Snubbed Crouch makes his point

European specialist Crouch responded to being left out at Sunderland by scoring his eighth goal in 10 Champions League starts as Rafa Benitez's team eased through their qualifying round second leg to guarantee another windfall from the group stages.

But the night will be remembered for a unique tribute before the game, when the theme from Z-Cars, the signature tune of fierce rivals Everton, was played as Rhys' family applauded on the touchline.

After a moving rendition of You'll Never Walk Alone, sung by the whole crowd and led by striker Dirk Kuyt, manager Benitez hugged Rhys' mother Melanie in a poignant embrace as Anfield applauded. Benitez admitted before kickoff that he would have preferred Liverpool to have the cushion of another goal. Liverpool had returned from their opening leg a fortnight ago with a victory thanks to Andriy Voronin.

The Ukraine striker's brilliant turn and shot into the top corner from 30 yards, courtesy of Crouch's flicked header, was enough to see Liverpool through the stifling heat of southern France.

It still wasn't enough for him to keep his place. Voronin, a summer free transfer from Bayer Leverkusen, made way for Dirk Kuyt as Benitez's famous rotation policy kicked in last night.

Crouch, whose situation has alerted Portsmouth to the possibilities, did start the tie after being omitted completely from the Liverpool squad that won at Sunderland on Saturday. Not that Harry Redknapp's £9million will prise Crouch away.

Benitez has assured the lanky striker he is destined for a key role after his 18 goals last season, while Crouch favours an eventual move abroad.

Liverpool were missing their Scouse giants, skipper Steven Gerrard and centre half Jamie Carragher, but through injury rather than Benitez's considered tinkering with his so-far unbeaten side.

Benitez wanted an early goal to effectively wrap up their place in tomorrow's draw in Monaco and his side did their best to deliver as the French looked distinctly uneasy at the back.

John Arne Riise sent in a long-range free kick that was not his most powerful, nor was it actually on target, but goalkeeper Nicolas Douchez decided to parry it anyway and keep the ball in play.

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Toulouse escaped punishment that time but Douchez did not settle and when Kuyt delivered a routine header from Yossi Benayoun's cross, the goalkeeper scrambled it away untidily for a corner.

The visitors' shortcomings at the back acted as a spur to Liverpool and when Kuyt delivered another cross to the far post after 19 minutes, Crouch poked his right leg at it for the opener. It was not the most aesthetically pleasing goal he will score this season but it was exactly what Liverpool needed.

The French tried to play their passing game — Andre Gignac's effort was just too far in front of Johan Elander to worry Pepe Reina — but they were let down too often by what seemed nervous errors.

Herita Ilunga's slip in the penalty area should have seen Crouch claim his second goal but the England man fired wide, before a mix-up in the box saw French defenders cannon the ball against each other.

Toulouse had their chances and Daniel Agger was at fault in his 100th game when Achille Emana slipped past him only to have his shot blocked by covering team-mate Alvaro Arbeloa.

Mo Fofana was also unlucky when he got his head to a 34thminute corner but could not direct it at goal.

But the flow was with Liverpool, and Arbeloa's centre offered Crouch a golden chance to test Douchez only to head over the bar.

Sami Hyypia, skipper for the night and playing with a broken nose from his Sunderland heroics, rose unmarked to head Liverpool's second goal from Benayoun's corner after 49 minutes.

Kuyt made it 3-0 when he fired home from a sharp angle following a deft one-two with substitute Ryan Babel and the Holland striker wrapped things up with the last kick of the game after being put through by Benayoun.