AFTER a week in which their Anfield futures had been called into question, Rafael Benitez and Steven Gerrard could be forgiven the extra edge to their celebrations last night.

A combination of ecstasy and relief were apparent in Gerrard's frenzied jubilation as he wheeled away towards the Kop after finally breaking his goalscoring duck for his club this season.

And while Benitez is not one for such an overt showing of emotion, it was notable the Liverpool manager took the opportunity to step on to the Anfield turf to salute all four sides of the ground for their support after this eventually comfortable Champions League victory over Bordeaux.

It was a symbolic end to what had been a good day for Benitez.

Qualification to the knockout stages had been assured, while Noel White had earlier quit the Anfield board after admitting he was responsible for the unattributed attack on the Spaniard's management in a national newspaper last Friday.

Ironically, White's unwise words have served only to strengthen the backing for Benitez from both the club's fans and the upper echelons of the Anfield hierarchy.

On the pitch, last night's defeat of an average Bordeaux ensured Liverpool's passage to the last 16 with two games to spare, while PSV Eindhoven's win against Galatasaray means victory over the Dutchmen at Anfield in three weeks will secure first place in the group and render meaningless December's trip to Turkey.