Liverpool's positive start to the season is good news for coach Rafael Benitez after a busy off-season of big spending, but it was free signing Andriy Voronin who paved the way for European progress on Wednesday.

The five-times European champions have one foot in the group stage of the Champions League after the Ukraine striker's sublime first-half strike was enough to give his side a 1-0 victory at Toulouse in their third qualifying round first leg encounter.

Voronin, who joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen as a free agent during the close season, is one of the four major new recruits at the club along with Spain striker Fernando Torres, Dutch forward Ryan Babel and Israel's playmaker Yossi Benayoun.

Liverpool have spent around £40 million on players since the end of last season after being taken over in March by US sports tycoons George Gillett and Tom Hicks.

The pair are making plans for a new stadium in the city's Stanley Park and have provided Benitez with transfer funds to help the 18-times English champions bring an end to a 17-year domestic title drought.

Liverpool opened their league campaign with a 2-1 victory at Aston Villa last weekend.

In Toulouse, Voronin played alongside strike partner Peter Crouch and he was on target two minutes from half-time with an impressive 25-metre drive.

"It was a fantastic goal and Andriy showed the quality he has," Benitez told a news conference on Wednesday.

The Liverpool manager believes Voronin's arrival gives him more tactical possibilities.

"He is different from the strikers we have as he has game intelligence, he links up the play well and he can score goals," he said.

With Torres and Dutch striker Dirk Kuyt starting on the bench, the Merseysiders were not short of options.

"All strikers are different. Now I can change and look for different things," said Benitez, who may be tempted to field Torres and Kuyt against Chelsea in the Premier League at Anfield on Sunday.

Gerrard suffers hairline toe fracture

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is doubtful for England's friendly with Germany on Wednesday after suffering a hairline fracture of the toe in the Champions League qualifier against Toulouse.

Gerrard is expected to play for Liverpool against Chelsea at Anfield on Sunday with the aid of a pain-killing injection but manager Rafael Benitez says the midfielder may have to pull out of the England game.

"I think he will be available for the weekend, but if we push him for that he will have to rest afterwards," Benitez said yesterday.

"It's not serious but we have to be careful. It's not a big risk but we can push him and then he needs rest.

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