Olympiacos vs Liverpool

The Greeks frustrasted, stifled, worked hard, fouled a lot, play acted a lot; and Liverpool weren't good enough to overcome what is a limited European side. Congratulations to Olympiakos - job done. For Benitez - back to the drawing board.

But effective. Liverpool lose to a Greek side for the first time in their history and deserved nothing more. A poor, scrappy game that Liverpool, despite enjoying periods of possession, never got a handle on. 1-0 the final score.

Finnan puts a lazy foul in on Stoltidis to earn himself a yellow card. Stotidis - who can't possibly be hurt - wastes some more time with a some play acting and a visit from the physio. Predictable gamesmanship.

Olympiakos fans find their voice again as they begin to celebrate a few minutes early. Their side continue to employ spoiling tactics and will deliver the victory most inside the stadium want.

They are falling down like skittles. First Schurrer fouled Alonso and then, when Kewell went to pick up the ball he brushed past an opponent who fell as if hit by Mike Tyson. Kewell takes a tumble as well for good measure. Result? Free-kick to Liverpool and a yellow for Schurrer and on with the game. Good refereeing.

Could have all been over. Carragher, despite his protestations, plyed Georgiadis on-side and he found himself bearing down on goal from the right. His first touch let him down a bit but he still should have scored. Instead his little dink over the advancing Dudek went just wide.

This really is a frustrating, patchy game. But if the Greeks get the three points, you can't blame them for their tactics.

The personel changes continue apace. Off goes Georgatos to be replaced by another centre-back in the form of Vallas. They are digging in to get the one-nil. In truth they have been for some time.

Speaking of early baths...Pantos, who has been the cause of a lot of the frustrating free-kicks, decides to try and swap shirts with Kewell 10 minutes early and picks up his second yelloew of the night.

Substitution for Liverpool sees Diao enter the fray with Hamann taking an early bath.

Promising attack for the home team ends with a ball into the box that Rivaldo fancies taking on with an overhead bicycle kick. He misses but it would have been a cracker.

Resulting corner is sent high and long where Cisse is strangly unmarked. His header, however, contains no power and Nikopolidis is not troubled.

Alonso swings a decent ball to the back post where Carragher is arriving late. But Rivaldo is there to put in a quality defensive header.

Kafes tries to burry his foot in Baros' intestines. free-kick on the left for Liverpool.

Benitez said recently that his sides defend zonaly rather than man to man. If this game and the one against Manchester United are anything to go by; it doesn't work.

And Liverpool get away with some apalling defending. Liverpool players outnumbered their opponents by two to one when defending a corner and still Stoltidis got to it. Dudek came out and missed it but the ball came back of the bar. Lucky eascape.

Ball spills to Georgiadis on the back of the six yrd box. His low driven cross is blocked by Riise. Hint of a handball but he gets away with it.

Substitution for Liverpool. Off goes Josemi and on comes Cisse to form a three pronged attack with Garcia and Baros.

Yet another free-kick. They are strangling this game. Went to Olympiakos to punt into the box to no avail this time.

Double substitution for Olympiakos: Mavrogenidis and Giovanni make way for Venetidis and Georgiadis.

Garcia jinks into the box and tries to chip a pass to the other side. Ball comes out and Hamann has a swing at it. Someone high in the stands will go home with a souvenier.

Baros, hanging off the shoulder of the last man sets off just too early for the ball over the top and is rightly adjudged offside. Olympiakos are still defending high up the pitch and relying on the linesman's flag. Liverpool are consistently failing to spring the trap.

Liverpool certainly in the ascendancy but it is a scappy game in truth which will suit the team defending a lead.

Liverpool have a glorious chance but as quickly as it is created it is missed and called offside anyway. Baros ran across the 18 yard line and fed Kewell who was just offside - good call.

Olympiakos have conceded the iniative in this second-half and the visitors need to make something of this period of being on top.