Liverpool 4 Steaua Bucharest 1: Quick draw Cole rips up Anfield record book

LIVERPOOL midfielder Joe Cole believes his new club will progress in the Europa League if they can continue to win their home games.

The Anfield club opened their Group K campaign with a 4-1 home win over Steaua Bucharest as Cole opened the scoring early on, with the other goals coming from a David Ngog double and a stunning finish from Lucas Leiva.

Cole said: "It's massive, you've got to win your home games. It was a tough game tonight and a good result.

"I'm happy to get the first goal for the team.

"Teams come here, they put a lot of work in stopping us playing in the first half."

Midfielder Cole – who missed a penalty against Trabzonspor in qualifying – scored the quickest European goal in Liverpool's illustrious history.

The England international took just 25 seconds to find the net for his first strike since joining on a free transfer from Chelsea in the summer.

Cristian Tanase equalised for the Romanians in the 13th minute but David Ngog took his tally to five in as many games in this competition and substitute Lucas Leiva scored the other for a victory which was not as easy as the scoreline suggested.

Manager Roy Hodgson risked criticism with his team selection, which had just three survivors from the weekend's goalless draw at Birmingham with neither Fernando Torres nor Steven Gerrard in the squad.

The Reds boss' decision, with a huge game at Manchester United on Sunday, was ultimately justified but for a 30-minute period either side of half-time when the match hung in the balance.

Cole was Liverpool's most inventive player, although he did not have much competition in that department.

Ngog restored the lead in the 55th minute from the penalty spot and then Lucas drilled home the third from 20 yards.

Ngog fired home his second in injury time to give the scoreline a more convincing appearance.