ANFIELD may have witnessed more memorable European occasions, but there was more than one reason for Roy Hodgson to celebrate a record-breaking night.

The Liverpool manager created a little piece of history by guiding his team to an ultimately comfortable victory over continental stalwarts Steaua Bucharest in their Europa League group opener.

It made Hodgson the first man to win his first five European games as Liverpool manager, eclipsing the previous mark achieved by the legendary Bill Shankly.

And this latest triumph was set on its way by Liverpool’s quickest-ever goal in European competition, Joe Cole netting his first for the club after just 25 seconds.

Hodgson will no doubt contend the result justified his ongoing policy of using the Europa League to rest his leading players, Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard among a host of senior stars sat in the directors’ box.

Torres saw David Ngog continue his impressive spell as understudy with a further two goals to take his tally to six for the season, five of which have come in this competition.

Liverpool, though, were flattered by the final scoreline, with Steaua having equalised on 13 minutes through their captain Cristian Tanase while posing a constant threat until a late flurry put Hodgson’s men in command of Group K.

But having been so creatively bereft during the dismal goalless draw at Birmingham City four days earlier, it made for a welcome and much-needed change.

The Anfield manager has made no secret of using the Europa League as a stage to learn more about his squad and, with new signing Paul Konchesky and Raul Meireles handed their home debuts last night, Hodgson has already used 28 different players in the competition – equalling the club record for most players used in a European campaign.

Meireles, making his first start since his £11.5million arrival from Porto last month, was partnered by Jay Spearing in yet another different central midfield partnership.