All it took for Liverpool to overcome three miserable performances was one really dominating victory. The Reds’ 8-0 victory over Turkey’s Besiktas on Tuesday was the most lopsided win in the history of the European Champions League and reinvigorated the English club’s chances of advancing to the competition’s knockout phase.The jeers that filled Anfield following last month’s 1-0 defeat to Marseille were replaced by roars of approval for an overwhelming performance, including a three-goal game by Yossi Benayoun, on a chilly night along the River Mersey. Having roused Liverpool’s European campaign from apparent oblivion. Last season’s losing finalists climbed to four points and third place in Group A. FC Porto lead the group with eight points after beating second-place Marseille 2-1. The goals at Anfield came early and never seemed to end. Peter Crouch opened in the 19th minute. Benayoun capitalised on Liverpool’s dominance in the 32nd. He then doubled his tally in the 53rd on a rebound after Hakan blocked Riise’s shot.The fourth goal in the 56th also came courtesy of Besiktas reserve goalkeeper, who spilled Gerrard’s free kick into the feet of Benayoun. The Anfield crowd already was celebrating in the 69th when Voronin flicked the ball to Gerrard, who unleashed a powerful shot from the edge of the penalty area.Ryan Babel scored twice in quick succession. Crouch completed the annihilation in the final minute, when he rose to meet Benayoun’s cross. In Gelsenkirchen, Germany, Chelsea escaped with a 0-0 draw at Schalke. The result kept Chelsea at the top Group B with eight points, while Schalke are third with four points. Rosenberg improved to within one point of leaders Chelsea after stunning Spanish giants Valencia 2-0. In Group C, Olympiakos held Real Madrid to a 0-0 draw, with the Spaniards squandering a string of chances.In Donetsk, Ukraine, Filippo Inzaghi scored two goals and set up a third to lift AC Milan to a 3-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk. The victory gives Milan the lead in Group D with nine points after four games. Shakhtar and Celtic are tied for second with six, while Benfica are last with three after losing to the Scottish team 1-0.ResultsGroup A: Liverpool 8 (P Crouch 19, 89 Y Benayoun 32, 53, 56, S Gerrard 69, R Babel 78, 81) beat Besiktas 0; Porto 2 (T Sektioui 27, L Lopez 78) beat Olympique Marseille 1 (M Niang 47)Group B: Schalke 0 draw with Chelsea 0; Valencia 0 lose to Rosenborg Trondheim 2 (S Iversen 31, 58)Group C: Lazio 2 (T Rocchi 57, 68) beat Werder Bremen 1 (Diego 88 pen); Olympiakos Piraeus 0 draw with Real Madrid 0 Group D: Celtic 1 (A McGeady 45) beat Benfica 0; Shakhtar Donetsk 0 lose to AC Milan 3 (F Inzaghi 66, 90+3, Kaka 72)
