Reds 1-0 Debrechen

Liverpool's Champions League campaign is off to a winning start following a 1-0 triumph over Debrecen. The Reds produced a patient, confident display against the Hungarian champions to notch up their 100th win in the European Cup courtesy of Dirk Kuyt's first-half goal.

It means the home side marked Rafael Benitez's 300th match in charge with victory and ensured they got their Group E campaign off to the perfect start.

Fresh from an emphatic 4-0 victory over Burnley at the weekend, it was no surprise to see the five-time winners of the competition take control from the kick-off.

First Fernando Torres drilled just over with a snap shot from 25 yards before Laszlo Bodnar headed clear after Lucas Leiva had flicked a right-wing free-kick goalwards.

Both of these opportunities arrived in the first five minutes and it set tone for the remainder of the match with Liverpool patiently probing, while Debrecen worked hard to keep the Reds at bay.

On 13 minutes Kuyt took advantage of the space created by Albert Riera's quick free-kick to fire a low shot wide of the near post before the Spaniard scuffed his attempt off target after the visitors had failed to deal with the danger caused by Glen Johnson's rampaging run.

It was the one-way traffic that had been predicted, although the away side did manage to force a corner midway through the half, much to the delight of the Hungarian support.

The cheer of joy could even have been followed by a thunderous roar, but Bodnar miscued his 20 yarder into the Kop after the Reds had only half-cleared Peter Czvitkovics' pacy set piece.

The chance gave Andras Herczeg's men a visible lift and Czvitkovics went even closer with a stinging drive that Pepe Reina was forced to tip over the crossbar. The Reds stopper was then called into action again on 33 minutes when he comfortably gathered Bodnar's speculative 40-yard free-kick.

As an attacking threat the away side had mustered more in the first period than their followers would have hoped for, but as the half drew to a close the Reds began to press for the all-important opener.

A flurry of goalmouth incident in the final seven minutes of the first 45 eventually brought the reward the hosts deserved.

Riera started off the spell of intense pressure when his low shot was beaten away by Vukasin Poleksic, with Kuyt seeing his attempt to tuck home the rebound hacked off the line.

The Spanish winger was looking more and more dangerous and his long range piledriver just seconds later was again superbly pushed to safety by Debrecen's 'keeper before Steven Gerrard powered a header over the top from the resulting corner.

Liverpool continued to knock on the door but Gerrard slid his effort inches wide after Emiliano Insua and Albert Riera had carved the away side open down the left.

It had been a first period of missed opportunities but just when it seemed the visitors would go in at the break all-square, Liverpool finally carved out the opportunity that broke the deadlock.

A neat turn and shot from Torres was fumbled by Poleksic allowing Kuyt to close in and fire home the rebound. It was the Dutchman's third of the season and a strike that saw him become the joint-third highest scorer for the club in the European Cup.

The mood within the stadium was immediately lifted and it almost erupted on 54 minutes when Gerrard fizzed a sensational 25 yard volley just over.

Next it was Yossi Benayoun, fresh from his hat-trick heroics at the weekend, who went close to doubling the lead on 65 minutes but his near post shot was palmed away by Poleksic after the Israeli had danced his way into the area with a weaving run.

The midfielder then picked himself up and delivered a pinpoint corner that Lucas met with a firm header that flew just beyond the upright.

Liverpool's dominance was not being reflected on the scoresheet and they were almost caught on the break late on when Adamo Coulibaly broke the offside trap, only to miscue his attempted lob over Reina.
Benayoun then crashed a shot over the top following good work from substitute Ryan Babel and Torres as the Reds held on to secure a narrow victory that puts them in the Group E driving seat.