12 November 2002
BASLE 3-3 LIVERPOOL
A rapid passing move tore the fabled Liverpool defence wide open inside the first two minutes. Atouba knocked the ball into Giminez who in turn laid it off for Esposito, Esposito hit a first time pass into Yakin and Rossi arrived at the back post to tap-in his centre. Basle went route one for their second goal. Zuberbuhler launched a goal kick into Liverpool's half, Gimenez headed the ball onto Rossi, Rossi laid it off to Yakin who hit a beautiful chipped pass straight over Gimenez and he beat a hesitant Dudek to the ball, 2-0. Dudek then parried Yakin's venomous free kick straight to Atouba, empty net, 3-0.
Murphy began the fight back, hitting the bottom corner of the net from the edge of the box following good work by Diao and Smicer. Smicer then combined with fellow Czech international Baros, the young striker flicked Diao's knockdown over the Basle defence and Smicer volleyed into the corner. Liverpool were awarded a penalty for handball. Zuberbuhler saved Owen's penalty and almost saved his follow-up on the rebound. Too little, too late.
Assists : H Yakin (x2), Smicer, Baros
VALENCIA 3-0 SPARTAK
Garrido back heeled a free kick to Angulo and midget Sanchez met his cross to head Valencia in front. Sanchez started and finished a move down the left flank with an excellent first time shoot. Aurelio hit a free kick straight at Levitsky but he could only parry the ball into his own net.
Assists : Angulo, Mista
5 NOVEMBER 2002
SPARTAK 0-2 BASLE
Tum ran onto Zwyssig's long ball and centred for Rossi who kept his balance as Moises tried to chop him down and poked the ball past a stranded goalkeeper. Ergic headed a ball on for Giminez, he flicked it over Khlestov, charged towards goal then sent a high lob dropping over Levitsky into the net, superb goal.
Assists : Tum, Ergic
22 OCTOBER 2002
BASEL 2-2 VALENCIA
Ergic stunned the much vaunted Valencia defence when he rolled a low shot inside the post. Basel's lead was short lived however as four minutes later their goalkeeper fumbled Baraja's speculative long range shot. Torres poked Valencia in front. Ayala was sent off for sticking two fingers in Yakin's eyes. Ergic equalised late on with a superb volley.
Assists : Yakin, Sanchez, Dos Santos, Yakin (fk)
Red Card : Ayala 88 (Valencia)
SPARTAK 1-3 LIVERPOOL
Danishevski smashed Spartak into an early lead but Owen equalised and hit two second half goals to give the current Premiership leaders their first away
victory. His first a header from a Carragher cross. Owen scrambled his second over the line after Hyypia was first denied by the crossbar then a defender.
Owen completed his hat-trick with a nice side foot finish at the far post from a superbly measured Murphy pass.
Murphy is developing into a World Class midfielder. He continues to be one of Liverpool's stand out players in the Champions League. The English Ljungberg.
Assists : Pavlenko, Carragher, Murphy
2 OCTOBER 2002
LIVERPOOL 5-0 SPARTAK
Heskey beat Owen to a long ball and shot past Spartak's 300 year old goalkeeper to give the previously goal shy Liverpool an early lead. Cheyrou opened his Liverpool account from an excellently weighted Danny Murphy pass. Boy Blunder missed an open goal. Hyypiä headed in a Murphy free kick. Boy Blunder missed another glorious chance. Diao headed in a Heskey cross via a deflection off a defender and Heskey capped off a fine performance pure rubbish with a goal from Owen's pass.
Assists : Riise, Murphy, Murphy (fk), Owen
VALENCIA 6-2 BASEL
Carew began the rout with two goals in two minutes the first from an excellent pass by Aimar and the second a header from Vicente's cross. Aurelio made it 3-0 with a great left foot shot and Baraja powerfully headed home from another Vicente cross. Rossi tapped in from close range after Canizares failed to hold Yakin's tame shot. At the other end Basel's 'keeper did the same leaving Aimar with a tap-in. Carew laid one on a plate for Mista. Yakin scored the goal of the night, a stunning 30yd lob over a shaky looking Canizares.
Assists : Aimar, Vicente, Carew, Vicente, Carew, ?
25 SEPTEMBER 2002
LIVERPOOL 1-1 BASEL
An excellent counter attack gave Liverpool the lead. Heskey ran onto a hospital pass, charged past a midfielder, Baros took the ball, swapped passes with Heskey and hit a magnificent right foot volley past Zuberbuhler. Rossi capitalised on a mistake by Carragher to equalise.
Liverpool hit the woodwork three times in this match. This shouldn't have even been close. Fielding Owen in attack is a complete waste of time.
Assists : Heskey, Yakin
SPARTAK 0-3 VALENCIA
Angulo punished hesitancy in the Spartak defence to give the Spanish champions the early lead. Baraja's fabulous ball out of defence sent Rufete clear on the right
flank and Mista toe poked in his centre. Cherchessov did an Enkleman, completly kicking fresh air when attempting to control a back-pass, the ball rebounded
off a post and Aimar laid a goal on a plate for garbage striker Sanchez.
Assists : Aimar, Rufete, Aimar
16 SEPTEMBER 2002
BASEL 2-0 SPARTAK
Two goals inside five minutes saw off the predictably weak challenge from poor travellers Spartak Moscow. Khlestov sliced a clearance, Gimenez headed the
ball forward and Yakin volleyed into the net. Rossi muscled his way past Kovtun and rolled the ball inside the post.
Assist : Gimenez
VALENCIA 2-0 LIVERPOOL
Valencia crushed Liverpool with a scintillating display in the Mestalla. The Liverpool defence could only stand in bemusement as a slick one touch passing move ripped them open and gave Valencia a deserved lead. Albelda knocked a ball into Aimar who was standing with his back to goal on the edge of the box, Aimar knocked the ball back towards Albelda, he let it run for Baraja who hit the most exquisitely weighted pass towards Aimar and he slotted into the corner. Baraja ran onto a Carew pass and drilled the ball inside the post. Hamann earned a second yellow for pushing Mista.
Assists : Baraja, Carew