Jestrovic had clashed with the Mali international and, in front of the official, is claimed to have muttered "Fuck off, black" at Sissoko in the 75th minute. The Liverpool player claimed not to have understood what was said but the outburst was heard by Nielsen, who had no hesitation in dismissing the substitute before confirming to the Uefa delegate present, Knud Stadsgaard, that the abuse had been racial. The officials refused to comment publicly last night, but Jestrovic offered his version of events. "He [Sissoko] called me a son of a bitch," he said. "I told him to fuck off, and the referee sent me off. I do not understand why."
Anderlecht's coach Frank Vercauteren will wait for Nielsen's report to be filed to Uefa before deciding whether to take action against his striker, though he refused to criticise Jestrovic in the immediate aftermath.
"What was said occurs 50 times in an average match," he said, rather disturbingly. "It's possible [the abuse was racist]. I cannot approve of something like that but I think it happens a lot. I believe my player, so Sissoko should have gone off as well. He didn't say the same, but he said something also."
Jestrovic has been watched by Wigan, Sunderland and West Ham in recent weeks, though this may be reason to steer clear. His brief involvement was a distasteful way for a sumptuous Liverpool win to be remembered.
Had Chelsea beaten Real Betis in Seville then the holders would already have secured their passage into the last 16. Instead, with this convincing success pepping their confidence, qualification will have to wait at least until the Spanish club visit this arena on November 23. Liverpool will start that match on top of the group needing only a draw which, on this evidence, should be comfortably within their reach.
Such was Liverpool's dominance here in condemning Anderlecht to an 11th successive defeat in this competition that it remains a source of bewilderment as to why they stutter so when thrust back into domestic competition. A week earlier they had lost to Crystal Palace in the Carling Cup. Last night there was a swagger to their play which, once the Belgian side had been worn down in the opening half-hour, duly yielded reward.
That one of their stuttering strikers, Fernando Morientes, should break the deadlock was particularly welcome. Steven Gerrard's raking pass after 34 minutes found the Spaniard who, having eluded Hannu Tihinen and chested the ball into his own path, battered a stunning angled drive from the edge of the area which flew in off the far post.
It was Morientes's 27th Champions League goal yet only his sixth in 27 appearances for the Merseysiders since his £6m move from Real Madrid in January. When he was substituted early in the second period with a slight knee injury, the Kop afforded him a standing ovation.
The shame was that Peter Crouch could not follow his partner's lead. The £7m England striker missed three early chances and prodded a rebound wide after Silvio Proto had denied Morientes. His 13th Liverpool appearance ended like the others, goalless, and he watched as the smallest player on the pitch, Luis García, rise majestically to flick a header beyond Proto to double the home side's advantage. Djibril Cissé, Crouch's replacement, slid home the third goal a minute from time to add gloss to a dominant Liverpool display.
