Rafael Benitez's side struggled to impose their game on the Belgian champions throughout a tight contest and will now head into the second-leg at Anfield in two weeks time knowing victory is imperative if they are to progress to the group stage of the competition.

Ahead of the match the Reds were greeted by a wall of noise as the Liege faithful did their best to imitate Anfield's famous 12th man, a fact boldly highlighted by the 'Kop Rouches' banner that was decked across one of the stands of the 'Chaudron de Sclessin'.

It was a reception that illustrated the level of respect they have for a club with such similar traditions to their own, although they did not allow themselves to be overawed by the 2005 winners as they set about making life uncomfortable for Rafael Benitez's side from the start.

Indeed, it was the Reds of Belgium who were playing with the authority that had been expected from the Merseysiders and within seven minutes they left Liverpool shaken when a free-kick from the left was whipped into the penalty area allowing Marouane Fellaini to ghost in unmarked and bounce a free header against the post; with Pepe Reina performing miracles to somehow palm the rebounding ball to safety.

It was a warning for the visitors but one they did not take heed of and three minutes later they conceded a spot-kick when Wilfried Dalmat's cross from the right was harshly adjudged to have been handled in the area by Andrea Dossena - although the Italian's protests that the incident took place outside the area seemed more than justified.

A roar of anticipation greeted Dante Bonfirm Costa as he stepped up to face Reina, but the full-back never looked confident and the Spaniard further enhanced his reputation as a penalty-saving expert when he dived to his right to block a tame effort with his legs.

As the half progressed the Reds began to settle, but they did struggle to create any openings of note and the much-vaunted strike force of Fernando Torres and Robbie Keane - who was making his competitive bow for the Reds - rarely gave the Liege rearguard much to worry about.

A 35-yard Xabi Alonso free-kick that curved onto the roof of the net was the best Liverpool had to show for their first-half efforts and Benitez must have been relieved to get his side in at half-time with the game still scoreless.

The visitors needed to silence the buoyant home support with a more sustained spell of possession in the second period but it was Laszlo Boloni's men that continued to look the more threatening.

Reina twice had to be alert to deny Dieu Mbokani after it looked like the long ball over the top would set him free, while only an offside flag prevented Dirk Kuyt's last-ditch block on Igor De Camargo from being more meaningful.

It was one-way traffic in terms of chances and only De Camargo will know how he failed to give the Belgians the lead just past the hour mark when he contrived to guide Dante's delightful cross inches wide of the far post.

The five-times winners of the competition were in need of some inspiration, and it came as no surprise when Steven Gerrard, who had been a doubt ahead of the match with a thigh strain, emerged from the bench with just over 20 minutes remaining to replace Keane alongside Torres.

It didn't take long for the England man to get amongst it either and within minutes he had sent a curling 25-yard free-kick just wide of Aragon Espinoza's right-hand post.

However, not even a player who has so often been Liverpool's hero over the years could turn the match in the away side's favour and they will now head back to England determined to put the record straight at Anfield where the Belgian side will come face-to-face with the real 12th man.