Reds heading in right direction

Peter Crouch once again made the difference as Liverpool FC beat FC Girondins de Bordeaux to cement their position at the top of Group C. The home side failed to find the net for the third consecutive UEFA Champions League match and although Liverpool never hit top gear, they were rarely troubled by their French opponents.

Early chances
Craig Bellamy had the first chance of the night after seven minutes when he scampered on to Luis García's chested pass, but Ulrich Ramé in the Bordeaux goal smothered his tame attempt. For Bordeaux, left-back Geraldo Mauricio Wendel fired in two shots from well outside the box, but failed to test Pepe Reina.

Micoud miss
Liverpool replied in kind, with first Mark González and then Xabi Alonso unable to threaten with long-distance efforts. Instead it was Alonso's opposite number 14, Johan Micoud, who almost opened the scoring midway through the first period. The playmaker met Wendel's inswinging free-kick but did not get enough contact with his head and the ball sailed agonisingly past Reina's left-hand post.

Crouch at the double
Sami Hyypiä's knockdown from a García free-kick eluded three team-mates while moments later Crouch cleverly remained onside from a deep John Arne Riise cross but volleyed wide from point-blank range. He was close again after 40 minutes but his bundled attempt was touched behind by Ramé for a corner. As the first half reached a conclusion, Bordeaux were well ahead in terms of possession, but had still failed to get a single shot on target.

Bordeaux pressure

Crouch on target

Changes made