had caused Liverpool great problems down the left.

Murphy, overworked covering in midfield, still found time to take a pass from Owen and fire a 20-yard effort which Mondragon held nine minutes from the break.

Owen, taking a pass from Smicer, cut inside two players on 44 minutes and curled a clever shot inches wide of the far post.