UPDATE 1-Air Liquide Q3 sales fall, keeps profit goals

* Group Q3 sales down 8.2 pct at 2.98 bln euros

* Confirms sees 2009 net, sales close to 2008 levels

* Ahead of this year's cost savings goal of 300 mln euros

* Q3 volumes increase compared with Q2 2009

(Adds detail from statement, background)

PARIS, Oct 22 (Reuters) - French industrial gases group Air Liquide (AIRP.PA: Quote, Profile, Research) posted 8.2 percent lower quarterly sales and said it still expects revenue and net income this year to match last year as demand gradually improves.

Air Liquide, whose gas activities range from putting fizz in soft drinks to providing hydrogen to oil refineries and health care gases to hospitals, said it was ahead of its cost savings goal of 300 million euros for the year, with 230 million achieved in the first three quarters.

"The increase in volumes compared to the second quarter is noticeable, even if they have not yet returned to the high 2008 levels," Chairman and Chief Executive Benoit Potier said in a statement on Thursday.

"The positive signs observed at the end of the first half have therefore been confirmed, signalling a trend reversal in several sectors," he added, while keeping the company's previous earnings goals intact.