The key game v Athletic Bilbao, second round second leg
 LIVERPOOL covered themselves in European glory in the intimidating atmosphere of the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao. Joe Fagan's side showed yet again why they are Britain's most complete and accomplished side as they kept alive their dream of a fourth European Cup triumph with a stunning display of controlled football which left the Spanish champions baffled, confused and ultimately well beaten. The victory was so overwhelmingly comprehensive that the famous stadium rose to its feet at the final whistle to acclaim the English champions. Faced with one of the most daunting tasks in their long European history, they responded superbly to move sweetly into the quarter-finals with considerable ease. Fagan's pre-match prediction that one goal would be enough proved uncannily accurate as Ian Rush capped a magnificent performance with a 66th-minute winner. Despite starting as underdogs, Liverpool quickly showed there is no substitute in modern football for experience. Twenty years of European action is a marvellous base on which to build a winning platform. Bilbao, who had performed so heroically at Anfield a fortnight ago to snatch a goalless draw, rarely looked capable of unsettling a side which simply oozed with confidence.
 With Graeme Souness playing at the very peak of his form, Liverpool swept forward from the outset, a largely unexpected ploy which had the desired effect of totally unsettling the over-anxious Spaniards. In many ways it was a faultless performance against a side which had been battered into submission long before Rush's deadly strike. Steve Nicol, who justified Fagan's bold decision to play him in place of Craig Johnston, went close after 19 minutes with a fierce 25-yard drive which goalkeeper Zubizarreta was grateful to clutch to his chest at the second attempt. Kenny Dalglish very nearly rounded off a neat three-man move 10 minutes later, but his drive flew fractionally wide of the target. After softening up their opponents in the first half, Liverpool went for the kill after the break. Michael Robinson was unlucky on 51 minutes when he latched on to a mistake by the now ruffled Bilbao goalkeeper only to see his close-range volley fall just wide of the target. The goal finally arrived to reduce one of Europe's most partisan crowds to complete silence after 66 minutes. Alan Kennedy picked up a short free-kick, left a defender trailing as he whipped over an inch perfect cross and Rush rose beauti-fully to head powerfully downwards and beyond Zubizaretta's reach into the far corner. All in all it was an awesome display of power which will send shivers of fear flooding through Europe. LIVERPOOL: Grobbelaar, Neal, Kennedy, Lawrenson, Nicol, Hansen, Dalglish, Lee, Rush, Robinson (Hodgson), Souness. ATT: 47,500 | 
