Gerrard looked to have been the target as he waited to take a first-half corner.

A spokesman for UEFA at the game added: "The incident will be included in both the match delegate's report and the referee's report."

It is also believed UEFA is aware the missiles came from the Marseille fans' enclosure, and any action will not involve Liverpool.

"Gerrard was really good in that incident, maybe the UEFA delegate will notice what happened. Steven did well not to react," Benitez said.

Gerrard's first-half header helped Liverpool beat Marseille 1-0 to book its place in the knockout stages of the Champions League.

The Reds skipper, back in the team after recovering from a groin injury, netted the winner at Anfield after 23 minutes to add to the two goals he scored against the French side earlier in the competition.

The goal was Gerrard's fifth in five Champions League games this season and makes him the tournament's top scorer this term. But more importantly it books the Reds' place in the last 16 of the competition for the fifth successive season.

Rafa Benitez's side made a bright start, but was unable to find a way past a stubborn Marseille rearguard until Dirk Kuyt's 22nd-minute header forced a smart low save from Steve Mandana in the visitors' goal.

But a minute later he was powerless to prevent Gerrard's bullet header flying past him from 12 yards after Xabi Alonso's terrific deep right-wing cross picked him out at the back post.

But Marseille twice came close to levelling matters 10 minutes before half-time when first Taye Taiwo unleashed a powerful 25-yard free-kick which almost caught Jose Reina by surprise but was pushed out at the expense of a corner. From the resulting flag-kick, Ronald Zubar headed wide from six yards after the Spanish keeper came out and flapped at the ball.

Albert Riera then forced a smart low save from Mandana as the half drew to a close with the Reds again on the attack.

But it was the visitors who came out the more hungry as the second half got underway with Zubar again heading wide at the back post and Mamadou Niang then failing to make the most of two opportunities in front of goal.

Marseille was coming more and more into the game and it took a fantastic one-handed save from Reina to keep out Hatem Ben Arfa's fierce left-footed free-kick from the edge of the area. Andrea Dossena then made an excellent block to prevent Niang's goal-bound effort from reaching Reina.

The French side continued to search for a leveller but was unable to find a way through as Liverpool secured its place in the next stage with a match to spare alongside Atletico Madrid, which was a 2-1 winner over PSV.

Bordeaux claimed a deserved 1-1 draw with 10-man Chelsea to ensure that the battle to qualify from Champions League group A goes to the wire.

Nicolas Anelka's fine finish on the hour mark looked to have earned the Blues progression to the knock-out stages with a game to go, but Alou Diarra's late headed equaliser kept the French side's hopes alive.

Frank Lampard was also dismissed on a night that saw Chelsea surrender top spot in the group following Roma's victory in Kluj.

Luiz Filipe Scolari made only one change from Saturday's stalemate against Newcastle, with Michael Ballack replacing the suspended Deco, but the Blues boss watched his side out-fought in the first half by a Bordeaux side hungry to avenge its 4-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge on matchday one.

Petr Cech had to be alert to make diving blocks to his right twice inside the opening 20 minutes, from Fernando Menegazzo and Matthieu Chalme, while Yoann Gourcuff provided the highlight of the opening period on 27 minutes, beautifully spinning past John Obi Mikel, before unleashing a 25-yard drive which the Chelsea keeper had to fly to his left to parry away.

John Terry, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole were all booked in a hotly-contested first period, and the second began in a similar fashion, but with their first meaningful attack of the night, Chelsea was in front.

Lampard's first-time pass on 60 minutes sent Anelka through on goal and the forward coolly finished, the Frenchman's dummy putting keeper Matthieu Valverde on his backside, before rolling the ball into the corner of the net. It was Anelka's final contribution as he was replaced by Didier Drogba a minute later.

The goal seemed to dishearten the hosts, and Chelsea began to look comfortable with its lead. Lampard saw his 30-yard free-kick whistle over the bar before the England midfielder's strike from just inside the area was spilled by Valverde.

But a lapse in concentration allowed the hosts back into the game in the 83rd minute.

Gourcuff earned a corner off Joe Cole and the on-loan AC Milan star's delivery was powerfully headed home at the near post by captain Diarra with no Chelsea defender anywhere near challenging the Bordeaux captain.

Lampard was dismissed for his second booking with five minutes to go as the Laurent Blanc's side looked to claim a famous victory but the Premier League leaders held on, knowing now that victory over the eliminated Kluj at Stamford Bridge in a fortnight will seal their place in the last 16.

Atletico Madrid shrugged off the absence of any supporters at their Vicente Calderon stadium with a 2-1 win against PSV Eindhoven to progress to the last 16.

Atletico's victory took it through alongside Liverpool from Group D.

Early goals from Simao Sabrosa and Maxi Rodriguez put the Spaniards in control and, although PSV pulled a goal back through Danny Koevermans, Atletico held out in a match played behind closed doors because of crowd incidents during its home match against Marseille on October 1.

Barcelona sealed top spot in Group C with a 5-2 win at Sporting Lisbon, courtesy of a farcical night among the home defence.

Barcelona was 3-0 up within 50 minutes thanks to goals from Thierry Henry, Gerard Pique and Lionel Messi - before Sporting pulled two back in two minutes through Miguel Veloso and Liedson.

Barca responded immediately with a Marco Caneira own goal - and once Rui Patricio was sent off for the foul that led to Bojan Krkic's penalty, the Sporting defence had played their part in all five of Barca's goals.

In other games, Brazilian playmaker Jadson hit a superb hat-trick as Shakhtar Donetsk booked its place in the latter stages of the UEFA Cup with a 5-0 win at home to Christian Gross' Basle, Roma put itself on the brink of qualification for the last 16 with a 3-1 victory over Cluj, Panathinaikos revived its hopes of reaching the second round with a 1-0 Group B win at Inter Milan and Anorthosis Famagusta was held to a 2-2 draw by Werder Bremen.