PARIS (AFP) - A super-strike from Liverpool's Ukrainian midfielder Andriy Voronin secured a crucial 1-0 win over Champions League debutants Toulouse in the first leg of their third qualifying round tie here on Wednesday.

The sunny conditions and festive astmosphere in the French side's packed 38,000-seater stadium looked conducive to an entertaining game of football.

However it was a topsy-turvy performance from both sides which ultimately left Liverpool with the upper hand over their pugnacious hosts ahead of the second leg in two weeks' time.

Voronin's strike in the 43rd minute was one of the few highlights of a dull first half that was punctuated with sporadic attacks and gave plenty of work to both sides' defence.

"Voronin demonstrated all his qualities with this goal, he brings creativity and intelligence to the game. He complements (Fernando) Torres and (Peter) Crouch," said Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez.

"We were able to play a very professional game in difficult conditions for everyone because of the heat and the state of the pitch.

"I wanted the conserve the players as much as possible by making them hydrate themselves, we'll see how those who played can recover for this weekend's match (against Chelsea)."

Benitez added: "We will need to be just as professional for the return leg at Anfield if we are to qualify."

Toulouse coach Elie Baup lamented the missed opportunity.

"In the end it all came down to one nice shot, Liverpool didn't have many other chances," he said.

"Maybe we were too much in awe of them at times but you need the means to upset a team like that on a physical level and today it was really very hot, everyone suffered a lot. We lacked physical freshness."

Reds captain Steven Gerrard got the first sight of goal after just three minutes, but his low free kick effort from the left flank curled a metre past Nicolas Douchez's left hand upright.

From then on there were few real chances for either side in the first half, although Swedish striker Johan Elmander was kicking himself after fluffing a chance to beat Jose Reina when the ball fell to his feet 20 yards from goal in the 20th minute.

Toulouse were giving Liverpool's defence plenty of work in the first half, but two minutes before the half-time whistle Voronin silenced the hosts in spectacular fashion.

Lanky striker Peter Crouch nodded a long ball into the path of the Ukrainian, who controlled with his chest and took two steps before driving the ball into the top right hand corner of Douchez's net.

Toulouse came close to levelling in spectacular fashion almost immediately, but Achille Emana's overhead kick, following a pass from Elmander, dropped two metres wide of Reina's left-hand post.

Liverpool kicked off the second half in more positive fashion, although Emana's 25-metre drive, which sailed just over the bar, gave Reina a timely reminder that there was still plenty to play for.

But in the 55th minute Liverpool put Toulouse on red alert.

After a long kick-out by Reina, Crouch was sent through on Douchez by a deft touch from Voronin. The French keeper did well, however, diving to the striker's feet to push the ball to safety.

Toulouse's best chance of the second half came with a probing cross from the left from Pantxi Sireix. Elmander stuck out his foot, sending the ball goalwards and forcing a diving save from Reina.

In the 64th minute Gerrard then came off in place of Mohamed Sissoko, and 10 minutes later Spanish striker Fernando Torres made his Champions League debut with Liverpool.

In between the ever-threatening Elmander managed to get his head to a long free-kick from the right flank, but his effort curled just over Reina's crossbar.

Torres was barely given enough time to put his wares on display, and on his first duel, with Mohamed Fofana, the Spaniard came off second best.

But the young Spaniard, a 38-million-euros signing from Atletico Madrid, will be hoping for a longer spell of play as Liverpool bid to qualify for the Champions League proper at Anfield on August 28.