Football Update: Joe Cole impresses as Liverpool Beat Rabotnicki 2-0 to qualify for the Europa League
From the dizzy heights of winning the Champions League not so long ago and then another final appearance just two years later, Liverpool now find themselves playing in the Europa League this season. At least they did not make a mockery of it, as they easily glided past the Macedonian outfit Rabotnicki in to the last qualifying round to make sure of their appearance at the group stage of the Europa league this season which will kick off in September.
Liverpool finished 7th in the Premier League this season and had to play a qualifying round to make sure of their progress and they easily beat the minnows from Macedonia 4-0 on aggregate.
Roy Hodgson had said before the match, that he will field the strongest possible team and he did. Torres, Reina and Babel were unavailable due to injury while Mascherano could not have been drafted in the squad, as UEFA rules stipulate that a player cannot represent two teams in one season in continental competitions. Mascherano is all but certain to join his former boss Rafael Benitez at Inter Milan and had Hodgson played him in the match he would have been cup-tied and ineligible to play for Inter in the Champions League.
Therefore, with the available resources, Roy made a statement of intent when he named Steven Gerrard, Joe Cole, Milan Jovanovic and the Spanish sensation Pacheco in the starting line-up.
It was a match Liverpool dominated from the outset and never looked in any danger and with a 2-0 first leg deficit that Rabotnicki had to overturn, made Liverpool’s task even easier as the Romantics had to chase the game, while Liverpool were quite happy to play possession football.
Liverpool had 66% possession in the match and had a staggering 23 attempts in goal with 13 on target to their opponents 7 with only 2 on target.
Liverpool’s both new signings Milan Jovanovic and Joe Cole impressed in the game, as he was their creative spark in the attacking midfield while Jovanovic provided impetus from the wings.
It was Joe Cole’s curling header from near the corner flag that David Ngog headed in from close range to give Liverpool the lead in the 22nd minute.
Ngog turned provider for the second, when he was impeded in the box by Fernando Lopes and Steven Gerrard slotted the resulting penalty easily past the goal keeper.
Rabotnicki’s best effort came very late in the game but Martin Kelly masterfully blocked Marcio’s shot and Filip Petkovski also hit the post late in the game.
Things in the recent past are looking good for Liverpool, as they are in the process of being taken over by a Chinese business tycoon and now they also have booked their place in the Europa League group stages, it’s so far so good for Liverpool.
Europa may not be the Continent’s premier footballing competition but Roy Hodgson was delighted with his team’s progress.
David Ngog scored 3 of the 4 goals Liverpool scored in this tie and looks like he is certain to partner Fernando Torres for Liverpool’s opening Premier League clash on august the 16th.
Liverpool also brought on Alberto Aquilani in the second half in place of Steven Gerrad and the Spanish talent also looked lively on the field creating at least two good chances for the home team but their strikers could not convert.
Rabotnicki also had a penalty call turned down when Gjorgi Mojsov was booked for diving, when he fell over Martin Kelly in the box. It looked a little harsh on the visitors but a clean sheet was nothing more than Diego Cavellieri deserved on the night.
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