Robbie Fowler scored his first European goals for the club in five years but few Liverpool players covered themselves in any glory. If Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, the Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, was watching, he might have noted a few positions that need covering should his takeover proceed.
Galatasaray, the only team to score against Liverpool in group C, still finished bottom, while Rafael Benítez's team go into the draw for the last 16 a week on Friday knowing that they will raise their game for the knockout stages. They will have to as, having won their section, they could be drawn against Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter Milan or AS Roma.
“It's difficult now because all the teams are good teams,” Benítez, the Liverpool manager, said. “We will see what happens but in the last 16 last season we had Benfica and some said that would be easy.” The Portuguese side ended the 2005 European champions' defence of their title.
Liverpool, with Jamie Carragher equalling Tommy Smith's club record of 85 European appearances, started with only four of their final-winning team last night and three continental debutants, but Benítez defended his selections. “I was thinking about this month because we must play a lot of games,” he said. “That is the reason we are using players who don't normally play, and some younger players.”
Jerzy Dudek, who let in three goals against AC Milan during the first half of a rather more memorable occasion 19 months ago, will not have been too thrilled to be beaten as many times again as he was handed a rare opportunity to try to earn himself a new contract.
Neither was Craig Bellamy too chuffed when he was substituted 16 minutes from time. “I want to see my players doing well on the pitch and after they need to understand they have team-mates waiting,” Benítez said.
Recalled for his first start since a Carling Cup run-out at Birmingham City last month, Fowler turned his back as Stjepan Tomas missed Bellamy's centre and the ball went in off the striker's rump.
Necati Ates promptly equalised, capitalising on Xabi Alonso's rare misplaced pass, and Okan Buruk thundered in a 30-yard volley for the third goal inside six minutes.
Much of the second half was played at testimonial pace. Ümit Karan, who scored twice at Anfield in September, headed against the post before Sasa Ilic turned in a pulled-back cross from Mehmet Güven 11 minutes from time. Fowler did score again, heading in Jermaine Pennant's centre in the final minute, but there was to be no fulminating Liverpool comeback this time.