Toulouse 0 Liverpool 1:Andriy Voronin scored his first goal in competition for Liverpool as the five-times European champions made an important step towards the Champions League group stage with a 1-0 victory at Toulouse.

The Ukraine striker, who joined the Merseyside as a free agent from Bayer Leverkusen during the close season, struck two minutes from the interval with a clinical 25 yard drive.

The second leg will be played at Anfield in a fortnight's time.

Liverpool, who won their Premiership opener 2-1 at Aston Villa last weekend, started the game with record signing Fernando Torres on the bench.

The Reds were the first in action in scorching heat, with a Steven Gerrard free-kick shaving Nicolas Douchez's left post in the third minute.

Toulouse were no pushovers though and put pressure on Liverpool's defence through midfielder Achille Emana and forward Bryan Bergougnoux.

But it was the visitors and Voronin - one of the three Liverpool new signings to start the game with Ryan Babel and Yossi Benayoun - who opened the scoring.

The Ukrainian chested down Peter Crouch's flick on before firing it into Douchez's left top corner in the 43rd minute.

The hosts came close to draw level on the stroke of halftime when Emana's overhead kick went just wide.

Their coach Elie Baup made one change at the break, bringing in Fode Mansare in place of Bergougnoux.

Benitez replaced Benayoun with John Arne Riise and Gerrard with Momo Sissoko after Emana trod on the Liverpool skipper's foot.

Sweden striker Johan Elmander, who gave Toulouse a 1-0 win in Ligue 1 over six-times French champions Olympique Lyon last weekend, forced Pepe Reina to a superb save shortly after the hour-mark.

Torres made an appearance 12 minutes from time but despite looking dangerous he was unable to increase Liverpool's advantage.