Liverpool Win

Steven Gerrard's first-half goal, on his return from injury, proved enough to deliver a 1-0 win over Marseille at Anfield on Wednesday evening that ensured the Reds will join Atletico Madrid in the last 16 of the competition.

It was also a night to remember for Liverpool's manager. Benitez's 66th European match in charge of the club saw him eclipse Bill Shankly's record, while a 39th victory on the European stage saw him draw level with Bob Paisley on that count.

But the Spaniard acknowledged that his side had not been at their best and had lived dangerously at times, as Marseille pressed in search of an equaliser that would have kept their own campaign alive. The French side's commitment to attack ensured an open contest, but Liverpool failed to display their usual cutting edge on the counter-attack with the final ball designed to release Fernando Torres repeatedly mislaid.

Worryingly for Benitez, Wednesday's performance had echoes of the below-par display in Saturday's goalless draw with Fulham which cost his side the chance to pull clear of Chelsea at the top of the Premier League. "Clearly we need to improve our possession, to keep and pass the ball better," Benitez said. "We are giving the ball away too easily."

Gerrard, who has now scored five goals in his five Champions League appearances this season, also admitted it had been a frustrating night for a squad that appears to have gone off the boil since their victory over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge a month ago.

"It was a nervy match but still a job well done," said the Liverpool captain. "We wanted all three points and a clean sheet and we got both of those, but it was a frustrating second half for us. We lost control a bit and there are a few things that need looking at. They are organised and fighting to stay in the competition. We knew that it would be a difficult tie, but we stuck together and hopefully in a few days the second-half performance will be forgotten."

After a two-week lay-off, Gerrard returned at the expense of Robbie Keane and revelled playing in the slipstream of Torres. "Playing behind Fernando is great for me," Gerrard said. "His runs are great. Tonight I scored the goal but I'm sure if the manager keeps playing us together I will provide him with a few."

Gerrard's deployment in an attacking role allows Xabi Alonso to pull the strings in midfield, and it was the Spaniard's well-judged cross that allowed Gerrard to steal in unchallenged at the back post to head Liverpool's winner mid-way through the first half.

Marseille had a string of chances after the break but could not quite manage to find the final pass or moment of inspiration that would have delivered an equaliser. "We'll have a few regrets because we had chances up to the last minute, but the only thing that makes me unhappy was the result," said Marseille coach Erik Gerets. "I was quite happy with the performance. For the first time in a long time, we played as a unit and with the kind of desire that everyone said we were missing."

Marseille will now aim to take something from their final match, at home to Atletico, to ensure they edge out PSV Eindhoven for third place in the group and a spot in the UEFA Cup. Ultimately it was the sloppy marking that allowed Gerrard to score that snuffed out Marseille's last chance of progress to the last 16. But Gerets' men could also count themselves unfortunate not to have enjoyed the breaks that would have enabled them to take something from the match.

Arsenal Win

Arsene Wenger has expressed delight and relief following his Arsenal side's last-gasp win over Dynamo Kiev in the UEFA Champions League. The Gunners qualified from Group G with a match to spare thanks to Nicklas Bendtner's late goal at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.

But after three defeats in four matches, the storm of controversy generated by William Gallas's rant against his team-mates and the France defender's subsequent replacement as captain by Cesc Fabregas, Wenger was more concerned with the positive effect on the team's morale.

With Dynamo just three minutes from holding on for a point that would have left Arsenal without a goal for three games and looking as bereft of inspiration as they ever have under Wenger, Fabregas launched a sublime pass to Bendtner, who lashed his shot past Stanislav Bogush. As Wenger celebrated the goal, he saw not only a chance for Arsenal to extend their European campaign, but a cathartic moment for his players.

"It is the first step for us. What the team needs is reassurance and at least we have that now," he said. "We left it late and we were more steady than spectacular, but it was important to come back and win. Nicklas scored a great goal. It was not handball as Kiev claimed. You can watch it on the replay. It was a fantastic ball from Fabregas, good composure and a good finish. I am very happy for him because I felt he had showed a lack of confidence recently."

Wenger's decision to restore Gallas to the starting line-up so soon after his outburst was just about vindicated despite some shaky moments from the France defender. More significantly, Fabregas made a positive impression in his first game as skipper.

"Cesc was very good for me. He was focused for 90 minutes, worked hard defensively and offensively. It wasn't easy in midfield. Overall he had a very good game. William's focus was great. He wanted to do well and you could see he was completely committed. I was very happy that the fans responded in a positive way to him."

Now that Arsenal's progress is assured, Wenger will turn his attention to hauling his side back into the Premier League title race. It would take a remarkable run of results to make up the ten-point deficit to leaders Chelsea, but the Gunners have the perfect chance to put a dent into that gap when they travel to Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Wenger is keeping his fingers crossed that he can take a more experienced team across London than the youthful eleven that eventually saw off Dynamo. He said: "Before the Dynamo game we had nine injured players. We have three, Sagna, Nasri and Adebayor, who we hope will play on Sunday. All three are 50-50."

Judging by this display, Wenger will need all the options he can get to win at the Bridge. Gallas's woeful week nearly took a turn for the worse when his under-hit backpass let in Ismael Bangoura, but he could breathe again as the striker's effort cannoned back off the near post. And Gallas was the fall guy again early in the second half, when Robin van Persie's shot appeared to be creeping in until Gallas inadvertently blocked it.

Just as Arsenal looked to have run out of ideas, Fabregas provided the moment of inspiration they had been lacking with a superb long pass that picked out Bendtner and allowed the substitute to gallop clear and break the deadlock.

That triggered a Dynamo meltdown, and Olexandr Aliyev was sent off after shoving referee Alain Hamer while trying to take a quick free-kick. "We were more or less equal with Arsenal and we played well, but the result is what counts," Dynamo coach Yuri Semin said.