Liverpool 0-1 Marseille: French Stragglers Punish Lackluster Reds

Marseille shocked Liverpool 1-0 at Anfield in last night's Champions League Group A encounter, ending an 11-game unbeaten run for the English club.

Liverpool—five time European champions and last year's runners-up—had looked sure to continue their good form. They faced a side languishing 17th domestically and adjusting to a brand new manager.

Sure enough, the Merseysiders started promisingly, with the sort of high-tempo early attack that usually overwhelms European visitors to Anfield.

Only Marseille were not overwhelmed.

The script read that Marseille were to try to contain Liverpool. Instead they met Liverpool's aggressive game with a fast, flowing attack of their own.

For the first 20 minutes, the two teams duked it out in a surprisingly cavalier fashion for a Champions League match. As the game drifted to halftime, though, a lack of goals and a Liverpool side rattled by their opponents' confidence caused the excitement to slacken.

Marseille had two goals disallowed (one debatably) before halftime—but the best real chance fell to Liverpool at 27 minutes.

Record signing Fernando Torres was set free, and racing towards a one-on-one with Marseille goalkeeper Mandanda—only for a terrific saving tackle by Givet to sweep the ball away from him before he could pull the trigger.

Liverpool, meanwhile, seemed incapable of responding with anything more than long-ball punts from the backline.

The second half was no better for the home team, with Marseille settling into their rhythm. Within minutes, Rafa Benitez responded by withdrawing surprise selection Leto for Riise, but it wasn't till the last half-hour that Liverpool started to wake up.

Liverpool skipper Gerrard flashed a thunderous 30 yard drive wide, after battling work from Torres.

Even then, though, Marseille continued to attack, and in the 77th minute the excellent Valbuena capitalised on a lapse by Sissoko to unleash a shot past the helpless Reina.

Valbuena's rocket was the first goal this season that Liverpool had conceded from open play, in either Europe or the EPL.

In response, the home club attempted to throw everything at Marseille, and the final frantic minutes saw Gerrard, Hyypia, Benayoun, Kuyt, and Torres all try their luck—but Liverpool's time had run out.

With the final whistle Marseille became the first French team to ever triumph at Anfield.

Marseille may be struggling domestically, but in Europe they sit atop Group A with six points. The manner of their perfomance—attacking and confident—would suggest they'll qualify for the knockout stages.

Liverpool, meanwhile, are going to have to improve considerably if they want to get out of the group stages—never mind to another final.