by Alex Dunn
Liverpool's defence of the UEFA Champions League stays on course after they came from behind in Lithuania to beat FBK Kaunas 3-1.
Rafa Benitez's European champions never had to be at their best to beat a very mediocre Kaunas side but nevertheless had to show resilience after falling behind to a scuffy Giedrius Barevicius finish on twenty minutes.
Liverpool's response will please Benitez as goals from Djibril Cisse and Jamie Carragher saw them claim an advantage before a second half Steven Gerrard penalty put the game, and most likely the tie, beyond Kaunas.
The opening exchanges were typically cagey but if Liverpool's attacking was slightly labourious then Sami Hyypia's reaction to a Kaunas break was positively ponderous.
Artusas Rimkevicius's scampering run down the right caught the big Finn flat footed and after reaching the byline, his cutback was bundled home by Barevicius from close range.
The 8,300 capacity crowd rose to their feet and then were forced to sit down again just six minutes later when Cisse found a leveller.
Xabi Alonso's imperious pass found Bolo Zenden down the left flank and from the Dutchman's arched cross, debutant Peter Crouch and Cisse showed the early promise of a fledgling partnership.
Crouch's header was perfectly placed into the path of Cisse and reacting with predatory poise, the Frenchman stabbed the ball past Eduardas Kurkis from ten yards.
On 29 minutes and Liverpool were ahead. A previously peripheral Gerrard sent in a corner and ghosting in at the near post, Carragher flicked a firm header home for his first goal in six years.
Liverpool dominated possession for the rest of the half but could have been caught out again five minutes before the break, when Barevicius flashed the ball wide with a majestic acrobatic effort.
Cisse then saw an effort cleared off the line when he charged through on goal and stabbed the ball beyond Kaunas, but not the retreating defender.
With Liverpool in the ascendancy the second period proved a largely sterile affair as the home side struggled to break Liverpool's dominance of possession.
Cisse could have added his second but prodded a tepid effort wide and then Gerrard made his most striking contribution of the night, in both winning and dispatching a penalty in the 53rd minute.
A characteristic surging run ended with the Liverpool skipper being dumped to the turf by Mindaugas Baguzis' clumsy challenge and from the resulting spot-kick - Gerrard planted the ball to Kaunas' left.
Zenden flashed a couple of efforts wide as he searched for his first Liverpool goal and Cisse should have registered from a cute pass from Luis Garcia, but as an unspectacular game drew to its close, it was very much job done for Benitez and his side.
Liverpool's defence of the UEFA Champions League stays on course after they came from behind in Lithuania to beat FBK Kaunas 3-1.
Rafa Benitez's European champions never had to be at their best to beat a very mediocre Kaunas side but nevertheless had to show resilience after falling behind to a scuffy Giedrius Barevicius finish on twenty minutes.
Liverpool's response will please Benitez as goals from Djibril Cisse and Jamie Carragher saw them claim an advantage before a second half Steven Gerrard penalty put the game, and most likely the tie, beyond Kaunas.
The opening exchanges were typically cagey but if Liverpool's attacking was slightly labourious then Sami Hyypia's reaction to a Kaunas break was positively ponderous.
Artusas Rimkevicius's scampering run down the right caught the big Finn flat footed and after reaching the byline, his cutback was bundled home by Barevicius from close range.
The 8,300 capacity crowd rose to their feet and then were forced to sit down again just six minutes later when Cisse found a leveller.
Xabi Alonso's imperious pass found Bolo Zenden down the left flank and from the Dutchman's arched cross, debutant Peter Crouch and Cisse showed the early promise of a fledgling partnership.
Crouch's header was perfectly placed into the path of Cisse and reacting with predatory poise, the Frenchman stabbed the ball past Eduardas Kurkis from ten yards.
On 29 minutes and Liverpool were ahead. A previously peripheral Gerrard sent in a corner and ghosting in at the near post, Carragher flicked a firm header home for his first goal in six years.
Liverpool dominated possession for the rest of the half but could have been caught out again five minutes before the break, when Barevicius flashed the ball wide with a majestic acrobatic effort.
Cisse then saw an effort cleared off the line when he charged through on goal and stabbed the ball beyond Kaunas, but not the retreating defender.
With Liverpool in the ascendancy the second period proved a largely sterile affair as the home side struggled to break Liverpool's dominance of possession.
Cisse could have added his second but prodded a tepid effort wide and then Gerrard made his most striking contribution of the night, in both winning and dispatching a penalty in the 53rd minute.
A characteristic surging run ended with the Liverpool skipper being dumped to the turf by Mindaugas Baguzis' clumsy challenge and from the resulting spot-kick - Gerrard planted the ball to Kaunas' left.
Zenden flashed a couple of efforts wide as he searched for his first Liverpool goal and Cisse should have registered from a cute pass from Luis Garcia, but as an unspectacular game drew to its close, it was very much job done for Benitez and his side.
