LIVERPOOL FC powered into the Europa League last 16 with a nervy 3-0 victory over Lille at Anfield, going through 3-1 on aggregate.

In front of Argentina coach Diego Maradona, captain Steven Gerrard’s ninth-minute penalty gave them the ideal start, after Lucas Leiva had been fouled.

Fernando Torres then struck twice in the second half - his first European goals for more than 11 months - to put his side into the quarter-finals.

Ryan Babel had Liverpool’s first sight of goal in the third minute but miscued well wide from 20 yards.

But it did not take long for Liverpool to take the lead with a ninth-minute penalty created by, of all people, defensive midfielder Lucas.

The Brazil international produced a tidy piece of skill to weave his way into the area and go past Adil Rami before ensuring he drew the foul from the centre-back.

Referee Nicola Rizzoli pointed to the spot and Gerrard confidently fired home to level things up on aggregate.

Fernando Torres had two half-chances to double the lead in the next five minutes as first he cut in from the right at pace only to see his near-post shot deflected wide before then lofting a shot over from Mascherano’s free-kick.

Despite going behind Lille still looked like they could be a danger on the counter-attack with Eden Hazard, goalscorer a week ago, and Ludovic Obraniak posing a threat from the flanks.

Right-back Glen Johnson was getting forward at every opportunity and when he found himself in the penalty area he hit a left-foot volley straight at goalkeeper Mickael Landreau.