Glen Johnson marked his home debut with a goal and a man of the match award as Liverpool secured their first victory of the season with a 4-0 win over Stoke City at Anfield.
The England full-back reacted quickest on the stroke of half-time to fire Dirk Kuyt's blocked header over the line with a finely executed volley.
Fernando Torres had earlier put the Reds into the lead with a cool finish after only four minutes following fine work by Steven Gerrard.
The captain was heavily involved in Liverpool's third as a majestic turn allowed him to set up a 78th minute tap in for Dirk Kuyt, before David Ngog headed home late on to cap a fine night's work for the home side.
Rafa Benitez was forced into a defensive reshuffle before the game with Martin Skrtel sidelined by the injury he picked up against Tottenham Hotspur. Youngster Daniel Ayala was drafted into the centre of defence to partner Jamie Carragher and make his first ever start for the Liverpool first team.
The Reds were visibly keen to return to winning ways following the defeat at White Hart Lane, and they made a positive start to the game, with Lucas forcing a save from Thomas Sorensen thanks to a low drive from the edge of the area.
The early pressure paid dividends after just four minutes when Gerrard's surge into the right channel of the penalty area saw the skipper deliver a teasing pull-back into the centre, where the lurking Torres turned the ball into the back of the net from 10 yards.
A dream start for Benitez's charges, and it almost got even better in the 21st minute when Gerrard released Torres into the right channel on a lightening quick counter-attack from a Stoke free-kick.
The Spaniard's dangerous cross was flicked on by Kuyt and found its way to the unmarked Emiliano Insua at the back stick, but the defender pushed the ball wide of the post.
He went close again when compatriot Javier Mascherano's superb long-ball picked out the run of the Reds' No.22, but his cross-turned-shot was blocked by Sorensen, before Glen Johnson stabbed wide from the edge of the box moments later.
Torres was forced to leave the field on 37 minutes after sustaining a wound to the head following an aerial challenge with Stoke centre-back Ryan Shawcross and, just as Carragher had done against Spurs, El Nino returned to the action having required stitches to the injury.
The striker was straight back into the thick of the things though, and only the boot of Shawcross prevented his run and shot from testing Sorensen - but the Reds did not have to wait long to double their advantage.
After the resulting corner was cleared for a second flag-kick, Gerrard's centre picked out Kuyt, whose powerful downward header was blocked on the line.
However, Johnson was on hand to spectacularly volley the loose ball into the net and mark his league debut for Liverpool at Anfield with a goal.
Stoke made a bright start to the second period and Rory Delap's powerful strike from the edge of the area was expertly palmed around the post by Pepe Reina at full stretch. Then, a brilliant last ditch clearance by Johnson prevented Richard Cresswell from turning the ball over the line as the Potters continue to press.
But the home side soon regained control and should have furthered their lead on 54 minutes. Sorensen could only parry Gerrard's long-range strike into the path of Kuyt. With the goal at his mercy, the Dutchman unfortunately could not adjust his body quickly enough to direct the ball into the empty net.
Liverpool were enjoying their football and Kuyt's driven cross narrowly evaded Torres in the centre before the Reds' No.9 brought a save out of the visitors' stopper with a clipped effort.
Sorensen then thwarted Johnson after the full-back struck a left-footed shot goalwards following another trademark surge forward - the former Portsmouth man was clearly relishing his Anfield bow.
The Potters' custodian again had to be alert soon after to tip over as Shawcross inadvertently directed Gerrard's cross toward his own goal.
The moment of the match arrived with 12 minutes left on the Anfield scoreboard as Gerrard produced a simply sublime piece of skill to set up Kuyt for Liverpool's third of the evening.
Latching on to Mascherano's ball over the top, the skipper superbly spun beyond Matthew Etherington before squaring across the face of goal for Kuyt to tap home.
Substitute Ngog headed a late fourth in stoppage-time after Johnson's cross was turned into his path by Sorensen.
It was a fitting end to an excellent night's work for the Reds.
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