Some comical defending was to blame as Marseille shipped two own goals to lose 2-1 against Sochauax in France.
After an impressive 1-1 draw at Porto in the Champions League in midweek, hopes were high in the Marseille camp that they could finally find some form in their domestic campaign.
After a run of just two wins from 11 games in Ligue 1, they desperately needed a result but defensive lapses - and a missed penalty - thwarted them.
It had started well when Mamadou Niang put them in front after just nine minutes but Marseille hit the self-destruct button as both Ronald Zubar and Laurent Bonnart put the ball into their own net to gift Sochaux victory.
Former Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse then had the chance to rescue a point but his weak penalty was easily saved by Sochaux keeper Teddy Richert and Eric Geret's side were left to reflect on another defeat that leaves them in the relegation zone.
25 October 2007
Defiant Jamie Carragher has called on Liverpool to rediscover the spirit of 2005 to haul themselves out of a deep Champions League hole.
The tough defender has been part of a Liverpool side who have lost key group matches to Marseille and now Besiktas, with just the point gained in Porto to their name this term.
For the five-time European Cup winners, who pride themselves on their foreign achievements, Liverpool are rushing head-long towards the sort of disaster that defines and wrecks careers.
After the horror of Istanbul that leaves them bottom of Champions League Group A and facing 'relegation' to the UEFA Cup - or even being dumped out of Europe completely - the beaten finalists of six months ago are facing humiliation.
The 2-1 defeat by Besiktas, in the city that staged Liverpool's greatest triumph in modern times two years ago when they claimed a fifth European Cup, has left boss Rafael Benitez and his squad stunned.
They are facing an exit from Europe's elite competition just as Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea are all confidently marching on towards the knockout stages and the last 16.
Liverpool had 28 attempts on goal against Besiktas, but only after Steven Gerrard's late header did they look capable of a salvage operation.
Now Carragher says: "I do not accept that there was much wrong with our performance in Istanbul, we were just unlucky in their penalty box. We feel we did not get what we deserved. But look back to 2005 and the group stages. We did not do particularly well then, but ended up winning it. Now we must show that sort of spirit. We went to the last group game then and got ourselves out of it. So it looks like we are going to have to do the same again."
Back in 2005, Liverpool managed to lose two group games against Monaco and Olympiakos and claim a scrappy drawn with Deportivo la Coruna.
All seemed lost ahead of the final home game with Olympiacos, but a dramatic fightback with goals from Florent Sinama-Pongolle, Neil Mellor and Gerrard produced an historic comeback.
They ended up winning the trophy that season, and now Carragher accepts that it will take that level of heroics to see Liverpool through this crisis.
He said: "We are not thinking about the UEFA Cup, we are still going for it in the Champions League. Win three games and we are through. You want to stay in the Champions League because it is a bigger trophy, but we have got great memories of the UEFA Cup and if we end up there we will try to win that instead. We cannot be too disappointed, we played the right way and dominated in Istanbul."
Liverpool now have the return with Besiktas in a fortnight, followed by Porto at Anfield and the potential for last-night heroics in Marseille in their last group game in December.
Carragher said: "We did it once before and we can do it again. It could well go right to the wire of that last game in Marseille. I am not down one bit, we must go into the Arsenal game in the league on Sunday with confidence because the only thing wrong in Istanbul was our finishing."
There has been plenty of criticism of Liverpool's display in Turkey, with claims they lacked direction, team spirit and drive.
But Carragher said: "It was a disappointing result, I felt the lads showed great commitment and we are proud of the way we played. We have three games left and we have to go for it. We deserved more, we had so many shots on goal. Conceding that first goal just made things more difficult. We kept going, but to have 28 attempts away from home in the Champions League showed how well we played. But it is another bad result in Europe, we can't hide from that. What it does is put more pressure on us for the final three games. We have nothing to lose now, we just have to go for it."
He added: "We must only look to beating Besiktas next, then go from there. It might take three more wins and probably will, but we have a team here capable of going anywhere in Europe and winning. We must make sure we are still in with a chance when we go to Marseille in the last match."
Boss Benitez, who might soon have to answer some tough questions from the club's American owners, said: "We had three chances before they scored. We kept attacking even after they scored. Our possession and shots were very high, and we created so much. It was our poor accuracy and their good keeper. It was as simple as that. The atmosphere was outstanding, but we should have had the quality to overcome that. Now we have two games at Anfield where our support will be just as powerful. We must stay calm, not get too worried about losing one or two matches. But in Europe you cannot make mistakes, and we needed to score the first goal."
25 October 2007
The statistics damned Liverpool in Istanbul, 28 shots and only one goal against Besiktas, three games and only one point in Group A, yet Rafael Benitez said he could not find fault with a performance that has left his club facing an embarrassingly swift exit from this season's Champions League.
Last season's European Cup finalists and champions in 2005 now lie bottom of their group after losing a contest Benitez had described beforehand as a "must-win".
Afterwards the Liverpool manager conceded he would need nine points from the remaining three games - at home to Besiktas and Porto before travelling away to Marseille in December - to maintain his 100% record of reaching the knockout phase with Liverpool and claimed the performance level here last night would be good enough to provide them.
"I am confident we can do it," said the Spaniard, whose side staged a belated rally with Steven Gerrard's 85th-minute header but produced another disjointed European display.
"If we create chances like we did tonight, I am sure we will take them and can win our last three games. I am pleased with the performance but we just could not take our chances. When you have 28 attempts on goal as the away side and nearly 60% of possession, that should be enough to win the match."
Liverpool were again suspect in defence and careless in possession as Besiktas scored their first two goals in this season's competition but Benitez believes qualification remains within reach. "We have to wait to see how the numbers add up," he said.
"The fact that Porto drew with Marseille tonight was a help for us; it certainly improves our options. I do not see this as a test for me as a manager. This is football. If you keep doing the right things like we did here, we will achieve what we want. We were punished for one mistake in the first half having had so many chances. Their goalkeeper was outstanding but we should have taken more of our chances. Obviously it is very difficult now for us to get through but I believe we still can."
Those sentiments were echoed by the Liverpool captain, Gerrard, who said: "We were unlucky. We are pleased with how we played but disappointed with the result. It is the worst possible result. We had a mountain to climb but we have got an even bigger one to climb now. We need to win our last three games and see where that takes us."
24 October 2007
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez sends his Reds out against Besiktas tonight in Istanbul admitting that they dare not lose.
Liverpool, who will again be without injury victim Fernando Torres, have a solitary point in Champions League Group A and cannot afford to slip further behind group leaders Marseille and Porto, who meet in France tonight.
Another slip-up would leave them in danger of not making it out of Group A to the knockout stages.
And after two finals in the past three seasons – plus a summer spending spree on new players worth some £50million – that could have serious repercussions for Benitez.
Following an unconvincing draw in Porto and a home defeat by Marseille, it is almost a case of win or bust.
Benitez said: 'This game is really important. We cannot afford to lose because if we do it will be really difficult to qualify. So we need to win. A draw? Then a lot would depend on the other results in our group. It's clear we need three points but the players don't need me to tell them how important this is. The real problem was against Marseille and in a short competition like the group stages it means we have to win again. But it's just two games. We made a big mistake in one, that's all, and we know we must win to put things right. Porto, who are the best team in Portugal, made it very difficult for us in the first 15 minutes. But to get out of that one with a draw with 10 men was really good.'
One of Liverpool's problems has been not making the most of the chances they create. Another is, when they do take the lead, not killing the game off.
Benitez admitted: 'We need to be more clinical. It was the same against Tottenham [which finished 2-2 thanks to an injury-time equaliser from Fernando Torres]. If we had taken those chances people would be saying what a fantastic season we're having.'
Torres. the £26.5million signing from Atletico Madrid, has not made the trip because he has not fully recovered from a thigh strain.
Benitez said: 'I spoke to the doctor and it was impossible for him to play – but hopefully he will be OK for the weekend.'
Despite the air of anxiety around the Liverpool camp, thy are fourth in the Premier League, beat rivals Everto in the Merseyside derby and have yet to lose in a domestic match. Moreover, a win in Istanbul tonight would put them right back in the frame to reach the knockout stages.
Benitez avoided the issue of whether he is under more pressure because of the heavy bank-rolling of his team-building by Amercan co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks.
But he admitted: 'As a manager I can only think about the football. You think about the bigger picture afterwards. When I arrived they said it was difficult to finish in the top four and qualify for the group stages every year. But in the last three years we have. Now people think we must do it always. When the draw was made people said we were in an easy group and I said we weren't. But it's important for us to be in the last 16. It's important for the confidence and experience of our players.'
23 October 2007
Midfielder Mathieu Valbuena has extended his stay with Marseille by three years.
Valbuena, the hero of the Champions League victory over Liverpool at Anfield, joined from Libourne St-Seurin in the summer of 2006.
A statement on the Marseille website, www.om.net, read: "Mathieu Valbuena, whose contract was due to expire in June, 2009, has extended his stay with Marseille until June 2012."
Valbuena, 23, has become a regular first-team player under new coach Eric Gerets.
23 October 2007
Marseille skipper Lorik Cana has urged the Stade Velodrome supporters to get off the back of misfiring striker Djibril Cisse and cheer the Mediterranean club on to a win against Porto that would "open the doors to qualification".
A place in the last 16 can not be secured this week, but victory against the Portuguese champions on Wednesday would mean Marseille had taken nine points from their first three Group A matches.
Cana told the club's official website: "We are playing against immediate competitors for qualification for the last 16. It is a chance for us to open the doors to qualification."
However, the Albanian is concerned at the treatment meted out to France international forward Cisse who has found goals in short supply this season.
Cana admitted recently-installed coach Eric Gerets was baffled at the treatment of Cisse in Marseille's 1-0 win over Lens at the weekend.
He said: "He (Gerets) was surprised because it was his first (home) match but Djibril was not. He already experienced it last season. We are not enjoying it because he is an important element of the squad. No-one is enjoying it. As captain I don't like one of my team-mates being whistled, especially when he is trying his best."
Cana nonetheless hopes that Cisse can pull out of his slump.
"Djibril knows that the supporters expect a lot from him," said Cana.
"With another player it would be different. All the same it's encouraging because people know what he is capable of but that he is unable to free himself at the moment. We are all helping him. These whistles will help him keep his head up so that things start to work again."
Cana is expecting Porto to provide stern opposition, saying: "They are a redoubtable team that is used to playing in the Champions League."
Porto have won the European club title twice, in 1986-7 and 2003-4.
"Porto play in this competition every year, unlike us. They are in form, they are leading their championship and they won in Turkey and, if you know how tough it is to win in Turkey, that's a real achievement."
Porto have started the campaign well with a home draw with Liverpool and a win against Besiktas.
Porto coach Manuel Jesualdo Ferreira has named a 19-man squad for the trip to Marseille.
Helder Postiga and Edgar return to the line-up while Adriano and Ernesto Farias did not board the plane.
Defender Fucile has passed a fitness test and was named in the squad by the Portuguese champions.
Jesualdo Ferreira struck an upbeat and humorous note in the build-up to the game, telling www.abola.pt: "I have no doubts that Porto are a fashionable club. Like fashion, football is very aggressive and very beautiful. We will play to our maximum potential."
22 October 2007
J-League side Nagoya Grampus Eight are interested in hiring former star Dragan Stojkovic who left the presidency post at Serbian champions Red Star Belgrade earlier this month.
Dragan Stojkovic left a huge impact in Japanese football and is still considered as one of the best foreigners to set afoot in Japanese football.
Former Marseille and Red Star Belgrade player left presidency at Serbian champions earlier this month after being unable to handle the pressure.
Stojkovic claimed the club was under huge influence by local tycoons who made his work nearly impossible.
He could be set to return to Japan after Nagoya president Yoshihiro Fukunishi offered him to take over at the club in December: "We offered Stojkovic to become the new manager of the team and we are waiting for his answer. We only considered him as a coach of the club and we have not discussed any other role at the club," said Fukunishi.
If the stories in the Serbian media are true, Nagoya are willing to offer Stojkovic a staggering $5m per season contract at the club.
22 October 2007
Italy are dominating the Golden Ball list of 50 candidates with eight players, while Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona each contributed seven names on the list.
- Golden Ball 2007 nominees:
Éric Abidal (Olympique Lyon, FC Barcelona)
Daniel Alves (FC Sevilla)
David Beckham (Real Madrid, Los Angeles Galaxy)
Dimitar Berbatov (Tottenham)
Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus Turin)
Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid)
Iker Casillas (Real Madrid)
Petr Cech (Chelsea)
Rogerio Ceni (Sao Paulo)
Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
Deco (FC Barcelona)
Mahamadou Diarra (Real Madrid)
Diego (Werder Bremen)
Didier Drogba (Chelsea)
Michael Essien (Chelsea)
Samuel Eto'o (FC Barcelona)
Francesc Fabregas (Arsenal)
Gennaro Gattuso (Milan)
Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
Ryan Giggs (Manchester United)
Thierry Henry (Arsenal, FC Barcelona)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter)
Filippo Inzaghi (Milan)
Kaka (Milan)
Frederic Kanoute (FC Sevilla)
Miroslav Klose (Werder Bremen, Bayern Munchen)
Younis Mahmoud (Algharafa)
Paolo Maldini (Milan)
Florent Malouda (Olympique Lyon, Chelsea)
Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona)
Shunsuke Nakamura (Celtic Glasgow)
Guillermo Ochoa (America Mexico)
Andrea Pirlo (Milan),
Ricardo Quaresma (FC Porto),
Raul (Real Madrid)
Franck Ribery (Olympique Marseille, Bayern Munchen),
Juan Roman Riquelme (Boca Juniors, Villarreal)
Robinho (Real Madrid)
Ronaldinho (FC Barcelona)
Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
Paul Scholes (Manchester United)
Clarence Seedorf (Milan)
Carlos Tevez (West Ham, Manchester United)
Luca Toni (Fiorentina, Bayern Munchen)
Kolo Toure (Arsenal)
Jose Fernando Torres (Atletico Madrid, Liverpool)
Francesco Totti (AS Roma)
Ruud van Nistelrooy (Real Madrid)
Robin van Persie (Arsenal)
David Villa (Valencia)
22 October 2007
Olympique Marseille defender Julien Rodriguez will be out for two weeks with a thigh injury, the Ligue 1 club said on Monday.
Centre back Rodriguez was replaced midway through the first half of his team's 1-0 victory over RC Lens in Ligue 1 on Sunday.
He will miss Marseille's Champions League clash at home against 2004 champions Porto on Wednesday. The Provence side are top of their Group A after beating Besiktas and Liverpool in their first two outings.
18 October 2007
Chelsea reacted to reports that Didier Drogba wants to leave the club on Thursday by saying the striker is set to stay in London.
The Ivory Coast forward was quoted by France Football magazine as saying "something is broken" at Chelsea, and that he wanted to leave following last month's departure of coach Jose Mourinho.
Chelsea stopped short of denying Drogba had made the comments, but said it expected him to stay.
"Didier Drogba signed a new four-year contract last year," Chelsea said. "As a top professional, we are sure Didier is committed to Chelsea and intends to honor that contract."
Drogba joined Chelsea from Marseille three years ago and, after settling, scored 33 goals last season.
He is one of several players reported to be seeking a transfer following Mourinho's exit.
