Joe Cole scored his first goal for Liverpool to help them beat Steaua Bucharest in their Europa League tie.
The Reds playmaker steered in a shot only 27 seconds in after pouncing on a poor backpass by Octavian Abrudan.
Steaua equalised when Cristian Tanase chipped over on-rushing keeper Pepe Reina but a David Ngog penalty restored the Reds' lead.
A stunning Lucas Leiva 22-yard strike and a late angled Ngog effort completed the home side's victory.
While the Europa League is not a priority for Liverpool, their
manager Roy Hodgson
will be using the games in the competition to judge some of the players on the fringes of his squad.
However, for Cole, the club's European games have allowed him to keep up his match fitness while serving a domestic ban for his dismissal in the club's league opener against Arsenal.
Cole will be available again to play Manchester United on Sunday and showed flashes of the imagination the Reds want him to bring into their team.
He was allowed to give the home side a perfect start when he ran on to Abrudan's tame backpass and guided his effort into the far corner.
Liverpool midfielder Jay Spearing sent a long range strike fizzing just over before the Romanian side hit back in style.
Bogdan Stancu slid a pass in for Tanase, who nonchalantly dinked the ball over Reina.
The goal gave Steaua a renewed confidence and belief as they showed some of the attacking intent promised by manager Ilie Dumistrescu.
Lucas powers in a shot for a rare goal for him
Dumitrescu had spells at Tottenham and West Ham in his playing career and, when at Spurs he was part of the attack-orientated team put together by their former manager Ossie Ardiles.
Steaua were not quite as gung-ho but had a threat, purpose and pace about them on occasion as they tried to catch Liverpool out on the counter-attack.
The home side had some nervous moments at the back before they reasserted their authority after the break.
They were rewarded when Ngog converted a penalty following a foul on Sotirios Kyrgiakos by Pantelis Kapetanos.
Raul Meireles was making his first start for the Merseysiders and he had a well-struck 20-yard shot smartly saved by Ciprian Tatarusanu.
Steaua's keeper, though, had no chance when substitute Lucas ran on to the ball 22 yards out and unleashed a ferocious strike before Ngog put a further gloss on Liverpool's win.
90:00+2:40 Daniel Pacheco takes a shot from long range which goes wide of the right-hand post.
90:00+2:11 Short corner worked by Daniel Pacheco.
Correction - 90:00+0:37 Assist on the goal came from Jay Spearing.
Correction - 90:00+0:37 GOAL - David Ngog:Liverpool 4 - 1 Steaua Bucharest David Ngog grabs a goal from the edge of the area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Liverpool 4-1 Steaua Bucuresti.
90:00+0:37 Jay Spearing provided the assist for the goal.
90:00+0:37 GOAL - David Ngog:Liverpool 4 - 1 Steaua Bucharest David Ngog scores a goal from just inside the area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Liverpool 4-1 Steaua Bucuresti.
90:00 The final whistle is blown by the referee.
89:58 Daniel Agger takes the free kick.
89:58 Booking Bonfim Eder is shown a yellow card.
89:51 Bonfim Eder gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Nathan Eccleston.
89:32 Unfair challenge on Iasmin Latovlevici by Daniel Pacheco results in a free kick. Iasmin Latovlevici restarts play with the
free kick.
88:09 The ball is crossed by Paul Konchesky, Alves Geraldo makes a clearance.
87:10 Substitution Nathan Eccleston on for Joe Cole.
85:09 Eric Bicfalvi gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on David Ngog. Daniel Pacheco crosses the ball in from the free
kick, save by Cristian Tatarusanu.
84:01 Substitution (Liverpool) makes a substitution, with Daniel Pacheco coming on for Rodriguez Maxi.
84:01 Corner taken by Joe Cole.
83:13 Bonfim Eder sends in a cross, save by Jose Reina.
82:25 The ball is delivered by Cristian Tanase, save by Jose Reina.
82:21 A cross is delivered by Bonfim Eder, Martin Kelly makes a clearance.
81:59 Unfair challenge on Banel Nicolita by Leiva Lucas results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Bonfim Eder.
81:31 Rodriguez Maxi sends in a cross, Bonfim Eder makes a clearance.
80:27 GOAL - Leiva Lucas:Liverpool 3 - 1 Steaua Bucharest Leiva Lucas grabs a goal from outside the penalty area to the top right corner of the goal. Liverpool 3-1 Steaua Bucuresti.
79:10 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Iasmin Latovlevici by Leiva Lucas. Cristian Tanase delivers the ball from the
free kick right-footed from left wing.
78:49 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Bonfim Eder by David Ngog. Cristian Tatarusanu takes the direct free kick.
78:39 Joe Cole crosses the ball, Alves Geraldo makes a clearance.
77:17 Substitution (Liverpool) makes a substitution, with Leiva Lucas coming on for Ryan Babel.
77:04 Effort from the edge of the box by Sotirios Kyrgiakos goes wide of the left-hand upright.
76:40 Rodriguez Maxi takes a short corner.
76:15 Banel Nicolita gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Paul Konchesky. Free kick taken by Paul Konchesky.
75:46 Effort from the edge of the area by Cristian Tanase goes wide of the right-hand post.
72:04 Cristian Tatarusanu restarts play with the free kick.
72:04 Substitution Romeo Surdu comes on in place of Mihai Radut.
72:04 Joe Cole is flagged offside by the assistant referee.
71:34 Rodriguez Maxi takes a inswinging corner to the near post, Eric Bicfalvi makes a clearance.
71:25 The ball is swung over by Ryan Babel, Bonfim Eder manages to make a clearance.
70:04 Eric Bicfalvi challenges Joe Cole unfairly and gives away a free kick. Rodriguez Maxi restarts play with the free kick.
69:31 Bogdan Stancu takes a shot. Save made by Jose Reina.
66:17 Outswinging corner taken by Rodriguez Maxi from the right by-line played to the near post, clearance made by Banel Nicolita.
64:18 Raul Meireles takes a shot. Cristian Tatarusanu makes a save.
63:36 Eric Bicfalvi is penalised for a handball. Paul Konchesky takes the direct free kick.
63:20 Centre by Bonfim Eder, Daniel Agger manages to make a clearance.
62:19 Free kick taken by Alves Geraldo.
62:19 Booking Rodriguez Maxi is shown a yellow card.
61:55 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Iasmin Latovlevici by Rodriguez Maxi.
58:19 Cristian Tanase concedes a free kick for a foul on Rodriguez Maxi. Rodriguez Maxi takes the free kick.
57:34 Joe Cole gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Eric Bicfalvi. Direct free kick taken by Bogdan Stancu.
57:23 A cross is delivered by Raul Meireles, save made by Cristian Tatarusanu.
55:15 GOAL - David Ngog:Liverpool 2 - 1 Steaua Bucharest Placed penalty scored by David Ngog. Liverpool 2-1 Steaua Bucuresti.
54:16 Booking Booking for Pantelis Kapetanos for unsporting behaviour.
53:34 Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Rodriguez Maxi, Pantelis Kapetanos gives away a Penalty for an unfair challenge
on Sotirios Kyrgiakos.
52:40 Foul by Ryan Babel on Bonfim Eder, free kick awarded. Free kick crossed left-footed by Iasmin Latovlevici from right wing,
clearance by Raul Meireles.
50:56 Free kick taken by Paul Konchesky.
50:56 Substitution Bonfim Eder is brought on as a substitute for Stanislav Angelov.
50:56 The referee gives a free kick against Pantelis Kapetanos for handball.
50:41 Ryan Babel takes a shot. Blocked by Alves Geraldo.
49:19 Outswinging corner taken by Rodriguez Maxi, Header by David Ngog from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the
target.
48:09 Joe Cole challenges Alves Geraldo unfairly and gives away a free kick. Alves Geraldo takes the direct free kick.
47:45 Rodriguez Maxi takes a shot. Save made by Cristian Tatarusanu.
46:55 Ryan Babel gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Eric Bicfalvi. Banel Nicolita takes the direct free kick.
45:01 The second half begins.
Half Time
45:00+0:47 Eric Bicfalvi fouled by Joe Cole, the ref awards a free kick. Eric Bicfalvi restarts play with the free kick.
45:00+0:15 Joe Cole challenges Octavian Abrudan unfairly and gives away a free kick. Cristian Tatarusanu restarts play with the free
kick.
45:00 The half-time whistle blows.
44:00 Paul Konchesky produces a strike on goal direct from the free kick.
44:00 Booking Booking for Octavian Abrudan.
43:38 Octavian Abrudan challenges Rodriguez Maxi unfairly and gives away a free kick.
40:41 The ball is sent over by Bogdan Stancu.
39:33 Ryan Babel takes a shot. Cristian Tatarusanu makes a comfortable save.
38:53 Rodriguez Maxi takes a shot. Comfortable save by Cristian Tatarusanu.
37:13 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Banel Nicolita by Raul Meireles. Free kick taken by Eric Bicfalvi.
35:56 Stanislav Angelov fouled by David Ngog, the ref awards a free kick. Eric Bicfalvi takes the direct free kick.
35:33 Ryan Babel takes a shot. Cristian Tatarusanu makes a comfortable save.
34:10 Foul by David Ngog on Alves Geraldo, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Alves Geraldo.
33:05 Cristian Tanase gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jay Spearing. Free kick taken by Sotirios Kyrgiakos.
32:33 Joe Cole takes a shot. Cristian Tatarusanu makes a comfortable save.
30:11 The ball is crossed by Martin Kelly, clearance made by Stanislav Angelov.
28:02 Daniel Agger challenges Pantelis Kapetanos unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Mihai Radut.
23:27 Foul by Octavian Abrudan on David Ngog, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Paul Konchesky.
22:27 Corner taken right-footed by Rodriguez Maxi to the near post, clearance made by Bogdan Stancu.
21:03 Iasmin Latovlevici delivers the ball in from the corner.
20:56 The ball is crossed by Banel Nicolita, Daniel Agger makes a clearance.
18:15 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Joe Cole by Eric Bicfalvi. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Rodriguez
Maxi from left channel.
17:31 Pantelis Kapetanos is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Jose Reina takes the free kick.
15:22 Bogdan Stancu takes a shot. Daniel Agger gets a block in.
12:46 Bogdan Stancu provided the assist for the goal.
12:46 GOAL - Cristian Tanase:Liverpool 1 - 1 Steaua Bucharest Cristian Tanase grabs a goal from inside the area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Liverpool 1-1 Steaua Bucuresti.
12:09 The assistant referee signals for offside against David Ngog. Octavian Abrudan restarts play with the free kick.
8:14 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Paul Konchesky by Mihai Radut. Jose Reina takes the free kick.
6:52 Jay Spearing takes a shot from a long way out clearing the bar.
4:25 Outswinging corner taken by Rodriguez Maxi, Sotirios Kyrgiakos takes a shot. Blocked by Octavian Abrudan.
1:16 Raul Meireles fouled by Pantelis Kapetanos, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Paul Konchesky.
0:25 GOAL - Joe Cole:Liverpool 1 - 0 Steaua Bucharest Joe Cole fires in a goal from the edge of the penalty area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Liverpool 1-0 Steaua Bucuresti.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
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