Liverpool against FC Utrecht

Cole takes it and it's closed down. It comes to Aurelio out on the left, and his cross is nearly turned in at the near post.

Liverpool win a free-kick on the edge of the area as Cole bustles through and threatens to make something happen.

That looks unlikely, but this is likely to represent the Reds' fourth consecutive home win.

Liverpool, though, could win their ninth consecutive home match in Europe, equalling the record set in 1976-78 and then repeated in 1984-1991.

Exclusing qualifiers, Utrecht have not won for ten games away in Europe. It seems that run is set to go on tonight as there seems scant hope of a goal for either side.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Maguire is replaced as Sarota comes on.

Cole passes up the chance of the game as Aurelio's cross bounces to him a few yards from goal! His shot is blocked well, but he really should have done better there.

Oar crosses from the left once more, but there's no one there and Aurelio collects the ball at the far post.

Keller puts in a tackle to prevent Babel racing away down the left.

Aurelio heads the corner clear.

Oar puts in a cross from the left and Aurelio turns it behind for a corner.

Mertens fires in a shot, but it's well off target.

Kelly battles to get a cross in from the right, but Vorm claims it without too much trouble.

Cole puts in a cross from the right but it's over Babel's head.

Aurelio whips it in but it's headed clear at the near post.

Kuyt wins a corner.

That means Torres will remain on the bench tonight, but maybe Kuyt can help turn this game in Liverpool's favour.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Kuyt comes on for Liverpool against his former club. Jovanovic makes way.

Cole plays the ball to Babel on the edge of the area, but he dwells and is massively outnumbered.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Duplan comes off to be replaced by Oar.

The fans are still making plenty of noise, but the quality of play is wretched.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2010/1215/martinskrtelandleondekogel_275x155.jpg"> <br>Liverpool's Martin Skrtel and FC Utrecht's Leon de Kogel battle for the ball

Shelvey lays the ball off for Kelly to cross from the right, but his delivery is poor with few targets in the box.

Jones fails to claim Maguire's corner, but it's headed clear.

Nesu is released down the left again and wins a corner off Wilson.

Maguire puts a free-kick into the area but, under pressure from Wilson, De Kogel can only knock it out of play for a goal kick.

Maguire attempts a one-two on the edge of the area, which typically fails to come off. We've got the verve now, but we're still lacking the quality.

Mertens gets into a dangerous position on the edge of the box but, instead of taking on the shot, he plays a poor pass and it's hoofed clear.

Cole slips a ball out for Babel, but the pass is imprecise and Babel's not really alert to it.

Pacheco tries a low shot from distance, but it does little to trouble Vorm.

Aurelio finds his way into the area and, again, the cross is blocked. The atmosphere has picked up a little now, though.

Very neat pass from Jovanovic there and hopefully a signal of an upturn in the game.

Jovanovic finds Kelly out on the right and he drives the ball across the face of goal, but no one can get the vital touch!

Pacheco finds Babel in the area, but the Dutchman's cross is poor. Good early impact from the subsitute, though.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Pacheco comes on for Eccleston. It's surprising Pacheco didn't get a start tonight.

Babel runs with the ball and keeps running. Ignoring Jovanovic's run, he pulls a shot from a very difficult angle.

Cole picks the ball up in a central area but is bundled off it with little effort. Utrecht break and De Kogel fires a shot well over the bar.

The corner comes right across the Reds' penalty area and Liverpool clear.

Mertens slips a ball down the left for Nesu in one of the most competent pieces of play we've seen for a while. Utrecht corner.

Babel gives the ball away as Jovanovic and Cole try to start a break. The passing has been unbelievably sloppy for both sides.

Nijholt looks to get something going for Utrecht but, as has been typed many a time tonight, the move breaks down.

FC Utrecht kick off the second half!

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Kyrgiakos is replacing Skrtel and takes the captain's armband.

"It hasn't been a great performance," Liverpool legend Ian Rush says. "I think maybe we need to push 20 or 30 yards up the pitch."

Van Wolfswinkel is apparently heading to hospital with a broken collarbone.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2010/1215/nathanecclestonvutrecht_275x155.jpg"> <br>Liverpool's Nathan Eccleston chases the ball against Utrecht

<i>ESPNsoccernet</i>'s Dom Raynor says: "Liverpool could have used this game to find some form and build confidence, but instead Hodgson has picked a second-string side and they have struggled."

Former Reds striker Stan Collymore, speaking on <i>Five</i>, said the first half has been "predictable and pedestrian".

You can follow the action from all tonight's game with Michael <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/853687?cc=5739" target="_blank">here</a>.

Our man Michael Da Silva's had his say on the first-half on our live chat: "Joe Cole's been anonymous again tonight. He's out on the left and is really struggling to get into the game. I would have thought that on a night where Torres, Kuyt and Gerrard are all missing, Cole might be employed in a free role."

Van Wolfswinkel's injury will seriously hinder the visitors' hopes of breaking the deadlock.

It's been a dismal first half for the most part. Jovanovic nearly made something out of nothing when he clipped the crossbar, but that was as good as it got.

And that's half-time.

Cole nearly gets something going in a more central position after a first half of anonymity out on the left. As has been the case all night, though, his final ball is poor.

Shelvey puts an inswinger in from the left looking for Eccleston, but no one makes contact and it's a goal kick.

We'll have three minutes' added time.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> De Kogel has now replaced Van Wolfswinkel.

Aurelio puts in a neat clipped cross from the left, but it's cleared.

Van Wolfswinkel's gone off but, as we're on the verge of half-time, there's no sub for now.

The stretcher's on now. It was a simple shoulder to shoulder with Wilson and no blame can be directed towards the Liverpool man.

Van Wolfswinkel looks to have sustained a shoulder injury. He may have to come off.

Silberbauer looks to play a ball over the top for Duplan, but he overhits it. Goal kick.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2010/1215/milanjovanovicvfcutrecht_275x155.jpg"> <br>Liverpool's Milan Jovanovic breaks clear of the FC Utrecht defence

Babel looks to break away, but Silberbauer dispossesses him before winning a free-kick.

Eccleston dances clear of his marker down the right in one of those rare moments of spark, but nothing comes of it.

Jovanovic concedes a corner but, again, it fails to beat the first man.

A Utrecht cross from the right fails to beat the first man.

A defensive error from Utrecht sees Jovanovic lay it back for Poulsen, but his cross is really poor and the chance is lost.

Maguire races away on a counter for the visitors before sending a wretched pass out for a throw-in.

Torres goes for a jog along the touchline to give the Liverpool fans something to get excited about. Maybe he will make an appearance.

The match in a nutshell: a long ball from Jones ends up with opposite number Vorm.

The fact that it's (pretty much) a dead rubber is showing. There's been the odd burst, but both sides look happy to knock it around in defence and, when they look to progress, it's just not coming off.

Aurelio whips a free-kick into the danger area, but the ball is headed clear before Babel can get there. Good cross from the Brazilian.

Shelvey puts it into the centre and Wilson rises to meet it but, with a defender blocking him off, he heads well over the bar.

Keller puts the ball behind for a Liverpool corner.

Maguire feeds Van Wolfswinkel in the area but he runs into trouble. It comes back to Van Wolfswinkel to cross from the left, but Jones claims confidently.

Liverpool try to make something down the left flank but again it comes to nothing.

Aurelio's free-kick fails to clear the wall.

Babel wins a free-kick on the edge of the area after pikcing up up the ball on the left and trying to make something happen. Utrecht stood off him and that will, hopefully, encourage them to try to inject some spark into this game.

Kelly and Jovanovic look to exchange passes, but the latter's return ball is really poor. Liverpool aren't really clicking as a team at the moment.

Utrecht have been knocking the ball around the defence quite comfortably for some time now.

Nesu dispossesses Kelly as Liverpool look to build an attack down the right.

Jovanovic fires a fierce long-range effort onto the top of the bar! He drove at the defence, despite being heavily outnumbered, and looked to have made the wrong decision before unleashing a fantastic strike.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Ecclestone is booked for a silly foul on Nesu.

Mertens picks the ball up on the left wing and causes more problems for Kelly. Skrtel again bails him out.

Here's a nice stat: Liverpool have been fouled 47 times in the Europa League this season, making them the competition's least-fouled team.

Kelly plays a poor backpass towards Skrtel and nearly causes a problem for his team early on, but the Slovakian gets the ball back to Jones.

There's a decent atmosphere at Anfield and Liverpool have been knocking the ball around well enough in the opening couple of minutes.

Liverpool get the match underway!

"If you look at our league position, we?re certainly more likely to win the Europa League than the Premier League," Hodgson told <i>Five</i>. He did point out that they have yet to play in the FA Cup, but a third-round date with Manchester United will make that a tricky prospect from the off.

This game may be of little importance to the Reds, but Hodgson has acknowledged that the Europa League may be his best hope of winning a trophy this season.

Liverpool are already through as group leaders, but Utrecht could do with a victory to bolster the Netherlands' coefficient.

Liverpool were fortunate to escape with a draw that day, but Roy Hodgson's men appear to have improved over recent months and will expect a better showing today.

Utrecht have made three changes from the team that drew 0-0 against the Reds in September, with Barry Maguire, Sander Keller and Gianluca Nijholt the new faces.

Joe Cole, Milan Jovanovic, Christian Poulsen, Martin Skrtel, Fabio Aurelio and Ryan Babel will give the side some experience.

Brad Jones, then, will get his second Liverpool start in goal, and we'll also see Nathan Eccleston in attack.

Torres is on the bench and, given that it's a dead rubber, seems unlikely to feature. Reina is not even in the matchday squad.

The significant news is that Roy Hodgson may have misled us with his remarks that "Fernando Torres will be involved in the game, as will Pepe Reina".

Hello, I'm Robin Hackett and I'll be guiding you through tonight's game at Anfield.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2010/1214/pepereinaandtorres20101214_275x155.jpg"> <br>Pepe Reina and Fernando Torres are set to start

Liverpool are desperately in need of a good performance as they search for some form. Join us at 20.05 GMT to see how Roy Hodgson's team get on.

Kuyt wins a corner.

That means Torres will remain on the bench tonight, but maybe Kuyt can help turn this game in Liverpool's favour.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Kuyt comes on for Liverpool against his former club. Jovanovic makes way.

Cole plays the ball to Babel on the edge of the area, but he dwells and is massively outnumbered.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Duplan comes off to be replaced by Oar.

The fans are still making plenty of noise, but the quality of play is wretched.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2010/1215/martinskrtelandleondekogel_275x155.jpg"> <br>Liverpool's Martin Skrtel and FC Utrecht's Leon de Kogel battle for the ball

Shelvey lays the ball off for Kelly to cross from the right, but his delivery is poor with few targets in the box.

Jones fails to claim Maguire's corner, but it's headed clear.

Nesu is released down the left again and wins a corner off Wilson.

Maguire puts a free-kick into the area but, under pressure from Wilson, De Kogel can only knock it out of play for a goal kick.

Maguire attempts a one-two on the edge of the area, which typically fails to come off. We've got the verve now, but we're still lacking the quality.

Mertens gets into a dangerous position on the edge of the box but, instead of taking on the shot, he plays a poor pass and it's hoofed clear.

Cole slips a ball out for Babel, but the pass is imprecise and Babel's not really alert to it.

Pacheco tries a low shot from distance, but it does little to trouble Vorm.

Aurelio finds his way into the area and, again, the cross is blocked. The atmosphere has picked up a little now, though.

Very neat pass from Jovanovic there and hopefully a signal of an upturn in the game.

Jovanovic finds Kelly out on the right and he drives the ball across the face of goal, but no one can get the vital touch!

Pacheco finds Babel in the area, but the Dutchman's cross is poor. Good early impact from the subsitute, though.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Pacheco comes on for Eccleston. It's surprising Pacheco didn't get a start tonight.

Babel runs with the ball and keeps running. Ignoring Jovanovic's run, he pulls a shot from a very difficult angle.

Cole picks the ball up in a central area but is bundled off it with little effort. Utrecht break and De Kogel fires a shot well over the bar.

The corner comes right across the Reds' penalty area and Liverpool clear.

Mertens slips a ball down the left for Nesu in one of the most competent pieces of play we've seen for a while. Utrecht corner.

Babel gives the ball away as Jovanovic and Cole try to start a break. The passing has been unbelievably sloppy for both sides.

Nijholt looks to get something going for Utrecht but, as has been typed many a time tonight, the move breaks down.

FC Utrecht kick off the second half!

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Kyrgiakos is replacing Skrtel and takes the captain's armband.

"It hasn't been a great performance," Liverpool legend Ian Rush says. "I think maybe we need to push 20 or 30 yards up the pitch."

Van Wolfswinkel is apparently heading to hospital with a broken collarbone.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2010/1215/nathanecclestonvutrecht_275x155.jpg"> <br>Liverpool's Nathan Eccleston chases the ball against Utrecht

<i>ESPNsoccernet</i>'s Dom Raynor says: "Liverpool could have used this game to find some form and build confidence, but instead Hodgson has picked a second-string side and they have struggled."

Former Reds striker Stan Collymore, speaking on <i>Five</i>, said the first half has been "predictable and pedestrian".

You can follow the action from all tonight's game with Michael <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/853687?cc=5739" target="_blank">here</a>.

Our man Michael Da Silva's had his say on the first-half on our live chat: "Joe Cole's been anonymous again tonight. He's out on the left and is really struggling to get into the game. I would have thought that on a night where Torres, Kuyt and Gerrard are all missing, Cole might be employed in a free role."

Van Wolfswinkel's injury will seriously hinder the visitors' hopes of breaking the deadlock.

It's been a dismal first half for the most part. Jovanovic nearly made something out of nothing when he clipped the crossbar, but that was as good as it got.

And that's half-time.

Cole nearly gets something going in a more central position after a first half of anonymity out on the left. As has been the case all night, though, his final ball is poor.

Shelvey puts an inswinger in from the left looking for Eccleston, but no one makes contact and it's a goal kick.

We'll have three minutes' added time.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> De Kogel has now replaced Van Wolfswinkel.

Aurelio puts in a neat clipped cross from the left, but it's cleared.

Van Wolfswinkel's gone off but, as we're on the verge of half-time, there's no sub for now.

The stretcher's on now. It was a simple shoulder to shoulder with Wilson and no blame can be directed towards the Liverpool man.

Van Wolfswinkel looks to have sustained a shoulder injury. He may have to come off.

Silberbauer looks to play a ball over the top for Duplan, but he overhits it. Goal kick.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2010/1215/milanjovanovicvfcutrecht_275x155.jpg"> <br>Liverpool's Milan Jovanovic breaks clear of the FC Utrecht defence

Babel looks to break away, but Silberbauer dispossesses him before winning a free-kick.

Eccleston dances clear of his marker down the right in one of those rare moments of spark, but nothing comes of it.

Jovanovic concedes a corner but, again, it fails to beat the first man.

A Utrecht cross from the right fails to beat the first man.

A defensive error from Utrecht sees Jovanovic lay it back for Poulsen, but his cross is really poor and the chance is lost.

Maguire races away on a counter for the visitors before sending a wretched pass out for a throw-in.

Torres goes for a jog along the touchline to give the Liverpool fans something to get excited about. Maybe he will make an appearance.

The match in a nutshell: a long ball from Jones ends up with opposite number Vorm.

The fact that it's (pretty much) a dead rubber is showing. There's been the odd burst, but both sides look happy to knock it around in defence and, when they look to progress, it's just not coming off.

Aurelio whips a free-kick into the danger area, but the ball is headed clear before Babel can get there. Good cross from the Brazilian.

Shelvey puts it into the centre and Wilson rises to meet it but, with a defender blocking him off, he heads well over the bar.

Keller puts the ball behind for a Liverpool corner.

Maguire feeds Van Wolfswinkel in the area but he runs into trouble. It comes back to Van Wolfswinkel to cross from the left, but Jones claims confidently.

Liverpool try to make something down the left flank but again it comes to nothing.

Aurelio's free-kick fails to clear the wall.

Babel wins a free-kick on the edge of the area after pikcing up up the ball on the left and trying to make something happen. Utrecht stood off him and that will, hopefully, encourage them to try to inject some spark into this game.

Kelly and Jovanovic look to exchange passes, but the latter's return ball is really poor. Liverpool aren't really clicking as a team at the moment.

Utrecht have been knocking the ball around the defence quite comfortably for some time now.

Nesu dispossesses Kelly as Liverpool look to build an attack down the right.

Jovanovic fires a fierce long-range effort onto the top of the bar! He drove at the defence, despite being heavily outnumbered, and looked to have made the wrong decision before unleashing a fantastic strike.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Ecclestone is booked for a silly foul on Nesu.

Mertens picks the ball up on the left wing and causes more problems for Kelly. Skrtel again bails him out.

Here's a nice stat: Liverpool have been fouled 47 times in the Europa League this season, making them the competition's least-fouled team.

Kelly plays a poor backpass towards Skrtel and nearly causes a problem for his team early on, but the Slovakian gets the ball back to Jones.

There's a decent atmosphere at Anfield and Liverpool have been knocking the ball around well enough in the opening couple of minutes.

Liverpool get the match underway!

"If you look at our league position, we?re certainly more likely to win the Europa League than the Premier League," Hodgson told <i>Five</i>. He did point out that they have yet to play in the FA Cup, but a third-round date with Manchester United will make that a tricky prospect from the off.

This game may be of little importance to the Reds, but Hodgson has acknowledged that the Europa League may be his best hope of winning a trophy this season.

Liverpool are already through as group leaders, but Utrecht could do with a victory to bolster the Netherlands' coefficient.

Liverpool were fortunate to escape with a draw that day, but Roy Hodgson's men appear to have improved over recent months and will expect a better showing today.

Utrecht have made three changes from the team that drew 0-0 against the Reds in September, with Barry Maguire, Sander Keller and Gianluca Nijholt the new faces.

Joe Cole, Milan Jovanovic, Christian Poulsen, Martin Skrtel, Fabio Aurelio and Ryan Babel will give the side some experience.

Brad Jones, then, will get his second Liverpool start in goal, and we'll also see Nathan Eccleston in attack.

Torres is on the bench and, given that it's a dead rubber, seems unlikely to feature. Reina is not even in the matchday squad.

The significant news is that Roy Hodgson may have misled us with his remarks that "Fernando Torres will be involved in the game, as will Pepe Reina".

Hello, I'm Robin Hackett and I'll be guiding you through tonight's game at Anfield.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2010/1214/pepereinaandtorres20101214_275x155.jpg"> <br>Pepe Reina and Fernando Torres are set to start

Liverpool are desperately in need of a good performance as they search for some form. Join us at 20.05 GMT to see how Roy Hodgson's team get on.