Liverpool make it easy

Liverpool crushed Marseille 4-0 in the Velodrome to guarantee their place in the last 16 of the Champions League. It didn't take like for the Reds to assert their dominance, as Stevie Gerrard scored in the fourth minutes. Goals from Dirk Kuyt, Ryan Babel and Fernando Torres saw Liverpool through.

Captain Steven Gerrard put Liverpool ahead as early as the fourth minute before Fernando Torres gave last season's finalists a break just seven minutes later.

Sub Dirk Kuyt stretched the lead three minutes into the second period and Ryan Babel made it game over deep into the injury time.

The victory put Liverpool in second place of Group A with 10 points, one behind leaders Porto, who beat Besiktas 2-0.

Marseille, who ended the group stage in third pace with seven points, will move on to play in the UEFA Cup.

Billed as a must-win game, Liverpool started in explosive style and Gerrard broke free after just four minutes, forcing Gael Givet to bring him down inside the area.

The England midfielder stepped up to deliver the spot-kick and although his initial effort was blocked by keeper Steve Mandanda, Gerrard poked home on the rebound.



Torres gave the French side no time to gather themselves as he rounded a defender before curling the ball home in the 11th minute.

Kuyt added the third in the 48th minute when he controlled Harry Kewell's pass before sending the ball past Mandanda.

Babel went one-on-one with Mandanda, sidestepped him and buried the ball into an empty net in the 91st minute.