Europa League: Liverpool 0 – 0 FC Utrecht, Full time Analysis (Part 1)
The clash between two major footballing teams; one from the England and one from Netherlands was much awaited although they have disappointed a lot in recent times, especially the last season which saw them produce dismissive results.
Coincidentally both teams had acquired 7th position in their domestic leagues. While Liverpool had been a major disappointment last season in the English Premier League; blame it on injuries, poor form, finances and
management, FC Utrecht had similar concerns.
For Liverpool their world class forward Fernando Torres was called up in the Europa League fixture with the manager Roy Hodgson stating that he was trying to field the best possible team he could.
He told that to be able to encounter Utrecht at their Stadion Galgenwaard he was not going to underestimate the rivals and line up his best men available. That came true when he introduced many of his starring players at the kick
off.
However the Liverpool left wing was at harms way as their newly acquired left back from Fulham Paul Konchesky and his replacement who is an expert as a centre back Daniel Agger were both injured.
Also the Red’s captain Steven Gerrard was left back home to avoid stress and fatigue so that the club could concentrate more on their home league after the former Fulham manager Roy Hodgson stated that he will concentrate more
on the English Premier League rather than the European competition.
Liverpool were coming to Netherlands after suffering a 2-2 humiliating defeat against Sunderland on Super Sunday so they would have certainly been steamed up to prove form and perform in the match but their performance was disappointing
as the absence of main feature Steven Gerrard was certainly felt.
To replace the lost players Martin Kelly would be assuming responsibility as a left back and Lucas Leiva would be holding out in the midfield.
Utrecht on the other hand were coming in the match with successful performances as they were yet to lose a match at home this season. So far they have won all their 6 matches at home. They will however be looking forward to their
prized striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel to lead the attack and if he was in form that meant bad news for Liverpool.
The prodigal 21 year old has been able to produce 6 goals in the 6 European matches he has played while his Eredivisie, home league’s record is even more impressive, having scored the same number in 7 matches there.
They featured their usual team with barely any of their players injured or on the left at rest list.
The lineup for FC Utrecht 1 Michel Vorm (Goal keeper), 17 Alje Schut (Defender), 2 Tim Cornelisse (Defender), 3 Mihai Nesu (Defender), 8 Michael Silberbauer (Midfielder), 29 Jan Wuytens (Midfielder), 20 Jacob Lensky (Midfielder),
11 Dries Mertens, (Midfielder), 24 Jacob Mulenga (Forward), 7 Edouard Duplan (Forward) and 9 Ricky Wolfswinkel (Forward).
This suggested that their manager Ton du Chatinier was looking forward to a 3–4–3 formation. It suggested that Chatinier was going to attack the weakened Liverpool defence.
Their substitution line included 19, Khalid Sinouh (Goal keeper), 22 Sander Keller (Defender), 25 Ismo Vorstermams (Defender), 18 Maguire (Midfielder), 27 Gianluca Nijholt (Midfielder), 14 Mark Van Der Maarel (Midfielder) and 12
Frank Demouge (Forward).
For Liverpool the lineup included 25 Pepe Reina (Goal keeper), 23 Jamie Carragher (Defender), 2 Glen Johnson (Defender), 37 Martin Skrtel (Defender), 34Martin Kelly (Defender), 10J oe Cole (Midfielder), 28 Christian Poulsen (Midfielder)
4 Raul Meireles (Midfielder), 21 Lucas (Midfielder), 18 Dirk Kuyt (Forward) and 9 Fernando Torres (Forward).
These players emphasized that Liverpool manager Hodgson was still going with the 4–4–2 formation. Hodgson apparently was going to construct a play making game but that was not a good decision, it turned out, as the man who glued
the team together, Gerrard was resting back home.
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