Liverpool looked to have salvaged a point against Fiorentina until the Italians came from behind to score an injury time winner and finish top of Group E of the Champions League. Before the late show the positives for Liverpool had been the full debut of Alberto Aquilani and the return of Fernando Torres,
However the game will be remembered for losing three consecutive Champions League home games for the first time, and the Reds miserable campaign continues.
Liverpool contesting a dead rubber in the Champions League Group stage is not unusual, but the circumstances of their final game with Fiorentina certainly were.
In a group of four teams the Reds have suffered the embarrassment of failing to finish in the top two places and must now drop down into the poor relations of European competition, the Europa League.
Liverpool confirmed at the end of the game that Uefa had informed them they would not be seeded for the Europa competition.
The lucrative knock out stage of the Champions League has been missed as Liverpool's disappointing season shows no signs of improving.
The irony will not have been lost on the Anfield faithful that during the behind the scenes feuding of the American owners the club at least were competing on all fronts, yet during a period of relative stability Rafa Benitez is struggling to fulfil their potential.
Fiorentina have now won five consecutive Group games and will be looking for a favourable draw for finishing top of the group after their first visit to Anfield.
At least the Kop got their first glimpse of £20m summer signing Aquilani who after a couple of cameo appearances made a first team start.
The Italian has now recovered from ankle surgery so perhaps it was unfair to expect too much although he at least tried to play the simple ball and occasionally showed the vision for what the Liverpool boss had paid for.
An uneventful first 45 minutes only came to life in the last quarter when Fiorentina had a flurry of chances and then, somewhat against the run of play, Liverpool took the lead.
What had gone before had been totally forgettable as both sides struggled to retain possession and the final ball was poor.
In fact the biggest cheer of the game had been for Torres warming up on the touchline such had been the entertainment on offer.
However on the half hour mark Fiorentina had a couple of good chances.
Lorenzo de Silvestri glanced a header goalwards from a corner bringing a fine save from Diego Cavalieri. Before that the Brazilian stopper had only been tested from an under-hit back pass from Daniel Agger.
Then Riccardo Montolivo was left with space to drive over from the twenty yards.
But on 42 minutes Steven Gerrard was fouled and his driven free kick was met by the unmarked Yossi Benayoun to head home.
But Fiorentina almost levelled at the start of the second half as Cavalieri saved bravely from Alberto Gilardino.
The Reds began to take control but on 62 minutes were hit on the break and the visitor's levelled through Martin Jorgensen.
The introduction of Torres almost paid immediate dividends as the Spanish striker first won a free kick, had a shot blocked then sent over a dangerous cross.
As the rain poured down and the game drifting to a draw the Italians made one last attempt to claim top spot.
The ball was played in low from the left and Gilardino easily converted to the delight of the travelling fans and Fiorentina bench.
Reds boss Rafa Benitez bemoaned Liverpool conceding a late Champions League goal for the third time this season.
"When you are drawing it is important not to lose but three times we have conceded late goals.
"It was a difficult game and we are disappointed with conceding a late goal.
"It should not affect morale this result but the positive you can take is that next time we are in a similar situation we will make sure it doesn't happen again.
"Three late goals, particular those against Lyon, have been the difference otherwise tonight's game could have been a different situation."
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