A goal from Kuyt on the stroke of half-time proved enough as Liverpool took all three points on Matchday 1 of the Champions League. Fernando Torres, who played for the full 90 minutes, had a key role in the matchwinner, as it was his shot that was parried into the path of Kuyt.

Rafael Benitez fielded the same eleven players from Liverpool’s 4-0 win against Burnley at the weekend for the opening Champions League fixture at home to Debrecen. Fernando Torres spearheaded the Red attack as the Merseysiders looked to take maximum points from Wednesday’s group clash.

The home side controlled possession straight from the kick-off but struggled to make an impression against a combative Debrecen. The Hungarian champions sat back in defence and soaked up the early Liverpool pressure.

As the first-half passed, Debrecen’s confidence started to grow. Czvitkovics forced Pepe Reina to tip over his crossbar with an effort from the edge of the area. The resulting corner came to nothing, as the Reds continued to dominate the early exchanges. Liverpool were seeing plenty of the ball as Insua and Riera combined down the left to set-up Steven Gerrard whose shot flew just wide.

The Anfield club came very close to breaking the deadlock on 39 minutes. Riera’s shot was parried by Poleksic in the Debrecen goal, as Kuyt’s follow-up was blocked on the line.

The pressure finally paid of as Liverpool opened the scoring in first-half stoppage-time. Fernando Torres skipped past two challenges and although his shot was blocked by Poleksic, Dirk Kuyt was on-hand to pass the ball into the net.

Torres almost doubled the lead shortly after the restart. Johnson picked-out the Spaniard’s run, but the striker failed to force the ball over the line. In his intent to score, the Liverpool number ‘9’ picked-up a slight knock, though he was ok to carry on.

Liverpool had a good shout for a penalty turned down as Steven Gerrard went down under the challenge of Meszaros, who appeared to pull the midfielder’s shirt.

Debrecen were offering very little in the final third of the pitch as Torres at the other end almost set-up Benayoun for the Reds’ second. The Spaniard broke down the right but his pullback was blasted over the bar by the midfielder.

Although the winning margin was a small one, the result was never doubt, as Liverpool kick-off their 2009/10 Champions League campaign with a victory.


- Match Stats: Liverpool 1-0 Debrecen VSC

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Insua, Benayoun (Mascherano, 87), Lucas Leiva, Gerrard, Riera (Babel, 80), Kuyt, Torres

Booked: Gerrard

Goals: Kuyt 45

Debrecen: Poleksic, Bodnar, Komlosi, Meszaros, Fodor, Kiss, Ramos (Laczko, 67), Czvitkovics, Leandro, Szakaly (Feczesin, 79) Coulibaly

Booked: Fodor