Liverpool Pay Heartfelt Respects Before Outclassing Toulouse

The five times European Champions took a stroll in the park last night. They were far too powerful for Toulouse and ran out easy winners on the night 4-0 (5-0 on agg). Last season’s finalists now make their way into the group stages of the competition, it was never in doubt and quite frankly the score could have been in double figures if Liverpool’s heading had been a little better.

Before the game however, there were more serious things to attend to. In a remarkable gesture of goodwill and heartfelt remembrance, Liverpool uniquely agreed to play the Everton anthem (The old Z Cars theme tune, Johnny Todd) before last night’s game. Both teams and the crowd then stood to applaud the life of young Rhys Jones, only 11 years old, who was cowardly shot and murdered last week in Liverpool.

Rhys idolised the city’s blue team, Everton, and his parents and brother were at Anfield last night, father and brother proudly wearing their Everton shirts. They received an emotional reception from the Anfield faithful. This murder of a young innocent life has effected the whole of Merseyside, irrespective of football loyalties, and the people of Liverpool come together as one in such tragic circumstances. They have had their fair share over the years. This was a fitting tribute to young Rhys.

The Jones family receive an emotional and heartfelt reception from the Anfield crowd.

Once the game had kicked off, however Liverpool took full control and I can hardly remember the Liverpool goalkeeper, Pepe Reina, having to make a save all night. If there was a game that was never in doubt, this was surely it.

The Reds took a 1 - 0 lead into the game from the away leg last week. A goal by Andriy Voronin, who wasn’t even on the bench last night such is the depth of the Liverpool squad now. Also missing were the captain, Steven Gerrard who injured his foot in Toulouse and also Jamie Carragher who broke a couple of ribs and suffered a collapsed lung in a collision with Reina at the Stadium of Light against Sunderland last Saturday.

The 1 - 0 lead was nearly added to after only 3 minutes when a free-kick shot from John Arne Riise was drilled low forcing the keeper to make a smart save.

Then Crouch, who was starting his first game for Liverpool this season put the Reds ahead after 19 minutes. The tall England striker cleverly flicked a cross from Kuyt in at the far post. After the game Crouch said, “It was important to get through to the next round but it was nice for me to get my first goal of the season.” To be fair, Crouch should have been celebrating his first hat-trick of the season, not just his first goal. The striker had an all round excellent game but did miss some easy headers. He continued by saying, “It was important we started the season well. If we progress the way we’ve started, we are looking good.” And I for one won’t argue with that. Liverpool knocked the ball around effortlessly at times.

Peter Crouch celebrates his first goal of the season.

In the absence of both Gerrard and Carragher, it was Hyypia who wore the armband for the evening. He marked the occasion on the 49th minute when he was left totally unmarked about six yards out from a corner. With that much free space the outcome was never in doubt and he powered the header past a stranded keeper.

Liverpool never let up and continued to press and create chances. However it wasn’t until 3 minutes from the end that they got their just reward for all their hard work. There was some lovely interplay without the box which saw Kuyt receive the ball on the right side and he fired the ball home off the inside of the far post. Then, with only seconds remaining, yet more neat passing saw Kuyt one on one with the keeper. The Dutch striker lifted the ball and despite a slight touch by the keeper it had more than enough power on it to nestle in the back of the net. Liverpool finally securing a 4 - 0 win on the night that their overall play deserved.

After the game the Liverpool manager Rafa Benítez said, “I am very happy with my team. We showed the strength and quality of our squad.

“We scored four good goals and could have scored a lot more. We now have two players for each position and you can see our squad is stronger than it was.

“I have players everywhere who want to play and have the ability to play.”

There were other games in the Qualifying rounds last night that saw Lazio beat Dinamo Bucharest 3-1 to round off a 4 - 2 aggregate win. Also Glasgow Rangers beat their fierce rivals Celtic into the group stages (they play Wednesday) by drawing a hard fought game 0 - 0 against Red Star Belgrade. Rangers had won the home leg 1 - 0.

Sevilla, who have won the last two UEFA Cups were due to play AEK Athens but the match was called off and postponed until Monday because of the tragic death of their midfield player Antonio Puerta. Puerta died on Tuesday three days after collapsing on the field during Sevilla’s La Liga game against Getafe.

Doctors have said the 22 year old suffered a heart attack in the locker room and then at least one more in the emergency room at the hospital. Sevilla lead the tie 2 - 0 ahead of the rescheduled match.

Half of the 32 group stages places are now settled. Another 11 places will be filled this evening [Wednesday] when more 3rd Round Qualifying matches are concluded.

Four times Champions Ajax are the high profile club most likely at risk of early elimination as they trail 1 - 0 to Sparta Prague after the first leg. Two times runners-up Valencia hold a 3 - 0 lead going into their home match against Elfsberg, so no chance of an upset there! Also in action are former winners Celtic and Benfica.

Enjoy!

The Soccer Blogger