PERHAPS it is true; perhaps there are no easy games left in the European arena. Making hard work of seemingly straightforward tasks is de rigeur for the English at present but as any self-respecting manager will tell you, a win is a win.

Having succeeded in scoring in a European tie for the first time in four games, Liverpool will presumably move forward into the next round of the Cup Winners" Cup at a canter, something which will probably erase the memory of this, a less than distinguished performance.

The bunting had been put up early in Anjalankoski, a small town lost in the forestlands of southern Finland. Liverpool had arrived and by introspective Finnish standards the carnival was in full flow. Shame then, it was to prove such a disappointing experience.

The Saviniemi Stadium, with its one rickety stand and its makeshift terracing, was, of course, full. Liverpool's standing in Scandinavia is such that all 5,000 tickets had been disposed of within 19 minutes of the box office rolling up its shutters.

Mypa attempted to stifle Liverpool by man marking Fowler, Collymore and the side's heart beat McManaman. As it was an understandable tactic, it was also an inflexible one which dramatically reduced the home team's ability to draw anything even resembling a surprise from within a very limited box of tricks.

Had Liverpool struck early, Mypa may have folded in the traditional and prescribed manner.

Chances came, but against a defence boasting the butcher, baker and candlestick maker, that was always likely to happen. Liverpool worked the ball out of defence reasonably well, but it was an inability to punch holes in Mypa's back line which so startled those shivering beneath the fir trees.

After Fowler and McAteer had stabbed shots wide, Liverpool's best openings began to fall to those least well equipped to take advantage. It is ever so when a team is trying to push square objects into round holes. The best chance of what was a tawdry opening half came late on, but even though goalkeeper, Jakonen spilled a Bjornebye corner, Babb was unable to turn in.

The harder Liverpool tried to fashion a break through, the less likely one seemed, which made the events of the 61st minute all the more surprising. Thirty seconds after Collymore had mystifyingly side footed wide from a matter of a few feet, Liverpool scored to belatedly splash colour across a bleak canvas. Fine goal it was, too.

McAteer's first meaningful cross of the evening was only half cleared and fell to Bjornebye who swept in from 16 yards. At last, Mypa's resolve began to weaken; at last, they began to contemplate capitulation.

As Finnish flesh began to tire, Fowler's delicious lob bounced on the cross bar and Thomas's sweet drive struck the outside of a post. But further goals would have served only to unduly flatter Liverpool.

They deserved to win but most certainly not by a landslide.