Unirea Urziceni 1-3 Liverpool
Liverpool had to come from behind in a 3-1 victory away to Unirea Urziceni to make the last 16 of the Europa League.
The Reds led 1-0 from the Anfield leg last week, a goal which was quickly cancelled out on Thursday night through Bruno Fernandes’ thumping header after 19 minutes.
Liverpool were rattled amid a hostile atmosphere in Bucharest, but midfielder Javier Mascherano eased their fears with a ferocious strike just before the half-hour mark.
After Unirea pressured with a series of consecutive corners, Ryan Babel scored with a snapshot when the Romanians failed to clear a Steven Gerrard free-kick.
Liverpool looked much more comfortable after the break and it was Gerrard who put the tie out of sight when he stroked in after 57 minutes to seal a 4-1 aggregate score.
Manager Rafa Benitez will be pleased with his side’s fighting spirit but the night was dampened somewhat after defender Martin Skrtel was stretchered off on 66 minutes clutching his right ankle. Read more »
Daniel Agger today reflected on making his 100th appearance for Liverpool and declared: ‘I hope to reach 200 even quicker.’
The Dane racked up his century for the Reds in Thursday’s victory over Unirea Urziceni, but believes he would have attained the milestone sooner had it not been for injuries.
“To play 100 games for Liverpool is a big thing for me,” Agger told Liverpoolfc.tv.
“To do it in four years means I’ve averaged 25 games a year, which is okay but I think I could have done it sooner without the injuries. But that’s the way it is.
“I hope I can get to 200 quicker. That’s definitely my target, but again it’s something I can’t control.”
Agger’s 100th run out came in the Europa League and while the centre-back concedes Liverpool are disappointed not to still be in the running for Champions League glory, he insists no-one at Anfield is feeling sorry for themselves.
Instead, the 25-year-old states Rafael Benitez’s charges will be doing all they can to bring some silverware back to L4 this season.
Reflecting on the Reds’ Champions League exit, he said: “We weren’t good enough, so we can’t feel sorry for ourselves. It’s our mistake and we just have to get the best out of the competition we’re in now. Read more »
Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has admitted Glen Johnson is close to a return, but he will not be rushed back.
The Reds defender has been sidelined since suffering medial knee ligament damage in December, missing his side’s poor run of form this year.
The England international was a mainstay in the Liverpool team before his injury suffered against Aston Villa, making 17 appearances in the Premier League this season, scoring twice.
And like returning striker Fernando Torres, Benitez says he will be eased back into contention.
“Johnson is very close,” he said. “I think next week he will be training with the team, or maybe at the end of the week, but it will be the same situation we have with Torres.
“He will need time and we will introduce him little by little.”
The Reds travel to Romania on Thursday to face Unirea Urziceni in the Europa League.
Taking a lead into the away leg after a 1-0 win at Anfield, Liverpool will be favourites to progress, and Benitez hopes there will be more opportunities to attack. Read more »
Saturday 26th Feb – kick off 18:00
Liverpool head to Urziceni for the second leg of their Europa League encounter against the Romanian champions
History
This is Unirea’s first year of European football, so the only time the teams have was last week. Despite being the better team in that game, Liverpool have the slenderest of leads following the 1-0 win at Anfield.
The night proved to be a nail-biter for Liverpool fans; firstly the goal that they deserved refused to come until the 81st minute, then Unirea woke up and started to put pressure on the Reds’ back line. Luckily, we held out to keep the crucial clean sheet.
Steven Gerrard has named Zinedine Zidane as his all-time favourite footballer – claiming he could learn much from the French ‘genius’.
The Real Madrid and Juventus legend last year hailed our skipper as the world’s best player, and in an interview with FIFA.com Gerrard revealed the feeling was mutual.
“My favourite player of all time is Zinedine Zidane,” said the Scouser. “Just to see him play – the way he moves, the way he controls the ball, the way he passes – is an absolute privilege and there’s so much you can learn from that guy, he’s a genius with the ball.
“From an England point of view, there is Gazza. I like watching gifted players who are skilful, and Gazza is probably one of the most skilful English players there’s even been, so I would pick those two.”
Meanwhile, Gerrard is ready to take a crucial penalty if required at this summer’s World Cup despite missing in the shoot-out with Portugal in 2006.
He said: “I think, having missed the penalty, I’ll probably be a bit more composed next time and take my time a bit more.
“I’ll work that little bit harder in training to make sure I know what I’m going to be doing. It all happened really fast in 2006 and I felt after the penalties that I should have taken my time more. Read more »
UEFA Champions League credentials come under the spotlight on Sunday when rivals ManchesterCity and Liverpool meet at Eastlands.
City have emerged as the favourites to push the Reds out of the traditional Big Four cartel and they currently occupy the all-important fourth place in the Premier League, while still holding a game in hand over their closest competitors.
This weekend’s fixture has therefore become vitally important to both teams and a victory either way could secure a significant advantage in the battle for a lucrative spot in next season’s European Cup.
It has also been speculated that the future of opposing managers Roberto Mancini, at City, and Liverpool’s Rafa Benitez could hang in the balance of a top-four finish.
Mancini made an impressive start to his career in England after succeeding Mark Hughes in December, but the Italian has won just two of his next six games and he has been forced to deny reports of a bust-up with Craig Bellamy. Read more »
Rafael Benitez insists Liverpool will adopt an attacking mentality in their attempt to bring Manchester City’s undefeated home record to an end on Sunday.
The Reds make the short journey to Eastlands this weekend looking to overtake Roberto Mancini’s fourth place side in the Barclays Premier League table by claiming three points.
And Benitez acknowledges a Liverpool victory can make a real statement of intent in the race for Champions League football.
“It will be a very important game for both teams,” the boss told reporters. “We know from our positions we are both fighting with Tottenham and Aston Villa, so we have to keep going until the end (of the season).
“We will try to win. If you cannot, it is better not to lose, but the main thing for us is to try and win.
“We will try to attack and we know we will have to score goals if we want to win.
“You never know how you can win – sometimes it is counter-attack, sometimes it is attacking, so we will try to find the right balance.
“They are an attacking team and we will have to attack too, so I think it will be more open (than against Unirea).” Read more »
Having watched on longingly from afar as the opening exchanges of the UEFA Champions League knockout rounds unfolded earlier in the week, Liverpool begin their Europa League campaign against Unirea Urziceni on Thursday.
As arch-rivals Manchester United secured a thrilling win at continental giants AC Milan and Arsenal were surrounded by refereeing controversy against Porto, the Reds have been preparing to welcome a little-known Romanian side to Anfield.
Ahead of the first leg of their last-32 tie, manager Rafa Benitez and captain Steven Gerrard have been keen to stress the value of the Europa League, but behind closed doors the pair will recognise their participation is a marker of a failed season.
Liverpool were dumped out of the Champions League, finishing third in Group E, and are fighting for fourth place, rather than the title, in the Premier League, while they were also eliminated from the early stages of the FA Cup and the Carling Cup. Read more »
Jamie Carragher has given Rafael Benitez a major boost by declaring himself fit to face Unirea Urziceni in the Europa League on Thursday night.
The Reds No.23 was forced to leave the field during the 1-0 defeat by Arsenal with an abductor problem, but he is back in the squad for tomorrow’s European tie.
Yossi Benayoun is also back in training after his rib injury, but Rafa will decide on Thursday afternoon whether the Israeli can return against the Romanian champions.
“Carra is training again and he will be available which is very good news for us,” the boss told Liverpoolfc.tv.
“He is an important player for us.
“Yossi is training with the team. He still has a problem with his rib but at least he is training. We will decide about him on Thursday.”
Fernando Torres and Glen Johnson are not available for this game but the pair continue to make good progress at Melwood.
“Torres and Johnson are progressing and working with the fitness coach,” said Benitez. “They are very close but not available yet.”
Source: Liverpoolfc.tv
Liverpool Reserves are aiming to return to the top of the table tonight when they visit Burnley – a clash you can watch exclusively live online from 6.45pm GMT.
John McMahon’s side are two points behind leaders Manchester United with a game in hand going into tonight’s game.
Presenter Claire Rourke will be broadcasting live from the Crown Ground at 6.45pm before Steve Hunter and John Durnin take over commentary at 7pm.
Liverpool team:
Peter Gulacsi – Stephen Darby – Chris Mavinga – Daniel Ayala – Robbie Threlfall – Steven Irwin – David Amoo – Emmanuel Mendy – Nabil El Zhar – Damien Plessis – Alex Kacaniklic
Subs: Jay Spearing – Martin Hansen – Gerardo Bruna – Daniel Pacheco – Victor Palsson
Remember, you can’t watch the club’s promising reserves live anywhere else, so make sure you’ve signed up for an e-Season Ticket to see the game.
Source: Liverpoolfc.tv
