Liverpool 2-0 Roma - match report
Last updated : 19 March 2002 By BBC Sport
Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier was back on the bench to see his side qualify for the Champions League quarter-finals with a magnificent performance at Anfield.
An early Jari Litmanen penalty and a second-half header from Emile Heskey were enough to give the English side victory over Roma.
And with Barcelona taking all three points in a 1-0 win at Galatasaray, it is the clubs from England and Spain who qualify from Group B.
Houllier was given a rapturous welcome on his first appearance at an Anfield game for five months following heart surgery.
And Liverpool got the perfect start as Litmanen - in for the injured Michael Owen - scored from the penalty spot in the sixth minute.
The first corner of the night caused panic in the Roma defence and Marcos Assuncao impeded Danny Murphy as the Liverpool midfielder was poised to shoot.
Litmanen calmly stroked the penalty into the bottom left-hand corner, and Liverpool immediately set about doubling the advantage.
Moments later Steven Gerrard struck a fierce free-kick from 25 yards that Franceso Antonioli did well to parry.
Liverpool flooded forward, with John Arne Riise and Heskey going close as Roma could only manage brief raids out of their own half.
Gabriel Batistuta went closest for the visitors in the 35th minute when he failed to connect from inside the six yard box from a corner.
But Liverpool's dominance was embodied by the energetic Gerrard, who went in at half time needing attention after a challenge with Aldair sent him crashing into the hoardings.
Roma boss Fabio Capello brought Marco Delvecchio and Vicenzo Montella on for Batistuta and Lima after the break, and the Italians soon picked up their game.
A smart move inside the Liverpool box ended with Francesco Totti going desperately close - his shot from six yards deflecting wide of the post.
The match remained in the balance with chances at either end, Candela heading over in the 58th minute and a Riise shot seconds later stretching Antonioli at the other end.
The decisive moment came in the 63rd minute when Damiano Tommasi was booked for pulling back Litmanen.
The yellow card proved less significant than the free kick, as Heskey climbed highest to power Murphy's flighted ball into the bottom corner.
Roma pushed forward in search of a lifeline, but despite the efforts of Totti they could only create half chances and failed to trouble Dudek in the closing stages.
Liverpool continued to look dangerous at the other end through Heskey and the impressive Riise.
And with a two-goal cushion the home crowd did not need to wait for news from Turkey to begin celebrating on the final whistle.
Liverpool: Dudek, Xavier, Henchoz, Hyypia, Carragher, Smicer, Gerrard, Murphy, Riise, Litmanen, Heskey.
Subs: Arphexad, Baros, Barmby, McAllister, Diomede, Biscan, Wright.
Roma: Antonioli, Panucci, Samuel, Aldair, Tommasi, Emerson, Assuncao, Lima, Candela, Totti, Batistuta.
Subs: Pelizzoli, Zago, Montella, Zebina, Cassano, Delvecchio, Guigou.
Referee: R Pedersen (Norway).
