CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ROUNDUP

updated 6:20 p.m. ET July 13, 2005

LIVERPOOL, England - Steven Gerrard began Liverpool’s defense of the European Champions League title with three goals on Wednesday as Rafa Benitez’ team strolled to a 3-0 victory over Welsh champion Total Network Solutions.

The second leg is next week in Wales, although there seems little doubt about the outcome for Liverpool.

Liverpool did not originally qualify for this year’s tournament because it failed to finish among the top four in the English Premier League. After Liverpool won the Champions League final, the Union of European Football Associations said the club could defend the title but would have to start play in the first qualifying rounds, meaning it must play six matches just to reach the 32-team field for opening round in September.

Assuming there are no upsets in the second leg, Liverpool will continue its defense against Lithuania’s Kaunas. Kaunas scored a 4-2 victory at HB Torshavn of the Faeroe Islands with the home leg still to come.

Other results Wednesday: FC Haka of Finland 1, Pyunik of Armenia 0; Zrinjski of Bosnia 1; F91 Dudelange of Luxembourg 0; Shelbourne of Ireland 2, Glentoran of Northern Ireland 1; and Gorica of Slovenia 2, KF Tirana of Albania 0.

Gerrard, whose goal began Liverpool’s rally from a 3-0 halfitme deficit against AC Milan in Istanbul seven weeks ago, scored in the eighth and 21st minutes. The team’s captain, who just signed a new four-year contract, added the third with a minute to go.

TNS had just one shot at goal.

Before kickoff, the players and fans observed a moment of silence for the victims of last Thursday’s London subway and bus bombings, which killed 52 and injured more than 700.

Liverpool fans applauded the TNS substitutions, especially John Lawless, who said before the game that he had been in Istanbul, cheering for Liverpool. Like many of the TNS team, based just over 60 miles away, he comes from Liverpool and considers himself a fan.

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