Classy Liverpool are hailed and become Champions League favourites

By John Bagratuni Apr 4, 2007, 9:58 GMT

Liverpool player Dirk Kuyt (L) fights for the ball with PSV Eindhoven player Carlos Salcido during their quater final first leg Champion\'s league match in the Philips stadium in Eindhoven, Netherlands, Tuesday 03 April 2007. EPA/OLIVIER HOSLET

Hamburg - Liverpool in general and captain Steven Gerrard in particular were hailed in England on Wednesday and declared Champions League title favourites after an impressive display the previous night.

The five-time champions demolished PSV Eindhoven 3-0 in the Netherlands in a first leg quarter-final match.

'Their swagger was irresistible, their rhythm irrepressible, yet even in their wildest dreams the Reds could never have anticipated slicing their hosts apart this easily,' said The Guardian daily.

Gerrard was the hero in the Philips stadium when his thumping header in the 27th minute not only opened the scoring, but also gave him a club-record 15th goal in the competition. Gerrard eclipsed the mark of 14 goals from legendary Ian Rush.

'It's a bit embarrassing. I've watched him since I was a kid and never dreamed I'd break one of his records,' said Gerrard, who was playing his 50th match in the competition.

'I'm flattered ? but that?s not really important to me. It's more important how well the team is doing and us going all the way.'

PSV, who eliminated Arsenal in the round of 16, threw in the towel ahead of the return leg at Anfield next Wednesday.

The Volkskrant daily on Wednesday simply said that 'PSV are at their wits' end' after the goals by Gerrard, John Arne Riise and Peter Crouch.

Reds coach Rafael Benitez warned against complacency, but realistically speaking the 2005 winners can prepare for a semi-final against either Chelsea or Spanish side Valencia.

William Hill and other English bookies now list Liverpool as title favourites, ahead of Premier League rivals Chelsea and Manchester United, with Germany's Bayern Munich ranked fourth.

Munich were not as glorious as Liverpool on Tuesday, but Daniel van Buyten's second strike of the night deep in injury time gave the four-time champions a valuable 2-2 draw at AC Milan.

'They were a little lucky, but who cares on the way towards Europe's crown,' said mass circulation paper Bild.

Milan had won all four previous European games with Munich at the San Siro, but van Buyten twice cancelled out their lead from Andrea Pirlo and a disputed penalty converted by Kaka.

The Munich camp was furious about the penalty, but delighted about van Buyten's late volley which leaves them in an excellent position to make the final four for the first time since 2001, the year they won the title.

'The draw is obviously a great result for us. We will not defend in Munich (next Wednesday), we want to score,' said coach Ottmar Hitzfeld.

But Milan are far from giving up as they have eliminated Munich in all three previous knockout ties.

'The result has left a bitter taste in our mouths but we have to forget this game immediately and start to focus on the next one. I'm sure we can still triumph in Munich,' said coach Carlo Ancelotti.