Originally posted by Shaggy
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Roy Hodgson believes Liverpool can be pleased to have gained a point against an impressive Utrecht side on Thursday night.
Both sides had chances to prevent the game ending 0-0, though with last-ditch interventions required from Pepe Reina and Raul Meireles, Hodgson had no complaints at returning home with a share of the spoils.
The result leaves Liverpool top of Group K, two points ahead of both Napoli and Utrecht.
The manager said: "It was a good point. We knew it was going to be a tough game. The occasions when they created some chances were largely of our own making. They were the result of unfortunate individual errors. I thought the shape of the team and the way we approached the game - I can have nothing but praise for my team.
"We created some good chances ourselves also. It wasn't a dull 0-0, there was activity at both ends of the field.
"Utrecht did well. They were as determined and committed as we expected them to be, so we had to be at our best defensively and we were.
"We saw some very determined chasing down from the Dutch forwards, their crossing and attacking the ball from crossing was good and it was easy to see why Utrecht have got a very good home record.
"So it's a good point to take back to Liverpool. Four points out of two games. It's the first time we haven't won one of these games but to be honest it would have been unfortunate for them if we'd won the game tonight. They would have felt hard done by. For me, a draw was a more than satisfactory result.
"I think the group is going to be very tight. The other game finished in a draw. We're top with four, then Utrecht and Napoli with two points and Steaua Bucharest with one point. It's already quite close and I think it will be close right until the end with the way this group is panning out."
Asked about the performance of Fernando Torres, who had a great second-half chance saved, Hodgson said: "There was some good combinations between him and the wide players and Dirk Kuyt. He worked very hard but he's still missing that elusive goal.
"There were a couple of quite good occasions for him to score but I think he'll feel it was a good 90-minute workout for him and another step in the right direction."
Hodgson was also quizzed on Meireles playing on the right.
He said: "We don't play with wingers. The way he plays and the way Joe Cole plays, we think (playing wide midfield) is more than suited to their qualities.
"We saw evidence of that in the game because they often got into situations where they received and turned with the ball - especially in the first half. I think we can get some use from Raul Meireles there with his passing ability."
Both sides had chances to prevent the game ending 0-0, though with last-ditch interventions required from Pepe Reina and Raul Meireles, Hodgson had no complaints at returning home with a share of the spoils.
The result leaves Liverpool top of Group K, two points ahead of both Napoli and Utrecht.
The manager said: "It was a good point. We knew it was going to be a tough game. The occasions when they created some chances were largely of our own making. They were the result of unfortunate individual errors. I thought the shape of the team and the way we approached the game - I can have nothing but praise for my team.
"We created some good chances ourselves also. It wasn't a dull 0-0, there was activity at both ends of the field.
"Utrecht did well. They were as determined and committed as we expected them to be, so we had to be at our best defensively and we were.
"We saw some very determined chasing down from the Dutch forwards, their crossing and attacking the ball from crossing was good and it was easy to see why Utrecht have got a very good home record.
"So it's a good point to take back to Liverpool. Four points out of two games. It's the first time we haven't won one of these games but to be honest it would have been unfortunate for them if we'd won the game tonight. They would have felt hard done by. For me, a draw was a more than satisfactory result.
"I think the group is going to be very tight. The other game finished in a draw. We're top with four, then Utrecht and Napoli with two points and Steaua Bucharest with one point. It's already quite close and I think it will be close right until the end with the way this group is panning out."
Asked about the performance of Fernando Torres, who had a great second-half chance saved, Hodgson said: "There was some good combinations between him and the wide players and Dirk Kuyt. He worked very hard but he's still missing that elusive goal.
"There were a couple of quite good occasions for him to score but I think he'll feel it was a good 90-minute workout for him and another step in the right direction."
Hodgson was also quizzed on Meireles playing on the right.
He said: "We don't play with wingers. The way he plays and the way Joe Cole plays, we think (playing wide midfield) is more than suited to their qualities.
"We saw evidence of that in the game because they often got into situations where they received and turned with the ball - especially in the first half. I think we can get some use from Raul Meireles there with his passing ability."
**** off Roy and take your **** house small club tactics with you!
) match comments please?
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