Morientes looking the part at last

Steven Gerrard, failing to score for the first time in these qualifying rounds, made all three goals as Liverpool won their fifth successive game in this summer’s return to the competition. With their Barclays Premiership campaign starting away to Middlesbrough on Saturday evening, however, it was the sight of Morientes producing his best form since the first days of his career at Anfield last winter that will have most refreshed Liverpool hearts. It was as if a final piece of a jigsaw had dropped in.

CSKA Sofia would not trouble many teams in the top half of the Premiership, but Liverpool still had to overcome their toughest obstacle this season. Morientes, who has barely played at full tempo in his three previous cameo performances, looked a striker ready to challenge the best.

Djibril Cissé scored Liverpool’s opening goal midway through the first period, with his fourth in successive games, but the evening ended on a sour note when the striker’s every touch was greeted with monkey chants from home supporters. Benítez said: “Always it’s a pity to hear these things, but I think that Uefa have done their job. In the end, I think it is bad for football.”

Ian Cotton, the Liverpool press officer, said: “The Uefa delegate [Trygve Borno, from Norway] has made it clear to the club that he will include mention of the monkey chanting that started in the 78th minute in his report.” Miodrag Jesic, the CSKA coach, declined to comment.

Sami Hyypia, the former captain whose present contract is due to expire next summer, will sign a new three-year deal today upon the team’s return to Merseyside and Liverpool looked a more resolute defensive unit last night despite CSKA dominating the opening quarter of the match with some slick interplay between their attacking quartet.

Liverpool, slowly but surely, played their way into the game, with Gerrard firing a couple of sighters from outside the penalty area. When once more the ball fell his way within range in the 26th minute, the captain made to shoot but, instead, cunningly slipped the ball into the path of Cissé, who drilled his left-foot shot in at the near post.

It was as if all the air went out of CSKA’s balloon. Within five minutes, Liverpool scored again and the tie looked all but dead. Benítez has been urging his team to provide Morientes with more ammunition and after Steve Finnan was felled by Tiago Silva wide on the right, Gerrard swung over the free kick from which the Spain striker rose high to head in.

Although Velizar Dimitrov headed in Mourad Hidiouad’s centre to make it 2-1, Morientes could have scored again either side of the interval, glancing wide another cross from Gerrard, then striking a shot against a post when sent clear by Xabi Alonso.

Morientes made amends in the 58th minute at the culmination of a fine move. Gerrard, having slipped the ball wide to Cissé, took down the ensuing centre on his chest, turned past his man and laid the ball across goal for Morientes, who swivelled to shoot underneath Evgheni Hmaruc in the CSKA goal.

“It’s always important for a player to score goals but for a striker, it’s even more so,” Benítez said. “I think for the future, it is especially good Fernando scored because it will give him confidence.”

Morientes ran to the touchline to be greeted by a celebratory hug from Milan Baros. The substitute’s delight may have contained an element of relief; the Spaniard’s goalscoring efforts had precluded the need for the player to become cup-tied by entering the fray. He thus remains eligible for European competition for any club that he might join.

Of more significance for Liverpool was the group stage of the Champions League homing into view before they have started their campaign to compete for the Premiership title.