Liverpool bounce back to progress in Europa League
English Premier League side Liverpool may have left it late, but they secured their passage to the UEFA Europa League group stage after defeating Trabzonspor 2-1 in Turkey (3-1 on aggregate).
The home side levelled the tie when Teofilo Gutierrez turned home a shot from a team-mate, which would have sent the clash into extra time. But the Reds advanced after Giray Kacar scored an own goal and Dirk Kuyt netted for the five-time European champions.
Star men left at home
Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson had left star duo Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard out of the match, claiming that club captain Gerrard had been suffering from a back complaint and Torres was not yet ready to compete in three matches in a row after his exertions in helping Spain win the 2010 FIFA World Cup over the summer.
There were other changes as Joe Cole returned from suspension to line up alongside Fabio Aurelio, Sotiris Kyrgiakos, Martin Kelly and Christian Poulsen. David Ngog was also given the chance to impress after being named ahead of Ryan Babel, who scored in the first leg.
While the starting XI had been vastly changed from the side which fell 3-0 to Manchester City in the EPL on Monday, there appeared to be a hangover from that defeat as Liverpool struggled to gain an early foothold in the match.
Indeed, it took just four minutes before they found themselves behind on the night as the Turkish outfit, who had not lost at home since last December, netted. Gustavo Colman nicked the ball away from Kuyt and fired across goal, while Gutierrez was on hand to provide the finishing touch to leave Cole’s missed penalty from the first leg looking like it was coming back to haunt the Reds.
Close to going ahead
Trabzonspor almost went ahead in the tie as Liverpool failed to clear a free-kick but striker Ibrahima Yattara was only able to head wide from point-blank range.
The visitors, taking heart from that close call, began to find their feet and almost put themselves back in front on aggregate when Cole thumped in a cross to Ngog at the far post but the France Under-21 international was only able to nod wide.
The striker, though disappointed by the miss, came very close to making up for his wasted effort as he weaved his way into the edge of the Trabzonspor box but ended up firing wide.
Desperate to find the goal that would all but ensure their progression, Liverpool pushed forward in numbers and were rewarded for their pressure after 84 minutes when right-back Glen Johnson’s cross was diverted in by the home side’s Kacar.
Exposed in defence
With Trabzonspor now needing two goals to progress, they had no option but to throw men forward but that came at a cost as they left themselves exposed at the back. The visitors were able to capitalise on having more space as Daniel Pacheco’s shut was parried by goalkeeper Onur Kivrak towards Kuyt and the Dutchman wrapped up the victory when he fired home.
Hodgson told of his delight at picking up the win. He said in his post-match press conference that: “I thought it was a good performance from start to finish and we were very unlucky to go behind to a deflected shot so early in the game, but we showed great character to keep going and keep playing the right football. I am really pleased we have achieved a victory here against a team that is notoriously difficult to beat in Trabzon. Their record at home, both domestically and in European competitions, is very good. They are a good team, we knew that from Anfield, so I am really pleased with the victory.”
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