Marseille 2 Liverpool 1 (Marseille win 3-2 on aggregate) Battered and bitter in the Bouches-du-Rhône, Liverpool's UEFA Cup aspirations have died a contentious death though, for Gerard Houllier, a season apparently as much wrecked by dubious refereeing decisions as his side's stuttering form, has endured further alleged injustice.
At final whistle, it was easy to forget how comfortable Liverpool had appeared with their advantage briefly established in the first period. Yet by half-time Igor Biscan had been dismissed, a penalty shipped in the process and the tie's momentum had been surrendered for good.
"It is not players who get you the sack, but referees," Houllier had grumbled days earlier. It has not come to that at Anfield yet but, given his apoplectic reaction to the penalty award, the Frenchman was more than dismayed at Arturo Ibanez's decision.
Marseille eagerness to celebrate that draw at Anfield - their post-match singing had drifted across the corridor to disturb the uneasy silence in the Liverpool changing room - had spiced up the overtures to this return.
Initially, Liverpool had prospered. Marseille were too frantic to offer a threat with the Premiership side biting deep on the counter. Harry Kewell won possession after 15 minutes and found Steven Gerrard, whose delicious pass was collected by Emile Heskey. The England striker appeared to dawdle as he bore down on Fabien Barthez but, with the Manchester United loanee prone, he recovered to ram the ball into the corner.
It was Heskey's flick from Gerrard's cross-field pass which Michael Owen chased into the corner. The 24-year-old retained possession as defenders swarmed, then freed Danny Murphy, whose chip drifted on to the roof of the net. Had he scored, Liverpool's evening might have turned into a stroll.
Regardless, they had appeared in no danger at the back. But, their composure was eroded in the blink of an eye. Marseille were growing frustrated, the home side too eager to batter long balls for Didier Drogba to chase, when Mathieu Flamini emerged to slide a pass beyond Biscan for Steve Marlet to chase.
The Croat tugged at Marlet's shorts outside the area. That did not prompt any sanction from the referee but, once the pulling had continued inside the area and the striker had drilled a shot wide, the Spaniard pointed to the spot. Biscan was dismissed - a blurred advantage having been played as the crowd bayed for blood - with Drogba hammering home the penalty.
Houllier, incensed on the touchline, stormed into the video room to scrutinise the incident at the break yet Drogba had already had a second goal denied by then for a push, the impetus having switched back to the French.
Sami Hyypia might have headed the visitors ahead had Manuel Dos Santos not rescued Barthez on the goal-line though the Finn will have cursed his concession of a corner as the hour approached. Démétrius Ferreira swung in the centre and Abdoulaye Meite, leaping above Gerrard, thumped his header home.
That left Liverpool chasing an unlikely second away goal, their chances diminishing further when Owen hobbled off with what looked like a hamstring problem five minutes later.
MARSEILLE: Barthez, Ferreira, Dos Santos, Meite, Beye, Flamini, Hemdani, N'Diaye, Batlles (Mido 71), Drogba, Marlet (Meriem 79). Subs Not Used: Gavanon, Christanval, Perez, Ecker, Celestini. Booked: Mido. Goals: Drogba 38 pen, Meite 58.
LIVERPOOL: Dudek, Carragher, Riise, Hyypia, Biscan, Kewell (Sinama Pongolle 82), Murphy (Cheyrou 69), Hamann, Gerrard, Heskey, Owen (Baros 62). Subs Not Used: Luzi Bernardi, Henchoz, Traore, Diouf. Sent Off: Biscan (36). Booked: Carragher. Goals: Heskey 15.
Referee: Arturo Dauden Ibanez (Spain).
