Gerrard goal puts Reds ahead at the break

PSV Eindhoven 0 Liverpool 1

Steven Gerrard grabbed a priceless goal in the first half of the Champions League quarter-final first leg against PSV Eindhoven.

The Liverpool skipper struck with a downward header after 27 minutes that stunned the noisy PSV crowd in the Philips stadium.

The goal was Gerrard’s 15th European Cup goal, a new club record, as Liverpool slowly took a grip on the game.

PSV started with what appeared an attacking intent, with Mika Vayrynen blasting just over from 20 yards after two minutes.

But very soon the Dutch league leaders settled into a defensive unit, veteran Phillip Cocu patrolling in front of a back four and Vayrynen operating as a deep striker, a ploy that left Jamie Carragher and Daniel Agger with no-one to mark for long spells.

It was a tactic PSV coach Ronald Koeman used against Arsenal in the previous round to good effect, and it also meant his side could flood back into their own half whenever Liverpool won possession.

But from Liverpool’s first corner they almost scored. Steven Gerrard fired the ball in from the left and Carragher met it 10 yards out with a firm header that Gomes somehow managed to palm around the post at full stretch.

There was little room for Crouch or Dirk Kuyt to work in with defenders very tight, although Crouch did find space for a 25 yarder that curled harmlessly over the bar.

PSV used the flanks when they did break, and on 23 minutes a cross from Jason Culina cleared the far post where Eindhoven had a man over, and only a last-ditch block from Finnan deflected a drive from Cocu over the bar.

But the first time Liverpool put a move of pace together after 27 minutes, they scored.

Mascherano found Finnan over-lapping on the right and when his pulled-back cross arrived in the box, so did Gerrard to send a low header past Gomes.

That was his 15th European goal for Liverpool, a new club record, overtaking Ian Rush’s 14 strikes.

Mascherano was booked on 38 minutes when he chased down Diego Tardelli and brought him down from behind.