Liverpool progress smoothed by Smicer

Liverpool 2 Borussia Dortmund

At last, at the third time of asking, a European night in keeping with Anfield's finest traditions, with a Liverpool triumph before a packed, passionate crowd whose exhortations Gérard Houllier might have heard from his sickbed, and even the obligatory deluge.

Victory over Borussia Dortmund, set up by Vladimir Smicer's first goal of the season in the early stages and sealed near the end by Stephen Wright's first in senior football, ensured Liverpool's place in Friday's draw for the lucrative second phase of the Champions' League as unbeaten winners of Group B.

The Bundesliga outfit, a shadow of the side who lifted the European Cup in 1997, were pressing hard to cancel out Smicer's goal when Wright struck. The 21-year-old, local-born right-back, headed in Patrik Berger's free-kick to confirm Dortmund's elimination.

Phil Thompson, acting manager in Houllier's absence, hailed his team's "fantastic" performance, not only in dismissing Dortmund but also in qualifying from a tough section. He had phoned the Frenchman shortly after the game only to find that he had already left a message of congratulation.

When the pair did speak, Houllier told Thompson how proud he was. The understudy also revealed that he would have been "greatly hurt at a personal level" if the club had missed out while he was in charge, especially since Houllier sets such store by European competition.

Thompson added: "We've beaten a good side tonight. We started well, passed it and bossed it, scored a goal, but then the rain came and suddenly we lost our edge. At half-time I just told them to have confidence in themselves, which they showed in the way they controlled the second half."

The 47-year-old assistant manager singled out his first-time captain, Jamie Carragher, who excelled at centre-back against the 6ft 7in Jan Koller. "When Jamie saw the team-sheet at six o'clock and realised he was captain, his face lit up. He was magnificent."

Liverpool, playing at home for the first time since Houllier's heart operation, knew a draw would be sufficient to take them through. Dortmund began in the awareness that only victory could guarantee progress, although Boavista's defeat in Kiev meant a point would have been enough.

But Thompson had cautioned against playing for a point and Liverpool's positive approach brought an early goal. Following an innocuous-looking long ball by Stephane Henchoz from the right, Emile Heskey rose for what looked like a routine aerial challenge with Christian Worns on the 18-yard line.

However, the ball dropped to Smicer, whose inclusion in the starting line-up had surprised some spectators. A first-time swing of the Czech's left boot volleyed the ball beyond an unsighted Jens Lehmann.

Dortmund responded by pushing forward ever more urgently, though their need to gamble offered Liverpool hope of exploiting Michael Owen's pace on the break. Dortmund's anxiety over the threat posed by Owen and Heskey, a legacy of their extraordinary feats on England's behalf in Munich, may well have influenced the thinking of Christoph Metzelder when he cut down the former and was cautioned. Of more concern to Liverpool was the booking of Dietmar Hamann, for a foul on Koller, which means he will be suspended for the first game in the second phase.

Going for a quickfire second goal that might sap Dortmund's morale, Heskey threaded a slide rule pass between two defenders that picked out Steven Gerrard's run. The midfielder appeared less happy with his part in this reversal of roles, angling his shot harmlessly off target.

Dortmund soon resumed the territorial ascendancy they had enjoyed in the latter part of the first half. Lars Ricken, touted for the place vacated by Sebastian Deisler in the Germany squad for the World Cup play-offs, had Jerzy Dudek scrambling to save on the slippery surface from a 20-yard drive which the keeper fumbled behind for a corner.

Wright, who has played more times on loan for Crewe than in Liverpool's first team, sparked jubilant scenes when he made the game safe with a goal in front of The Kop. Dortmund's pressure fizzled out and the celebrations began as of old.

Liverpool (4-4-2): Dudek; Wright, Henchoz, Carragher, Riise; Gerrard (Redknapp, 86), Hamann, Murphy, Smicer (Berger, 64); Owen (Fowler, 75), Heskey. Substitutes not used: McAllister, Biscan, Litmanen, Kirkland (gk).

Borussia Dortmund (3-4-3): Lehmann; Metzelder, Reuter, Worns; Evanilson, Oliseh (Bobic, 68), Rosicky, Dede; Sorensen, Koller, Ricken. Substitutes not used: Stevic, Demel, Madouni, Bugri, Thorwart, Laux (gk).

Referee: K Milton Nielsen (Denmark).