On a night when the late Bill Shankly was very much in the minds of all Liverpudlians, the Reds went out and crushed Finnish champions Oulu Palloseura 7-0, to march into the second round of the European Cup. The only tactic in the limited repertoire of the Finns was an offside trap which often frustrated the Reds - and infuriated the crowd. For Oulu it was a game of survival, but they couldn't cope with the Liverpool fire power. The first half produced a catalogue of missed chances as the Reds swarmed all over the Oulu goal. Last year the Finns conceded 10 at Anfield in the same competition and this time it could have been a cricket score. After 15 minutes Dalglish headed wide from close range. Then Neal broke clear to pick up a perfect Hansen through ball but, somehow, he fumbled in front of goalkeeper Rantanen, and the chance was lost. The Oulu goalkeeper continued to lead a charmed life until Kenny Dalglish finally headed home after 28 minutes to make it 1-0. It was Liverpool's 100th Euro Cup goal and, minutes later, McDermott drove home a low shot from close range to increase the lead. The Reds had been in total command, with goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar reduced to a spectator. A five-goal blast after the interval gave the scoreline a more realistic look against a side who, on this display, would struggle to hold their own in our lower divisions.

It was Ray Kennedy who gave that second half an instant lift, heading home at the far post after good work by Neal. Ten minutes later Oulu had their first - and last - chance of the match, Jalasvaara shooting over after good work by Himanka. Liverpool made it 4-0 after 60 minutes through David Johnson and then made two substitutions, bringing on Mark Lawrenson for Ray Kennedy and Ian Rush for Johnson. Lawrenson almost scored with his first touch, a strong header, but it was his fellow-substitute, Rush, who was to make it 5-0. Then Lawrenson dribbled into the box himself to shoot under the 'keeper and really put the pressure on the inexperienced Finns. McDermott completed Oulu's destruction with the best goal of the night, 15 minutes from time. He took a short pass from Lee on the right side of the box and curled a perfect left foot shot beyond the unfortunate Rantanen. Liverpool will never have an easier night's work in defence of their European crown. This really was victory at a canter. With so much time and space, Graeme Souness was sweeping passes all over the field and giving Oulun a nightmare. On a night of goals he failed to find the net himself, but was constantly involved as the Reds destroyed the inexperienced Finns.

Liverpool made their own special tribute in memory of former manager Bill Shankly by smashing Finnish champions Oulu out of the European Cup at Anfield. Leading 1-0 from the first leg, Liverpool imprisoned the Finns in their own half, but had to wait until the 27th minute before Kenny Dalglish netted again. Terry McDermott, booked earlier for dissent, added just before the interval.

Oulu collapsed after the break and, within 30 seconds, Ray Kennedy headed number three. David Johnson fired the fourth with his replacement Ian Rush quickly adding the fifth. Another substitute Mark Lawrenson scored the sixth with McDermott grabbing his second goal.

Liverpool warmed gradually to their European Cup task of disposing of Finnish part timers Oulu – but, by the end, they had served up the goals the Kop enjoyed as a bonus on their night of homage to Bill Shankly. Five second half goals demonstrated the massive gulf in skill and technique between the sides. Liverpool failed to match the 10-1 scoreline of last year's identical fixture, largely because of a brave display of goal keeping from Finnish army lieutenant, Jukka Rantanen. He looked in the mood to frustrate Liverpool, just as he had done in the first leg of this first round tie, with a series of early saves that prevented a breakthrough until the 27th minute. And Liverpool's goalscoring problems were reaching embarrassing proportions against such meek opposition by the time Dalglish headed home when Rantanen could only beat out a David Johnson shot. McDermott clipped in the second from a narrow angle five minutes before half time but the mood changed when the Kop began an unbroken and emotional 45 minutes of songs and chants in Shankly's honour after the break. The Finns did not know what to make of it all, nor how to handle Liverpool's relentless pressure that wore them into weary stragglers by the end. Ray Kennedy headed the third from a Phil Neal cross 30 seconds after the restart.

Johnson drove the fourth in on the hour after a fine break involving Neal and Dalglish and then departed in company with Ray Kennedy for substitutes Mark Lawrenson and Ian Rush. Within seven minutes Rush had scored his first senior goal for the club, turning home Phil Neal's low cross after Lee had stepped over the ball. Lawrenson followed suit six minutes later, taking a return pass from Souness and for once finding Rantanen at fault as the ball trickled behind him. McDermott drove the seventh in off the far post 15 minutes from time from a standing position outside the box. The Oulu defenders looked too tired to challenge him and Rantanen had no chance with the shot. For every goal there was a wasted chance and Liverpool can at least pride themselves on a thoroughly professional performance on a night that belonged to the Kop. They massed their ranks while the rest of the ground was sparsely populated as if to show their intense loyalty to the man they believed was one of them; Bill Shankly. The only black mark on the night was the senseless booking of Terry McDermott for dissent. He needs only one more caution in Europe to face an automatic one match ban.