This might not have been the vintage Red performance Liverpool had wanted in the home of the world's finest claret, but you will not find Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez complaining too much about that after his side beat Bordeaux 1-0.
This was a classic Benitez smash-and-grab raid with Liverpool soaking up pressure, sometimes with considerable trouble, and when Peter Crouch was presented with a chance to power home his fourth Champions League goal of the season, he finally came up trumps.
Crouch had missed two first-half sitters but the giant striker crashed the ball past Ulrich Rame from a Craig Bellamy corner to secure Liverpool's first away win this season.
Benitez had called for quality displays from his senior men, and he certainly got them from skipper Jamie Carragher, defensive partner Sami Hyypia and midfielder Xabi Alonso.
Liverpool conceded plenty of possession, but came through and are still top of Group C and surely now only need one more win to secure qualification.
With two home games to come, against Bordeaux and PSV Eindhoven, the opportunity is there for them to complete the job at Anfield.
Already without hamstring victim Steven Gerrard, boss Benitez decided not to risk Mohamed Sissoko and Dirk Kuyt from the start, both of whom had travelled to south west France more in hope than conviction. They only got as far as the bench, along with young reserve Lee Peltier.
The apparent slowness in the Bordeaux defence twice gave encouragement to Bellamy in the opening minutes. The ball did not run for the Wales striker, but he was instantly aware of the potential to get behind Tunisia international David Jemmali.
On seven minutes, a John Arne Riise free-kick was chested into Bellamy's path by Luis Garcia, the striker turning to hit a shot that Rame scooped away from Crouch.
But the game soon settled into one of Bordeaux possession and steady progression towards Liverpool's deep back line. One clever push through Riise's legs by Alejandro Alonso created a chance for a driven cross that skipper Carragher was forced to dive full-length to head away.
On 20 minutes Gonzalez cut in from the left and tried a shot, held by Rame, when he should have been looking for the movement ahead of him. A minute later Franck Jurietti was booked for a foul on the Chile international.
Fernando Menegazzo tested goalkeeper Jose Reina with a snap shot a minute into the second half, the French side having had 65% of the opening period possession to underline the problems Liverpool were creating for themselves.
Lilian Laslandes and Jean-Claude Darcheville - players who has had time in the English leagues - were beginning to cause growing danger with their movement and pace.
Liverpool started to hit back when Riise's fine crossfield pass found Luis Garcia, and the little Spaniard cut in to force Rame into an important save.
But on 58 minutes Liverpool stole into the lead.
Bellamy took a right-wing corner and there was Crouch storming into plant a firm header down at Rame's feet from 10 yards, the goalkeeper unable to halt the ball progress into the net.
But Crouch did not last much longer and he was replaced by Kuyt on 65 minutes, Bordeaux having sent on Marouane Chamakh and Julien Faubert for Laslandes and Alonso.
Next into the fray for Liverpool was Sissoko in place of Gonzalez, while Bordeaux sent on their Colombia international Edixon Perea for Darcheville.
Bordeaux came close to an equaliser when Chamakh sent a flashing header from a cross inches wide with eight minutes left.
Then Menegazzo saw a low header go wide from Jurietti's ball.
Kuyt was booked for kicking the ball away from a free-kick as Bordeaux kept coming forward before Stephen Warnock came on for Bellamy with four minutes left.
Warnock then almost grabbed a second when he worked his way clear from Zenden's pass, but Rame saved from 12 yards.
Liverpool had to withstand further late pressure, but hung onto their priceless victory.
