LIVERPOOL, England (AFP) - Peter Crouch's eighth goal in his last 10 Champions League starts helped book Liverpool's place in the group stages as last season's runners up hammered Toulouse 4-0 at Anfield on Tuesday.

With Andriy Voronin's goal giving Rafa Benitez's side a narrow advantage from the first leg, Liverpool completed a crushing 5-0 aggregate win over the French side and now await Thursday's draw with interest after setting their sights on reaching the final for the third time in four seasons.

Despite making seven changes to the side which started the 2-0 league win at Sunderland last weekend, Benitez's outfit ought to have won by a more handsome margin.

England forward Crouch has spoken of his frustration after failing to make the starting line-up in Liverpool's first three Premiership games - despite scoring 24 times for club and country last season - but he showed what he can do when given a chance.

Benitez has opted for club record signing Fernando Torres, Dirk Kuyt and Voronin, but Crouch opened his account in typical fashion as he poked home a 19th minute cross by Kuyt to leave Toulouse with a mountain to climb.

Sami Hyypia's first Champions League goal for over two years - a 49th minute header - killed off the visitors for good before Kuyt sealed a highly satisfying night for Benitez with two goals in the final three minutes.

Liverpool were without two of their most experienced homegrown players with Steven Gerrard sitting out his second successive game with a damaged toe, while defender Jamie Carragher was nursing a rib injury.

Yet Toulouse were sent packing in their absence as Liverpool, who gave a first competitive start to 20-year-old south American left-sided player Sebastian Leto, continued their unbeaten start to the season.

Toulouse had arrived on Merseyside confident of overturning the first leg deficit yet they were fortunate not to suffer a heavier defeat.

The evening had begun on a hugely emotional note with a tribute for 11-year-old Rhys Jones, a supporter of Liverpool's arch rivals Everton. Rhys was shot dead while returning home from football training last Wednesday, a crime which not only shocked the city of Liverpool but also the whole of Britain.

In front of both Rhys's parents, Melanie and Stephen, Anfield stood to applaud the youngster.

John Arne Riise had a 25-yard effort kept out by Nicolas Douchez in the third minute while Kuyt was also unfortunate with a header which was beaten away by the Toulouse keeper before Crouch's goal.

Kuyt was the architect as the Dutchman delivered a teasing cross into the danger area and Crouch did not hesitate as he stuck out a foot to divert the ball over the line.

Crouch almost made it 2-0 when he fired across the six-yard area after an error by Herita Ilunga and then sent two further chances over the bar.

Liverpool were in complete control when Hyypia, who had been a doubt for the tie after breaking his nose at the weekend, doubled the lead, the experienced Finland defender totally unmarked as he easily nodded Yossi Benayoun's corner beyond Douchez from six-yards.

It was damage limitation for Toulouse when Kuyt hit the bar in the 73rd minute before Crouch fired over from close range as Liverpool finished strongly.

Kuyt put the visitors out of their misery three minutes from time with a neat, angled finish in front of the Kop in the 87th minute before he found the net again with the last kick of the game.