Liverpool's Peter Crouch (right) clashes with Besiktas' Ibrahim Toraman during their Champions League Group A match at Anfield yesterday. Liverpool won 8-0. - Reuters

BELGRADE (Reuters):

LIVERPOOL REVIVED their hopes of reaching the Champions League last 16 with a record 8-0 drubbing of Besiktas while Rosenborg beat Valencia 2-0 to hand Ronald Koeman a disappointing start at the Mestalla yesterday.

Chelsea stayed on course to reach the knockout stages after a 0-0 draw at Schalke 04 left them top of Group B a point ahead of Rosenborg, who completed a remarkable double over the Spanish side thanks to a Steffen Iversen brace.

Liverpool's best performance of the season was a Champions League record, beating 7-0 scorelines by Arsenal against Slavia Prague last month and Juventus against Olympiakos in December 2003.

It was also a welcome breakthrough for manager Rafa Benitez, who came under strong pressure after a 2-1 defeat at Besiktas a fortnight ago left his side staring at early elimination.

It was a different story yesterday as Yossi Benayoun's hat-trick, two apiece for Ryan Babel and Peter Crouch and a goal from Steven Gerrard secured their first Group A victory.

It lifted the 2005 winners into third place on four points from as many matches, one point more than Besiktas.

Porto, who won Europe's premier club competition in 2004, moved into the driving seat in the group on eight points after a 2-1 home win over Olympique Marseille that left the French side in second place with seven points.

Deadlock

Holders AC Milan eased to a 3-0 win at Shakhtar Donetsk with two second-half goals from substitute Filippo Inzaghi and one by Kaka to stay top of Group D as they moved to nine points, three ahead of Shakhtar and Celtic, who beat Benfica 1-0 at home.

Inzaghi broke the deadlock in the 66th minute and equalled Gerd Mueller's all-time record of 62 goals in European club football in injury time after Kaka scored Milan's second.

Aiden McGeady drove home Celtic's winner on the stroke of halftime to bring them level on points with Shakhtar ahead of a potentially decisive clash in Glasgow on November 28, leaving Benfica on three points with only a slim chance of qualifying.

Real Madrid lead Group C on eight points after a goalless draw at Olympiakos Piraeus, who have five points along with Lazio, following their 2-1 home win over Werder Bremen.

Keeper Antonios Nikopolidis produced a string of fine saves to keep the Greeks in the hunt for the last 16 while a Tommaso Rocchi brace gave Lazio a 2-0 lead at the Olympic Stadium in Rome before Diego pulled one back with a late penalty.