Liverpool’s 1-1 draw away to Steaua Bucharest was enough to guarantee the Reds safe passage into the knock-out stages of the Europa League. Bonfim cancelled out a first-half strike from Jovanovic, but with Utrecht and Napoli drawing 3-3 in the other Group K game, the draw secured Liverpool top-spot.. - Group K Table -

Hodgson, who was without Torres, Gerrard, Carragher, Kuyt and Meireles for the trip to Romania, handed starts to youngsters Pacheco, Shelvey, Wilson and Kelly.

On a cold winter’s evening in Bucharest the hosts could have taken the lead on 16 minutes. Bicfalvi failed to find the back of the net from six yards out with a header from a Surdu cross.

Steaua were made to rue Bicfalvi’s miss as Liverpool opened the scoring just three minutes later. Jovanovic met an inviting cross from Babel with a well-placed header that squeezed in at the foot of the post.

Geraldo was denied by Reina as the home side came out the second-half intent on finding an equaliser.

Steaua’s aerial bombardment paid off on the hour mark as Reina let a Bonfim header slip through his legs.

Despite some late pressure from the Romanians, Liverpool held on for a deserved point and a place in the next round of the Europa League.


- Match Stats: Steaua Bucharest 1-1 Liverpool

Steaua Bucarest: Tatarusanu, Latovlevici, Gardos, Geraldo, Bonfim, Tanase, Gomes, Bicfalvi (Angelov, 47), Nicolita, Surdu (Szekely, 80), Stancu

Booked: Nicolita, Surdu, Bonfim

Goals: Bonfim 60

Liverpool: Reina, Kelly, Wilson, Kyrgyakos, F. Aurelio, Pacheco (Lucas, 89), Poulsen, Shelvey, Jovanovic (Ecclestone, 78), Cole (Ngog, 75), Babel.

Goals: Jovanovic 19

 

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