A brilliant free-kick from Luis Suárez was not enough to prevent Liverpool slipping out of the Europa League on away goals.
Liverpool got off to the worst possible start against Russian outfit Zenit St Petersburg on Thursday, when Hulk scored on 19 minutes to make it 3-0 on aggregate for the visitors.
But Brendan Rodgers' men roared back with Suárez and Joe Allen putting them 2-1 up at the break, and the crowd were sensing another glory night at Anfield.
Liverpool picked up where they left off at the start of the second half and they restored parity on aggregate just before the hour mark with a sublime free-kick from Suárez.
Steven Gerrard had shaped as if he was going to take a free-kick 25 yards out.
But, after a discussion with Suárez, the Uruguayan took charge and curled a magnificent effort around the wall and into the top right-hand corner past a stunned Vyacheslav Malafeev to send the home fans into raptures.
The Reds threw everything at Zenit in the closing stages, but the extra goal would not come as they saw their European hopes ended in dramatic fashion.
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| Zenit goalkeeper Vyacheslav Malafeev dives in vain as Luis Suárez scores from a free-kick Photo: Getty Images |
Liverpool got off to the worst possible start against Russian outfit Zenit St Petersburg on Thursday, when Hulk scored on 19 minutes to make it 3-0 on aggregate for the visitors.
But Brendan Rodgers' men roared back with Suárez and Joe Allen putting them 2-1 up at the break, and the crowd were sensing another glory night at Anfield.
Liverpool picked up where they left off at the start of the second half and they restored parity on aggregate just before the hour mark with a sublime free-kick from Suárez.
Steven Gerrard had shaped as if he was going to take a free-kick 25 yards out.
But, after a discussion with Suárez, the Uruguayan took charge and curled a magnificent effort around the wall and into the top right-hand corner past a stunned Vyacheslav Malafeev to send the home fans into raptures.
The Reds threw everything at Zenit in the closing stages, but the extra goal would not come as they saw their European hopes ended in dramatic fashion.
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