Liverpool all-but guaranteed their place in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals with a superb 3-0 win over PSV Eindhoven in Holland.
Captain Steven Gerrard again proved to be the catalyst for The Reds as he became the club's all-time leading scorer in the European Cup with 15 goals, surpassing Ian Rush's record with a fine header in this quarter-final, first leg tie.
Both John Arne Riise and Peter Crouch joined their skipper on the scoresheet after the break as Rafa Benitez's side dominated possession and dictated the course of the tie throughout the 90 minutes at Philips Stadion.
PSV coach Ronald Koeman had been hailed as a tormentor of English sides - having been the only other manager along with Jose Mourinho to beat Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool in the past 18 months - but his side showed little endeavour in a stale performance in Eindhoven.
On this evidence, the Dutch club scoring four goals at Anfield to win the tie seems as likely as Steve McClaren receiving a knighthood.
Mika Vayrynen threatened early on for PSV as he fired a shot over the bar after a one-two with Jefferson Farfan, but Liverpool were largely untroubled in a comfortable opening for the English side.
On 16 minutes The Reds had their first sight at goal when Riise - deployed in front of Fabio Aurelio on the left wing - saw a volley deflected wide, and from the resultant corner Liverpool almost took the lead.
Gerrard's set-piece was met by a strong header from Jamie Carragher - setting a record for the most European Cup appearances for the club - but PSV keeper Heurelho Gomes was equal to the task and produced a fine diving stop.
Peter Crouch, hat-trick hero from Saturday's win over Arsenal, also sent a shot over the bar whilst PSV saw left-back Carlos Salcido fail to trouble Reina from range.
Benitez's men were almost undone when Vayryen's shot from a cross from former Red Jan Kromkamp was inadvertently deflected over the bar by Carragher - with Philip Cocu heading just wide from the corner - but just four minutes later Gerrard claimed an important away goal.
Dirk Kuyt was forced to duck out of the way as the skipper came charging into the box to meet Steve Finnan's cross, and Gomes could not repeat his earlier heroics as Gerrard powered a header past the keeper and into the left-hand side of the goal.
The goal could have drawn PSV out of their defensive shell, but the game remained a tight affair and Liverpool entered half-time with a one-goal lead that their efforts had merited.
PSV's hopes of finding an equaliser suffered a blow when Farfan failed to reappear after the break, with Chinese international Xiang Sun taking his place, and Liverpool retained the momentum as Xabi Alonso threatened twice in the first two minutes of the half.
The sense that the tie was very much there for the taking was given further credence when Liverpool claimed their second after a poor clearance from under-pressure defender Timmy Simons.
Riise was lurking on the edge of the box and needed no second invitation to chest the ball down and unleash a trademark thunderous drive that flew past the despairing Gomes to give Liverpool a formidable advantage in Holland.
The Norwegian international could have had another when Gomes only just managed to recover after dropping a routine cross, whilst the ever-inventive Alonso tried his luck from substantially further out as his floating 45 yard effort drifted wide.
In what was rapidly becoming a rather facile outing for Liverpool, Crouch added a telling third when he rose highest to meet Finnan's cross and placed a fine header past Gomes, who was now past despairing and into the realms of distraught.
Koeman's side had a brief flicker of hope when Reina's fingertips diverted a cross into the path of Salcido, but the Mexican's rushed shot flew well wide in a moment that epitomised PSV's poor performance.
Liverpool's almost perfect night suffered a blow when Fabio Aurelio had to be stretchered off due to injury, with Mark Gonzalez taking his place, and Crouch also earned a rapturous reception when Jermaine Pennant was afforded a run-out.
Chilean winger Gonzalez aimed two long-range efforts at goal as Liverpool played out the final ten minutes with ease, although substitute Csaba Feher did call Reina into action at his near post.
In injury time, Kuyt also picked up a yellow card which rules him out of what should be a routine second leg at Anfield.
After three games against PSV this season Liverpool are yet to lose, and unless that trend is reversed in emphatic fashion in two weeks, the men from Merseyside could now be on track for a semi-final meeting with Premiership rivals Chelsea.
PSV Eindhoven v Liverpool player ratings.
Liverpool all but guaranteed a spot in the semifinals of the  Tuesday night with a convincing 3-0 win over Dutch side  in Holland.  A full crowd of 36,500 fans showed up at the  to support their teams.  Liverpool went into the game on a high having beaten Arsenal 4-1 at  on Saturday.  PSV on the other hand have been in a slump as of late in the Eredivise, as they have let Ajax Amsterdam back into the title race.  , who scored a hat-trick on Saturday, was partnered with  for Liverpool, while PSV paired  and  as strikers.

PSV were the first to threaten either goal, when  blasted a shot over the bar from well out after a one-two with Jefferson Farfan.   then had Liverpool's first chance as his shot was deflected wide, and the ensuing corner by  was met by the head of , but keeper  produced a fine diving stop to keep the scores level.  Carragher then nearly gave the hosts a goal as he deflected a corner barely over the crossbar.  Reds captain Steven Gerrard then scored as he met 's cross strongly with his head, and Gomes could do nothing as Gerrard scored his team record 16th goal in international play.  

PSV suffered a blow at the break with striker Jefferson Farfan having to leave the match.  He was replaced by Chinese international .  A soft clearance attempt by  then handed the ball to Riise, and the big Dane powered the ball past Gomes, giving the Reds a demanding 2-0 lead.  Liverpool continued to pressure for a third goal, and Riise had another chance when Gomes mishandled a cross, but the keeper was able to recover and save his blushes.  Finnan supplied the ball for the final goal of the match as well, as his cross was met by the head of Peter Crouch.  The 3-0 lead guaranteed the reds the win, but they did suffer a blow on the night when midfielder  was forced to leave the pitch with injury.  Kuyt also revieved a yellow card in the dying minutes, ruling him out of the second leg with suspension, but Liverpool have a fitting substitute in the form of .  

The return leg of the series occurs on April 11th at Anfield in Liverpool.  PSV will now have to win by a margin of 3 goals in order to hope to advance.