MARSEILLE, France (AP) — Captain Steven Gerrard scored two first-half goals to help Liverpool come from behind to win 2-1 at Marseille in Group D of the Champions League.
Albanian international Lorik Cana put the French side ahead in the 23rd minute at the Stade Velodrome, knocking the ball past goalkeeper Pepe Reina after beating the visitors’ offside trap.
But England midfielder Gerrard equalized within three minutes with a superb dipping shot that evaded goalkeeper Steve Mandanda.
Gerrard then put the Premier League side ahead with a 32nd minute penalty, after Ryan Babel had been brought down in the penalty area.
Marseille, who lost 4-0 at home to Liverpool in the Champions League group stages last December, struggled to create further chances until late in the second half.
Striker Mamadou Niang headed wide in the 89th, and then shot straight at goalkeeper Reina in the closing seconds.
Liverpool was stopped from adding further goals after some fine stops by France international Mandanda, who later made an astonishing point-blank save to deny winger Babel.
Meanwhile, Sergio Aguero scored twice and Maniche added another goal to give Atletico Madrid a superb 3-0 win at PSV Einhoven in the other Group D match.
Atletico, making their return to the Champions League after an 11-year absence, took the lead when Aguero sliced in Luis Garcia’s cross in the ninth minute.
Substitute Florent Sinama Pongolle set up Aguero for the second in the 36th before Maniche converted Garcia’s pass to make it 3-0 in the 54th minute.
