Ngog 17, 59

Liverpool began their potentially season-long Europa League campaign with this comfortable victory in the Macedonian capital Skopje, in manager Roy Hodgson’s first competitive game in charge of the Reds.

Young French striker David Ngog grabbed a goal in each half as Liverpool’s inexperienced side might light of the absence of nine internationals, including Steven Gerrard and the rest of the Reds’ England contingent.

Hodgson handed a debut to his first Liverpool signing, Serbian striker Milan Jovanovic. But otherwise, the side had something of a ‘Carling Cup’ look to it, but after some early rustiness, they were in reasonable control of proceedings.

They took the lead on 17 minutes when Ngog converted Lucas Leiva’s free-kick after disorganised defending allowed him time and space to lift his shot over goalkeeper Martin Bogatinov.

It was by far the clearest chance of a first-half where sights of goal were at a premium, Liverpool’s stand-in keeper Diego Cavalieri having an extremely quiet 45 minutes, with only fellow-Brazilian Filho Ze Carlos’s long-range shot to deal with..

Shortly before the hour mark Ngog doubled his tally and Liverpool’s advantage with a well-struck close-range shot into the top corner of the net from Martin Kelly’s accurate right-wing cross.