Liverpool salvaged a 1-1 draw at home to Atletico Madrid thanks to a last-gasp penalty by Steven Gerrard.

The Merseysiders trailed to a 37th-minute goal by Maxi Rodriguez whose delightful touch took him past Jamie Carragher to the right of goal before burying a clinical low shot into the far corner.

Liverpool dominated the second half and both sides had strong penalty claims for handball but the Spaniards looked set for victory and qualification from the group until four minutes into stoppage time.

Mariano Pernia bundled into the back of Gerrard as they both jumped for the ball and the referee pointed to the spot. Gerrard slammed just inside the right post, sending the keeper the wrong way.

Chelsea beaten

However Chelsea went down 3-1 to AS Roma and had Deco sent off on a miserable night in Rome.

The hosts grabbed the lead, against the run of play, in the 34th minute. Cicinho escaped the attentions of the Chelsea defence as Francesco Totti lined up a long-range free-kick, and the right-back's low cross was turned home by the unmarked Christian Panucci. The former Blues defender's strike was the first Chelsea have conceded in this season's Champions League campaign.

Things got worse for Blues manager Luiz Filipe Scolari when Roma doubled their lead only three minutes after the break. Matteo Brighi laid the ball off the Mirko Vucinic to unleash a superb 20-yard drive which flew past Cech and into the corner of the Blues net.

If the second goal was good, Roma's third 10 minutes later was even better, and it was Vucinic again. The Montenegrin striker robbed Mikel in the host's half and carried the ball fully 50-yards, outpacing and riding the tackle of the Nigerian before fooling Cech to slide the ball coolly inside the near post.

John Terry gave his side a lifeline with 15 minutes remaining. Deco's shot was directed goalwards seemingly off the arm of the England skipper and despite Doni's point-blank block, Terry sidefooted home the rebound.

Deco, cautioned in the first half, was dismissed in the 81st-minute when referee Luis Medina Cantalejo brandished a yellow card, followed by a red, when the Portuguese took a free-kick too quickly for the official's liking.

Despite the defeat, Chelsea remain top of Group A with seven points, one ahead of Roma and Bordeaux, with the French side due to arrive at Stamford Bridge in three weeks time.

Liverpool also remain in a strong position, joint top of their group alongside Atletico who would have qualified if they had held on to win.