Liverpool FC 1, Debreceni 0: Reds grind out 100th victory in European Cup

Kuyt's goal in first-half injury time extended his love affair with the Champions League and secured Liverpool their 100th win in Europe's premier club competition.

The Dutchman has now netted 12 times in 35 European Cup appearances, moving him into third place alongside Terry McDermott in the club's goal-scoring rankings in the competition.

Kuyt has prospered on the right flank during the past 18 months but, with Steven Gerrard again employed in a deeper role, he was back in a more central striking role behind Fernando Torres.

As at the weekend, his natural poaching instincts proved beneficial as Kuyt was first to the loose ball after Debrecen goalkeeper Vukasin Poleksic spilled a fierce Torres drive.

Given the concerns over Benitez's striking alternatives, Kuyt has issued a timely reminder of his versatility.

Liverpool's third victory in succession - which moves them joint top of Group E alongside Lyon, who beat Fiorentina by the same score last night - will further build confidence following the missteps of last month.

But this was not a European night to live long in the memory. Stoke City and Burnley have already been dispatched at Anfield this season with the minimum of fuss, but Debrecen were a much tougher proposition.

Keen to maintain the winning momentum, Benitez kept the same starting line-up that netted four without reply on Saturday. And although they again enjoyed the greater possession and created plenty of chances, the style and panache shown that afternoon was largely lacking.

Once in front, Liverpool were guilty of taking their collective foot off the gas and Debrecen, while never truly convincing they would score an equaliser, certainly caused the home support to remain on edge until the final whistle.

Debrecen are expected to be the whipping boys of the group but, well organised by manager Andras Herczeg in defence and not shy of pressing men forward on the counter-attack, could prove similarly troublesome for Lyon and Fiorentina.

Making their debut in the Champions League proper, there was a noteworthy first for the Hungarians at Anfield last night also - their dignitaries in the directors' box are probably the first to break into regular song during a match.

Indeed, with the Debrecen players having headed for the Kop on their arrival at the ground for a souvenir photograph, there was a suspicion the visitors were just glad to be here.

But such thoughts had long been banished come full-time.

Torres continues to toil up front. The Spaniard's work-rate could not be questioned last night, but the spark is missing from his game at present.

Yet he wasn't alone in failing to hit the heights, too many Liverpool players delivering uneven performances that epitomised the display of the team as a whole.

The early goal Benitez demanded was not forthcoming. Yossi Benayoun, hat-trick hero from the weekend, almost connected with an early header after Lucas Leiva flicked on Gerrard's free-kick, while Kuyt shot wide.

Albert Riera and Gerrard both struck wide from outside the area as Debrecen restricted their hosts to long-range efforts during the opening half-hour.

However, it required a fine tackle from centre-back Norbert Meszaros to deny Benayoun after neat interplay around the Debrecen area created space for the Israeli to exploit.

The visitors, despite a latent threat on the counter-attack, rarely threatened the Liverpool defence until the 30th minute when a poor clearance from Martin Skrtel - the Slovakian again at times shaky at centre-back - gave Peter Czvitkovics the chance to release a snapshot from 20 yards that a stretching Pepe Reina did well to turn over.

It prompted Liverpool to switch up a gear, Gerrard's slide-rule pass releasing Riera for another shot narrowly across the face of goal.

Benitez's side came closer still on 38 minutes. Jamie Carragher brought the ball out of defence and put Riera clear with a fine pass. The Spaniard's shot was parried by goalkeeper Poleksic and, from the rebound, Kuyt's miss-hit effort was cleared off the line by Meszaros.

Poleksic then made an unconvincing parry to stop a Riera thunderbolt after a forceful run from the increasingly effective winger, Gerrard headed a Benayoun corner over and then sidefooted an inviting Riera cross wide from 12 yards.

The goal finally arrived in first-half stoppage time, Torres accepting a Benayoun pass on the edge of the area before turning and firing a shot that Poleksic couldn't hold, presenting the alert Kuyt an opportunity to convert the loose ball.

Liverpool twice had shouts for a penalty soon after the interval when first Torres was felled and then, more persuasively, Gerrard appeared to have his shirt tugged by the overworked Meszaros.

Portuguese referee Pedro Proenca won few friends with a pernickety performance, the nadir of which came during the first half when the official booked Gerrard for taking a free-kick too quickly.

Gerrard was mere inches over with a trademark volley from 20 yards as Liverpool sought to kill the game, Poleksic then saving at his near post after a mazy run from the in-form Benayoun and Lucas heading wide the resultant corner.

But the longer Liverpool failed to score a second, the more Debrecen's self-belief blossomed, and Carragher was forced to head behind after striker Adamo Coulibaly lobbed the ball over Reina.

At the other end, Benayoun blasted over after Kuyt failed to control a Torres cross while Coulibaly, under pressure from Martin Skrtel, put wide Debrecen 's final chance of an equaliser.

It wasn't pretty, but for Liverpool it was job done.