Reds top group with convincing win

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Goals from Ryan Babel, Albert Riera and David Ngog saw off a poor PSV Eindhoven side who needed to win to claim a UEFA Cup spot.

They started well and took the lead with a controversial goal from Danko Lazovic, but Liverpool pulled level through Babel seconds before the break, and took over in the second period.

Benitez would have been further contented after he was able to blood three local youngsters in European football - Stephen Darby, Jay Spearing and Martin Kelly all getting their first taste of Champions league football.

PSV needed to win to have any chance of qualifying for the UEFA Cup, but they fell away badly after going ahead, while Liverpool will now go into next week's draw for the last 16 as group winners and certain of playing at home in the second-leg of their tie.

There was little urgency or pace about the game, but it was brought to life after 36 minutes when PSV took the lead. Liverpool were furious with the goal and Riera was booked for arguing with a linesman who had failed to spot Lazovic a yard offside before he fired the ball home from a couple of yards.

A corner from the right had bounced off Dirk Marcellis straight to Lazovic, with Liverpool defenders certain he was offside before he beat Diego Cavalieri from close range. Television replays showed they were right.

But with just seconds of the half remaining, Babel rose to head home a Lucas free-kick for the equaliser.

Liverpool were ahead in the 69th minute when Riera lashed a 30-yard shot past Andreas Isaksson.

In the 77th minute the game was virtually all over when Robbie Keane's fine ball sent Ngog racing away from the half-way line to coolly slide home the third.