DESPITE INEVITABLE, LIVERPOOL GOES OUT WITH VICTORY

Liverpool was knocked out of the UEFA Champions League in the group stage despite a 1-0 win at Debrecen in Budapest on Tuesday, while Fiorentina and Arsenal qualified for the first knockout stage. Barcelona, the defending champion, revived its campaign with a surprisingly comfortable 2-0 triumph over visiting Inter Milan in the night’s top match, scoring twice in the first 26 minutes on goals by Gerard Piqué and Pedro. Arsenal reached the last 16 for the 10th season in a row with a 2-0 win over Standard Liege. Fiorentina advanced by beating Olympique Lyon, 1-0, on a penalty kick by Juan Vargas to join Girondins Bordeaux, Manchester United, Chelsea, Porto and Sevilla in the next round. Fiorentina’s win ended Liverpool’s chances in Group E. Liverpool, which has won the Champions League title five times, arrived in Hungary knowing its fate was largely out of its hands. David Ngog’s goal in the fourth minute was in vain.