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Liverpool's Champions League campaign ends with a defeat
Liverpool were left grasping at straws last night as their disastrous Champions League campaign ended with another defeat.
The five-time European champions are now heading for the Europa League after going down 2-1 at Anfield against Group E winners Fiorentina.
Liverpool were ahead at the break through Yossi Benayoun but an equaliser from Martin Jorgensen and a winner in the second minute of injury time from Alberto Gilardino left the Reds defeated.
The only bright spots for Liverpool were the full debut of 20million midfielder Alberto Aquilani and the return from injury of Fernando Torres.
Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard was impressed with Aquilani.
"He did well," said Gerrard. "It's going to take him some time to get up to speed in terms of match fitness but the boy's a player, there's no doubt about that.
"He can see a pass, he's on the same wavelength and he will turn into a fantastic player for this club."
But he added: "We're disappointed as a club because we want to stay in the big competitions. We've not been good enough, it's as simple as that."
Arsene Wenger has no doubts his young Gunners will have grown from their "big jump" into the Champions League, despite going down 1-0 to Olympiacos after a battling display during last night's final Group H clash in Athens.
The Greeks progressed through to the knockout stages as runners-up to Arsenal, who named the youngest side to play in the Champions League with an average age of just 21.
"From Barnet to Athens is a big jump, but they did very well," said the Arsenal manager, who will now recall his rested first-team regulars for Sunday's crucial Barclays Premier League trip to Liverpool.
"Nobody was disappointing, and it is difficult to single out individual performances - although Ramsey had a good presence, gave good balls and produced a good work rate. They all looked like they played every week in this competition."
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Weather for Halifax
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
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Temperature: -0 C to 1 C
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