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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: LIVERPOOL BEATS TOULOUSE 4-0 IN CHAMPIONS GROUP QUALIFIERS August 29, 2007
(SomaliNet) The Reds eased into the group stages of the Champions League with a comfortable 4-0 win over Toulouse at Anfield.
The Pool manger Rafa Benitez's side were already in pole position to qualify following their 1-0 win in the first leg in France, and any slight early nerves among Anfield faithful were dispelled when Peter Crouch stuck out a seemingly telescopic leg to put them ahead on 17 minutes.
Sami Hyypia headed home the second goal after being left totally unmarked from a corner, before Dirk Kuyt wrapped things up with two well-deserved goals in the final three minutes.
The advantage of the first leg was deemed sufficient to allow Sebastian Leto to make his home debut, and he fired in his side's first effort of the match, dragging his shot wide of the far post in the opening stages.
Such was Liverpool's dominance in possession early on that the first goal seemed just around the corner, and it seemed a far post header from Crouch on 15 minutes was destined for the back of the net, only for 'keeper Nicolas Douchez to scramble across his goal-line and claw the ball round the post.
The gangly striker got his revenge moments later though, his long legs proving beneficial as he stretched round Mohamed Fofana to deflect Kuyt's cross into the far corner.
Javier Mascherano and Mohamed Sissoko dominated the midfield battle, ensuring Toulouse's excursions into the Liverpool half were few and far between.
Indeed the hosts should have gone in with a greater advantage at the break, with Crouch heading over from a pinpoint cross from Yossi Benayoun, and then again from Alvaro Arbeloa.
Toulouse effectively ended their own hoped by gifting Hyypia the freedom of the penalty area from a corner, and the big Finn duly found the bottom right hand corner with an emphatic header.
On the one occasion Toulouse's main threat, Johan Elmander, was given a sight of goal, his effort was a tame one and easily gathered by Pepe Reina.
With the result no longer in doubt, the tempo dropped out of Liverpool's play until the introduction of Ryan Babel.
The Dutchman sent Riise haring down the left wing with ten minutes to go, and when his cross found Crouch, the big striker almost conjured a goal to remember, controlling the ball on his chest and tapping clear of Herita Ilunga before slamming a volley just over the bar.
Kuyt had hitherto been the provider for much of Liverpool's chances, though he was rewarded for his effort when he played a slick on-two with Babel, before rifling home a low shot that cannoned in off the far post.
The former Feyenoord man then rounded things off with a neat finish over the onrushing Douchez after being sent through by Benayoun in the final minute.-Eurosport