NGOG OPENS ACCOUNT TO LEAVE GERS AGOG

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[tr][td=2,1,487]Manager Walter Smith wanted a stern test before Tuesday's make-or-break Champions League qualifier against FBK Kaunas - and Liverpool were happy to oblige by handing them a 4-0 thrashing at Ibrox. [/td][/tr][tr][td=2,1,487][/td][/tr][tr][td=2,1,487]David Ngog opened his goal-scoring account for the Reds after Fernando Torres had claimed the only goal of the first half. Yossi Benayoun then found the back of the net, before Xabi Alonso ended the rout from the penalty spot.
  
Rangers failed to score once again after Wednesday's Ibrox stalemate and know an improvement will be needed when they travel to Lithuania for the Champions League second leg, as they bid to keep their European hopes alive. New signing Madjid Bougherra was named on the bench but failed to make his Rangers debut, while Kyle Lafferty made his first home start.
  
New goalkeeper, Diego Cavalieri, started between the sticks for the Reds while, at the other end, Rangers faced the daunting prospect of trying to halt a burgeoning strikeforce in the shape of new signing Robbie Keane and Torres.
  
Rangers had the best of the early chances. Lee McCulloch's ferocious long-range shot whistled inches past Cavalieri's right-hand post, before Kenny Miller hooked over after pouncing on a Nacho Novo lay-off.
  
Torres then came close for Liverpool when he threw himself in front of a cross from the left from Andrea Dossena, only to send his header screaming over the crossbar.
  
The breakthrough came with 23 minutes on the clock, when a powerful Damien Plessis shot was blocked by Allan McGregor, but the goalkeeper could not hold the effort and Torres was on hand to rifle home the rebound. Steven Gerrard then embarked on a decent run before unleashing a 20-yard drive that McGregor did well to parry but, this time, the danger was cleared with Keane loitering with intent in front of goal.
  
Then it was Rangers' turn to threaten when Sasa Papac's attempt at lobbing into the top left corner was touched out of play by Cavalieri. A flurry of activity from Rangers followed, but they failed to restore parity before the half-time whistle. The best chance came when Miller released Novo into the box. But Novo rounded Cavalieri at the near post, only to somehow be denied from about a yard out by a sliding block from Dossena.
  
The good news for Rangers was that Torres was one of several players withdrawn at the interval, with both sides making five changes. The bad news was the arrival of Ngog, who helped himself to a goal after 57 minutes. The French striker pounced on a loose pass from Kirk Broadfoot and left McGregor with no chance from 12 yards.
  
Liverpool added to their lead three minutes later. McGregor managed to swipe at a Christian Nemeth effort only for Benayoun to come racing in at the back post and bury the rebound from close range.
  
Cavalieri made way for José Reina, while McGregor was swapped for Neil Alexander - and he was plucking the ball out of the net with 20 minutes to go. Broadfoot was deemed to have tripped Nemeth in the box and Alonso stepped up to convert from 12 yards. [/td][/tr]