MARSEILLE (France), Dec 12: Liverpool stormed through to the last 16 of the Champions League with a spectacular 4-0 win at Olympique Marseille in their final Group A match late on Tuesday.

Captain Steven Gerrard opened the scoring on four minutes, following up after his penalty was kept out by Marseille goalkeeper Steve Mandanda.

Spain striker Fernando Torres doubled the advantage with a fine solo effort seven minutes later and Dutch forward Dirk Kuyt made it 3-0 from close range following a poor Mandanda clearance early in the second half. Substitute winger Ryan Babel then wrapped it up in added time.

Marseille, who had stunned Liverpool 1-0 at Anfield in October, looked nervous from the kickoff and will have to be content with finishing third in the group and continue in the UEFA Cup.

Marseille, the 1993 European champions, started the match with a perfect 6-0 home record against English clubs in European club competitions but their hopes were short-lived on a cold, windy night.

The home side had already survived a few scares when defender Gael Givet had no other option than to bring down Gerrard in the box, which led to the visitors’ first goal.

Torres soon increased the five-times champions’ lead, twisting his way through three defenders and racing into the area to beat Mandanda with a low angled shot.

CLUMSY MANDANDA

Marseille hardly created a chance in the first half and suffered shortly before the break with a couple of great opportunities for the visitors, Gerrard narrowly missing the target from a free kick and midfielder Harry Kewell then firing just over the bar.

The second half was under way for only three minutes when a clumsy Mandanda kicked the ball straight to Kewell, who set up Kuyt in the box for their third goal.

Marseille’s best chance came on 64 minutes when a header from substitute forward Djibril Cisse went just wide.

Liverpool, who had lost their unbeaten Premier League record on Saturday following a 3-1 defeat at mid-table Reading, had started their European campaign in poor fashion.

They recovered beautifully, however, and have now scored now scored 16 goals from their last three European outings.

The comfortable win provided Liverpool with a fine start to a huge week on all fronts.

Coach Rafael Benitez will now meet the club’s American owners, when a certain amount of grovelling might be in order after his recent public criticism.

Then on Sunday, Liverpool host Manchester United in the Premier League. Already trailing leaders Arsenal by seven points, defeat against United would seriously hamper their chances of winning a first league title since 1990.—Reuters