Liverpool ease past PSV to top Group D

(CNN) -- Liverpool secured top spot in Champions League Group D with a 3-1 win at PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday night.

Liverpool fell behind to Danko Lazovic's goal after 36 minutes, but Ryan Babel equalized on the stroke of halftime before Albert Riera and David Ngog wrapped up a richly-deserved victory with second half strikes.

Premier League title challengers Liverpool and Atletico Madrid had started the final round of matches level on points, but Atletico were held goalless by Marseille, who finish third in the group to claim a UEFA Cup spot.

Liverpool, making seven changes from the weekend 3-1 victory over Blackburn, looked the better side in the opening exchanges but were undone by slack defending from a disputed corner.

Argentine international Javier Mascherano failed to clear at the near post, and Lazovic pounced on the loose ball to fire home through the legs of Diego Cavalieri.

PSV looked set to take that lead into the second half but a perfectly-placed Lucas free kick from the right was met with a glancing header by Babel, the ball bouncing just in front of Andreas Isaksson in the PSV goal.

Liverpool largely dominated proceedings and under-pressure striker Robbie Keane came close to putting his side ahead after being played in by the lively Babel only to see his effort deflected away.

The second, when it came, was courtesy of an emphatic 25 meter strike from Spaniard Riera in the 68th minute, which left Isaksson flapping at thin air from a superb left foot effort.

"We had confidence he could score goals like this," delighted Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez told ITV Sport.

Keane, who contributed significantly in the second half, then played a superb first time pass to youngster Ngog who showed admirable composure in firing a low shot home for the third.

Meanwhile, Marseille's Stade Velodrome stadium had a heavy police presence after the match in Madrid between the two sides had suffered from crowd trouble.

But news that a jailed Marseille fan held in Madrid had been released on bail just hours before kickoff ensured protests were peaceful.

Atletico came close in the sixth minute when Sergio Aguero cut in down the left and whipped over a cross which eluded Florent Sinama-Pongolle as he slid in.

Marseille's clearest opening fell to Hatem Ben Arfa in the 66th, but he shot at goalkeeper Gregory Coupet after taking down a loose ball inside the penalty area.

Near the end, Marseille substitute Mathieu Valbuena's cross eluded Lorik Cana and fell to substitute Charles Kabore, who scooped his shot wide of the post, but a draw was enough for both teams to continue European campaigns.

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