Graz AK 0 Liverpool 2
Liverpool paved the way for Michael Owen's departure to Real Madrid last night, relegating the England striker to the role of unused substitute while his current team-mates all but assured the club's safe passage into the lucrative group stage of the Champions League.
Owen is understood to have informed Liverpool's chief executive, Rick Parry, that Real's interest in adding him to their ranks of galacticos has persuaded him to end his 13-year association with the club after months of fruitless talks over a possible new contract at Anfield. A five-year deal awaits him in Spain with the formalities of a £10 million move to the Bernabeu set to be concluded before the weekend.
Losing Owen represents a significant blow to the fledgling Rafael Benitez era, for all that the prospect of a return to Europe's elite, with its financial implications, after this comfortable win will offer consolation.
The striker's departure is likely to spark a fortnight of frenzied transfer activity, with an attempt to prise Fernando Morientes or Samuel Eto'o from Real as part of the deal. Liverpool may also seek to sign the winger Juanfran, particularly as another target, Manchester City's Shaun Wright-Phillips, appears bound for Tottenham The 19-year-old Juanfran is considered one of Spain's most exciting prospects, though his chances are limited at Real as Luis Figo's understudy.
Liverpool also fully expect to conclude the transfer of the Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso from Real Sociedad in the next 48 hours for around £10 million.
The England striker began this contest sitting alongside Salif Diao on the bench, his interest initially held by the sight of Milan Baros and Djibril Cisse - the chosen strike force - crumpling to the turf in the opening four minutes having been hacked down in separate incidents. An injury to either might have necessitated Owen's introduction, but therein lay Liverpool's dilemma.
Had Benitez been forced to bring the England striker on, Owen would have been cup-tied to render him far less an attractive signing for clubs given he would not be available for continental competition. That would have diminished his value. Indeed, had no takers come in for him as a result, they risked losing him for nothing under the Bosman ruling once his contract expires in 10 months.
Yet the prospect of losing to the Austrian champions here would have jeopardised Liverpool's chances of progress into the group stage, potentially costing them around £15 million.
As it was, Liverpool were so dominant there seemed little prospect he would be needed. Liverpool were glad to have Steven Gerrard available, the captain recovered from a tight thigh to prowl menacingly around midfield. His delicious through ball sent Baros scurrying through early on only for Andreas Schranz to save.
Grazer's respite proved brief. Dietmar Hamann, fed by Harry Kewell, slid a square pass just outside the area which Gerrard, without hesitation, battered viciously beyond Schranz and into the top corner.
There was a flurry of Liverpool chances. Hamann forced Schranz to save a skimming shot from distance, and Cisse marginally failed to connect with Baros's cross-shot with the goal gaping. When the impressive French debutant flicked on Steve Finnan's corner Baros, from point-blank range, sent an header high and wide.
All Grazer could muster were two attempts from Roland Kollmann, the first sliced wide, the second nodded behind. But while they were only one goal down, they had hope. That was doused by Gerrard's second, crunched into the bottom corner from Kewell's lay-off.
GRAZ AK:Scheuer; Tokic, Ehmann, Ramusch, Standfest, Muratovic (Daniel Pirker 81), Skoro (Bazina 62), Amerhauser, Pogatetz, Aufhauser (Sick 72), Kollmann. Subs Not Used: Almer, Majstorovic, Plassnegger. Booked: Tokic, Sick.
LIVERPOOL:Dudek; Finnan (Potter 85), Hyypia, Carragher, Riise, Kewell, Gerrard (Warnock 80), Hamann, Josemi, Cisse, Baros (Diao 73). Subs Not Used: Kirkland, Henchoz, Owen, Sinama Pongolle. Booked: Hamann. Goals: Gerrard 23, 79.
Referee:Alain Sars (France).