Voronin and Crouch celebrate at Toulouse. (Photo: AFP)
AUGUST 15
Benitez stays
calm after victory
BBC Sport Online
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez warned against
complacency after the win over Toulouse in the first leg of
their third round Champions League qualifier.
Andriy Voronin scored a spectacular winner in a 1-0 victory
for the Reds but Benitez said: "We must not think we are
already through.
"This tie is not yet over, it is just one goal.
"We know they are a very good side who like to
counter-attack, which is what they will try to do at
Anfield."
Voronin's strike saw him score his first competitive goal
for Liverpool since his free transfer in the summer from
Bayer Leverkusen.
"Andriy scored a wonderful goal, it summed up his qualities
as a very fine striker," added Benitez.
"He is clever, has great game awareness and gives us so many
more options in attack.
"He can play behind a main striker, lead the line himself,
or come into the attack from the flanks.
"And of course he can score truly great goals like that. But
we must not think this tie is over.
"We did a very professional job in a match played in
difficult conditions. It was so hot for the players and we
were having to give them water continually.
"But the referee stopped us throwing the bottles on to the
pitch. The players had to come to the sidelines to drink,
which was a little strange considering the conditions."
Toulouse coach Elie Baup had little complaint after
the game and he highlighted the heat and Liverpool's
experience as key factors in his side's defeat.
He said: "In those conditions it is hard to keep running and
trying to create things when you are playing against a side
with such experience and quality.
"Our players lack the experience of playing in this
competition and they found Liverpool's ability and technical
quality hard to cope with out there."
AUGUST 15
Carra not
complacent after Reds win
TEAMtalk
Jamie Carragher claimed Liverpool still had much work to
do to reach the Champions League group stage despite their
1-0 win in Toulouse.
Last season's beaten finalists overcame the French side 1-0
at the Municipal Stadium after Andriy Voronin struck in the
43rd minute.
The away goal gives the Reds a strong advantage ahead of the
return leg but Carragher insists the job is far from done.
Carragher told Setanta Sports: "Over the last few years we
have had good results away and then lost at home.
"It was far from great but the away goal makes it a lot
easier.
"It was a great goal from Andriy. We were not playing
particularly well in the first half but it was a great
finish."
AUGUST 15
Voronin seals Reds win
By Amanda Cornforth - Sky Sports
Andrei Voronin's strike earned Liverpool a 1-0 first-leg
advantage in their UEFA Champions League qualifier in
Toulouse.
The Reds edged closer to reaching the group stages of the
tournament as Voronin netted the winner in the 43rd minute
when he calmly powered the ball past Toulouse keeper Nicolas
Douchez following a through ball from Peter Crouch.
The game was not highly entertaining as Liverpool enjoyed
the upper hand of play with Toulouse's best chance coming
from an overhead kick from Achille Emana just before
half-time but his effort fell wide.
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard tried his hand at getting
on the score sheet as he saw two of his strikes soar over
the crossbar either side of the break.
Gerrard hit a 20-yard free-kick inches wide in the third
minute, but Liverpool were having to do a lot of running to
keep the hosts - who finished third in their domestic league
last season - at bay.
Captain Nicolas Dieuze needed his head heavily bandaged
after a clash of heads with Voronin, but that did not stop
the flow of Toulouse's football.
A slight error from Sami Hyypia allowed striker Johan
Elmander a 20-yard effort, which was held by Jose Reina
after a lunging tackle by Jamie Carragher had taken the
sting out of the shot.
In the 28th minute, Steve Finnan, Crouch and Benayoun worked
the ball down the right and when play was switched to the
left by Gerrard, Ryan Babel went on a fine run before laying
the ball back to the England man - but the shot was too
high.
Reina was only called into action to block a Paulo Cesar
break down the right in the opening half, which ended in
fine fashion for the visitors when Voronin made the
breakthrough in the 43rd minute.
Finnan's long ball was nodded down by Crouch, and with
Dieuze failing to react, Voronin lashed a rising drive into
the top corner of the home net.
Toulouse sent on Fode Mansare for Bryan Bergougnoux at the
break to give Elmander some more support up front.
Crouch was almost gifted a chance for a second goal when a
ball from Benayoun fell into his path, but as he tried to
take the ball round Douchez, the goalkeeper scooped it off
his foot.
Elmander was booked for a foul on Mascherano on the hour
mark and four minutes after that the Swedish striker finally
managed to evade the clutches of Hyypia and Carragher to
send in a flicked shot which was held by Reina.
Another decent chance fell Elmander's way in the 69th minute
when he sent an angled header over the top from Cesar's
cross.
Fernando Torres came on for his Champions League debut for
Liverpool late on as Rafa Benitez's men claimed a handy
advantage.
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