Liverpool take the honours abroad

The contrast could hardly be more stark. Liverpool returned from Tuesday's foray into Europe wreathed in smiles, while the team that are once again their rivals for glory on the Continent, Nottingham Forest, came home cloaked in gloom.

Liverpool's 2-1 Uefa Cup win at Spartak Vladikavkaz was another pointer to a rosy, youth-inspired future for Roy Evans' team. How different for his counterpart at Forest, Frank Clark, who admitted his team were lucky to lose only 2-1 away to the Swedes, Malmo.

The win over the classy Russian League leaders, Vladikavkaz, in which Jamie Redknapp scored a stunning winner, reminded of days when Liverpool stockpiled six European titles in 21 successive years of Continental competition.

"The team has mostly grown up together and I think we will get stronger and stronger," Redknapp said. Evans is confident his youngsters can cope. "One of the fans said to me: `our team grew up tonight'. I think that was a fair comment."

One of the major disappointments for Clark was the performance of Kevin Campbell, whose back problem allowed him only 60 minutes on the pitch at Malmo. "Kevin looked tired and flat," Clark said. "He had a major operation on his back last season and we'll have to take a careful look at him. But there are a few players not performing as well as they can."

More gloom for Forest centred on their inspirational captain, Stuart Pearce, who went off with a torn hamstring midway through the first half.

Tonight Liverpool's Merseyside rivals, Everton, become the focus of attention - they are away to the Icelandic side, KR Reykjavik, in a first-round first-leg tie in the European Cup-Winners' Cup.

Joe Royle, Everton's manager, has warned his players about complacency against the semi-professionals. "We are under no illusions about our task," he said. Reykjavik are in their 10th season in European competition but this is the first time they have survived a round - they eliminated Grevenmacher of Luxembourg at the preliminary stage.

Everton (4-4-2): Southall; Jackson, Watson, Unsworth, Ablett; Limpar, Parkinson, Ebrell, Hinchcliffe; Amokachi, Rideout. Substitutes: Speare (gk), Holmes, Short, Grant, Barlow.