Marseille 0 - 4 LiverpooL

Liverpool delivered an inspired performance when it really mattered to secure a place in the Champions League knockout stages at the expense of Marseille.

The Reds became the first English side to beat Marseille at the Stade Velodrome in European competition as early goals by Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres were added to by second-half strikes by Dirk Kuyt and Ryan Babel.

It meant the Merseysiders finished second in Group A behind Porto and qualified from the pool stages for the fourth year in succession.

In truth, the Reds could and should have won by more, such was their dominance and Marseille's lethargy, especially at the back.

It was a special night for Gerrard, who opened the scoring when he powered home the rebound from a penalty he won himself.

That was his 23rd goal in the Champions League, overtaking a milestone he had shared jointly with Michael Owen.

Torres was a pest to the Marseille rearguard throughout and his 11th-minute goal was a gem, a mazy run topped off with an ice-cold finish.

Kuyt and substitute Babel scored neatly-taken goals at either end of the second half as Marseille imploded.

They can at least console themselves with a UEFA Cup spot, while Reds coach Rafael Benitez can go into Sunday's meeting with club owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett in renewed heart.

Liverpool came into the match reeling from Saturday's 3-1 defeat to Reading, their first loss in this season's Barclays Premier League.

They would also have had Sunday's Anfield summit meeting with Manchester United in the back of their minds although, as expected, Benitez put out all his big names in a full-strength team.

They delivered in the most emphatic manner and had qualification wrapped up after just 11 minutes.

The deadlock was broken Gerrard in the third minute from the spot.

The captain was the man to win the penalty when, having been set free by Kewell, he was sent tumbling by Gael Givet.

The defender was the last man and should have been red-carded, but he did not even receive a booking.

Gerrard dusted himself down and even though his initial attempt was saved by Steve Mandanda, he rammed home the rebound from six yards and Liverpool were on their way.

Torres was doing well up front, pulling defenders out of position and finding space with his pace.

But it was his skill with the ball at his feet that put Liverpool 2-0 up.

Receiving a short pass from Harry Kewell just outside the area, the Spain international jinked around two defenders before opening his body up and sliding a cool finish inside the far post.

The crowd, so vibrant prior to kick-off, were stunned but their side could have been further behind by the break.

Liverpool were having little trouble at the back, Marseille relying on long-range pot-shots as their only means of testing Jose Reina.

Only once did they breach the Reds' rearguard, but Mathieu Valbuena - slipped in by Lorik Cana - chose to go round Jose Reina rather than shoot and the chance was lost. There was more action at the other end.

Kuyt, who was happy to drop back to help out his midfield, headed a drifting Harry Kewell cross straight at Mandanda midway into the half.

And towards the end of the opening period, Liverpool had a clutch of chances that should have harvested at least one more goal.

Gerrard sent a free-kick just wide before Kewell volleyed narrowly over in the 40th minute.

Torres, having outpaced Julien Rodriguez, then poked an effort over but it was all Liverpool.

By that time, Samir Nasri, the young France playmaker who was adjudged not fit enough to start after recent ankle trouble, had been thrown on by coach Eric Gerets, replacing Benoit Cheyrou.

And at half-time, former Liverpool player Djibril Cisse was introduced off the bench in place of another ex-Red, Boudewijn Zenden.

It mattered little and Liverpool were soon 3-0 up. More embarrassing defending allowed Kuyt to run free towards goal after Kewell's pass from the left in the 48th minute the Holland striker smashed home his finish from 10 yards and that was game, set and match.

Marseille's best chance of the game came just after the hour mark when Cisse got on the end of a Valbuena cross.

The striker's header beat Reina but hit the base of the post and went wide.

Benitez used his full allocation of substitutes in the final quarter, and one of them - Babel - added gloss to the scoreline in injury time when he ran onto a long ball, rounded Mandanda and slotted home into an empty net.