Monaco beat Liverpool with controversial goal

Monaco 1 Liverpool 0

Liverpool had two players carried off and suffered a cruel defeat in the Stade Louis II, beaten by a goal scored after what looked a clear handball by Javier Saviola.

A controversial Saviola goal left Liverpool’s hopes of a place in the Champions League second round hanging by a thread as Monaco claimed all three points in the Principality.

The Argentinian handled the ball before firing home the second-half winner on a night where almost everything went wrong for the Reds.

Josemi and Luis Garcia had to be stretchered off with injuries and with Olympiacos beating Deportivo La Coruna in Athens, Liverpool must now beat the Greeks by two clear goals to force their way into the second phase.

Depor’s defeat means Liverpool cannot finish lower than third, so ensuring a path into the UEFA Cup, but that is little consolation to the Anfield men.