Cole 1       Tanase 13

                                                                                                                  Lucas 81

Joe Cole’s first Liverpool goal set the Reds on their way to an emphatic Europa League Group K victory at Anfield.

He netted after only 25 seconds and although Liverpool failed to build on that advantage during the opening period, a strong second-half saw then home in style.

Cole latched onto Octavian Abrudan’s woefully-underhit backpass to sidefoot Liverpool into that early lead.

But Steaua levelled twelve minutes later, captain Cristian Tanase neatly dinking the ball past Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina from Bogdan Stancu’s precise pass.

Liverpool were restricted to long-range efforts until half-time but were already playing with more purpose when they were gifted a second goal on 55 minutes.

Steaua’s Greek striker Pantelis Kapetanos impeded compatriot Sotirios Krygiakos in front of the Kop and David Ngog slotted home the inevitable resultant penalty.

Stancu fashioned a half-chance for himself on 70 minutes but couldn’t place his shot either side of Reina.

And Liverpool’s dominance translated onto the scoreboard late on. On 81 minutes substitute Lucas miscontrolled a loose ball but was allowed a run-up to his spectacular 25-yard right-foot drive which flew home.

And Ngog grabbed his second goal, his fifth in this season’s competition, with a right-foot stoppage-time effort.