Voronin celebrates his goal with Peter Crouch

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Andrei Voronin's strike earned Liverpool a 1-0 first-leg advantage in their UEFA Champions League qualifier in Toulouse.

The Reds edged closer to reaching the group stages of the tournament as Voronin netted the winner in the 43rd minute when he calmly powered the ball past Toulouse keeper Nicolas Douchez following a through ball from Peter Crouch.

The game was not highly entertaining as Liverpool enjoyed the upper hand of play with Toulouse's best chance coming from an overhead kick from Achille Emana just before half-time but his effort fell wide.

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard tried his hand at getting on the score sheet as he saw two of his strikes soar over the crossbar either side of the break.

Gerrard hit a 20-yard free-kick inches wide in the third minute, but Liverpool were having to do a lot of running to keep the hosts - who finished third in their domestic league last season - at bay.

Hyypia error

Captain Nicolas Dieuze needed his head heavily bandaged after a clash of heads with Voronin, but that did not stop the flow of Toulouse's football.

A slight error from Sami Hyypia allowed striker Johan Elmander a 20-yard effort, which was held by Jose Reina after a lunging tackle by Jamie Carragher had taken the sting out of the shot.

In the 28th minute, Steve Finnan, Crouch and Benayoun worked the ball down the right and when play was switched to the left by Gerrard, Ryan Babel went on a fine run before laying the ball back to the England man - but the shot was too high.

Reina was only called into action to block a Paulo Cesar break down the right in the opening half, which ended in fine fashion for the visitors when Voronin made the breakthrough in the 43rd minute.

Finnan's long ball was nodded down by Crouch, and with Dieuze failing to react, Voronin lashed a rising drive into the top corner of the home net.

Crouch gift

Toulouse sent on Fode Mansare for Bryan Bergougnoux at the break to give Elmander some more support up front.

Crouch was almost gifted a chance for a second goal when a ball from Benayoun fell into his path, but as he tried to take the ball round Douchez, the goalkeeper scooped it off his foot.

Elmander was booked for a foul on Mascherano on the hour mark and four minutes after that the Swedish striker finally managed to evade the clutches of Hyypia and Carragher to send in a flicked shot which was held by Reina.

Another decent chance fell Elmander's way in the 69th minute when he sent an angled header over the top from Cesar's cross.

Fernando Torres came on for his Champions League debut for Liverpool late on as Rafa Benitez's men claimed a handy advantage.

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