Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez hailed skipper Steven Gerrard's goalscoring performance in Romania as the Reds secured a 3-1 victory over Unirea Urziceni to progress into the Round of 16 in the Europa League.
It was an eventful night for Gerrard, as the captain led his side to a victory that was coupled with a personal triumph as he scored the third goal for the visitors, his 33rd on the European stage, to surpass former Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer to become the highest scoring Englishman in European competitions.
"This is a historic club with a lot of records so to have an individual one like this is massive for him and very important for Liverpool too," Benitez is quoted by The Daily Express as saying.
Gerrard said: "It's always nice to break records but the main thing is to get into the next round - and the most pleasing thing is to do that.
"I've been working really hard to get amongst the goals."
The Merseyside club let one in early as Unirea levelled the tie following an unmarked header from Joao Bruno Fernandes, but strikes from Ryan Babel, Javier Mascherano and 'Captain Fantastic' ensured that Benitez's men set up a clash with Ligue 1 side Lille in the next stage of Europe's second-tier competition.
"We showed real character again. The pitch was very bad and then we conceded an early goal," added the Spaniard.
"We have tried to progress by picking very strong sides. We realise the importance of this competition."
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