Utrecht post match celebrations

[DannyMan2006]

I will add, whilst "watching" the match I was surfing the web looking for a new car. Everytime I bothered to look up, Poulsen seemed to give the ball away.

Within sixty seconds of one period of the match, Poulsen actually gave the ball away three times on the trot. Luckily the opposition were crap as well so they happily gave us the ball back. Sadly, our players then passed it to Poulsen.

[Mattshark]

[Gibbo]

Worst match ever.

[DannyMan2006]

hmm.....

Is she Craig H's version of Stevie Gerrard (still got it, but not as good as once was)

or...

Is she Arn's version of Stevie Gerrard (well past it and not really worth having)

??

[Craig_H]

"When all's said and done at the end of the day, we've stormed through to the latter stages of a prestigious competition. We're unbeaten in the competition having used second string teams and if you asked me am I pleased about the way the team is developing on this European stage then the answer would certainly have to be a thoroughly resounding yes. I'm sure the owners will be delighted about our progress, as am I. If we can raise our level in the league to match that of our European performances, then we can certainly aspire to much greater things." anyone having that?

Nope, not buying that one. Made-up quote alarm is ringing

[Arn]

Roy explains Torres omission
Reds boss leaves star striker on bench on medical advice

Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson revealed he left Fernando Torres on the bench against FC Utrecht on medical advice.

Hodgson had pledged on Tuesday to play the Spaniard but had a last-minute change of heart before Wednesday's clash at Anfield.

The game sorely missed the hot-shot as it petered out into a disappointing goalless stalemate.

The Reds boss said: "I had a change of heart (on starting Torres).

"I was seriously considering giving him a start but I had a talk with our fitness people and they convinced me it may not be the wisest move."
Kuyt hopeful

Meanwhile, Dirk Kuyt believes Liverpool have a great chance of winning the Europa League this season after finishing top - and unbeaten - in Group K.

The Dutchman savoured his appearance as substitute against Utrecht, the team with whom he began his professional career.

He said: "We have a couple of targets and obviously we like to win trophies.

"I think we have a very good chance to win this trophy.

"It's good to be top of the group, and we'll wait and see who our next opponent is."

While Liverpool await that news from Friday's draw, Utrecht's European campaign is over.

Delighted

Kuyt, though, was delighted to hear the travelling contingent from Holland cheering him as he appeared off the bench in the 73rd minute.

"That's great," he said. "The supporters from Utrecht were unbelievable, just like the Liverpool supporters.

"After seven years, to play against them and get a crowd like this it's unbelievable and showed a lot of respect, and I'm very thankful for that."

Kuyt stressed he understood why manager Hodgson had chosen to start the match with him on the bench.

"We play a lot of important games this month so he has to make his choices," Kuyt remarked.

"Obviously (the Premier League match against Fulham on) Saturday is another very important game for us so he decided to rest me."

Clicky

[Craig_H]

There's a longer version of that.

[Leyton388]

On a side note that Van Damme movie was gash.

[Craig_H]

And here's the longer version:

Roy Hodgson has revealed how he had a late change of heart when deciding whether to select Fernando Torres for Wednesday's 0-0 draw with Utrecht at Anfield.

The boss had admitted on Tuesday he expected the Spain star to play some part in the... Europa League encounter with the Dutch outfit.

However, after discussions with the club's medical staff, Hodgson opted against handing Torres a starting berth - and the striker remained an unused substitute.

The manager told his post-match press conference: "Following discussions with the conditioning people, they persuaded me to see the error of my ways.

"I had a vision of Fernando going out there, having a great 45 minutes, it being good for his confidence, maybe scoring a goal and giving him a little lift.

"I was only going to play him for 45 minutes, he didn't play against Aston Villa and he was quite looking forward to playing.

"But when we sat down and we started to talk about it again, it seemed to me the disadvantages or potential disadvantages far outweighed any potential advantage.

"In any game there is a risk of injury and we want to do a good training session tomorrow. If he had played 45 minutes he'd have been doing a warm down instead, but now we'll be doing a major training session preparing for the game against Fulham.

"I would have had to have given up all of those things (if I'd played him), and what would I have given them up for?

"If he had a wonderful 45 minutes and scored a couple of goals, it would have been really worthwhile.

"But if he'd just played the 45 minutes with the way Utrecht were playing today and the ball moving across the back, it would have been a complete waste of time for everybody.

"I'm glad I was persuaded to change my mind."

He added: "To be honest, one of the reasons for putting him on the bench was that we don't have anybody else because they're all with the youth team.

"I only planned to use the players on the bench if we absolutely needed to."

Meanwhile, reporters also quizzed Hodgson on Pepe Reina's omission from the teamsheet after it had been expected the custodian would start the contest.

Brad Jones was instead named between the sticks, with Martin Hansen on the bench.

Hodgson said: "He actually helped me (make the decision). He did say after the Steaua game he would like to give Brad a chance in the next game, and then we found out the Australian national coach was coming to the game tonight.

"So in actual fact, it wasn't difficult because he realises this was a chance for Brad to show what he can do in front of his national coach.

"The thing about Pepe is he just loves to play, but he made it very easy for me I've got to say."

The goalless stalemate with Utrecht wrapped up Liverpool's Europa League Group K campaign.

It ensured the Reds maintained their unbeaten European record so far this term, though Hodgson conceded it wasn't a contest that will live long in the memory.

Nonetheless, he believes it was a good experience for a young side that included the likes of Jonjo Shelvey, Martin Kelly and Nathan Eccleston, who can now look forward to Friday's last 32 draw.

Hodgson said: "It was a useful exercise. Don't forget this is a team who are very, very short of match practice. Even the senior players have played so few matches. There were a lot of young ones in there playing maybe only their second or third match in the first team.

"One or two of those have been away from home and, with respect, it's a different kettle of fish having the courage and ability to go out and play at Anfield in front of nearly 40,000 very expectant, optimistic and enthusiastic fans. It takes a lot of doing and taking all of that into account, I would have to conclude that tonight's was one of our more adept performances.

"There were definitely some positives, but it wasn't a classic. 0-0's never are and this was unfortunately a typical 0-0. Like they did in Napoli and Steaua, Utrecht played deep and kept the ball well.

"In particular, the positives were with one or two of the young players, like Wilson for example, who I thought did very well. Kelly was another one, Pacheco did quite well when he came on, and Brad Jones also kept a clean sheet in only his second game. Overall, I felt our control and domination was evident, albeit without the final desired moment that makes you think you have got it all put together sufficiently enough to score a goal. In all other areas however, I could not ask for more.

"In that respect, we got something out of it and we finished top of the group on points.

"The other real, real positive is that by reneging on my first idea to play with Torres and Reina, apart from Sotirios Kyrgiakos and Martin Skrtel, I have got a totally fresh team to play on Saturday against Fulham."

The gaffer continued: "I think the happiest thing for me is we've done it (qualified) and achieved the results without bashing our more recognised players. Torres played in Utrecht, Gerrard played a part in Rabotnicki and half a game against Napoli and Jamie (Carragher) has played once or twice, but players like Meireles, Maxi, Konchesky and Glen Johnson have hardly played (in Europe), if at all.

"So that's the good thing, we've done it with a margin. Obviously if I'd played those players, we'd be a stronger team than you saw tonight and would have perhaps finished the campaign in an even more formidable position.

"We are all a bit disappointed by the game. It certainly wasn't for want of trying. In fact, towards the end of the game I thought we had some reasonable chances but the problem was we lacked the technical quality in the final third.

"We got the ball into areas where we should have been capable of doing something or causing a problem, but unfortunately we didn't produce the pass and actually gave the ball away on one or two occasions.

"Even though I should be happier than I am, with the crowd we had my frustration and disappointment is that I was really rather hoping with so many people in (the stadium) for the first time we would produce a fairly sparkling performance but we weren't capable of doing that I'm afraid. The task is made much more difficult when faced with an opponent of the quality of Utrecht and sadly, this took its toll"

Meanwhile, journalists in the Anfield press room questioned Hodgson on the performance of Joe Cole.

He replied: "He sets himself high standards, he plays on small margins, he's an honest lad and I'm sure he came off the field thinking, 'That wasn't the performance I wanted to give. I'm better than that and I can do better than that.'

"It was just unfortunate he was unable to show that tonight but it certainly wasn't for a want of trying or through a lack of effort or desire. It didn't go his way and that can happen with front players.

"We must give some credit to Utrecht. They are organised and disciplined defensively, they get a lot of players behind the ball and don't concede much space, as their results in this competition have proved. If you asked me whether they are one of Europe's stellar sides, I would have to say that based on our experience of them and what they have got to offer, one would have to conclude that they are.'

Asked whether there were any injury concerns surrounding Martin Skrtel after the Slovakian was replaced at half-time by Sotirios Kyrgiakos, Hodgson responded: "If I had have had other centre-backs or defenders, I wouldn't have played either of them.

"Jamie Carragher is injured, Daniel (Agger) is injured and one or two of the players we quite like in the reserves in the Academy - Jack Robinson, John Flanagan and Conor Coady - had a match tonight for the youth team in the FA Youth Cup, so we didn't want to take them and weaken the youth team."

[MrMichael]

tl:dr version - "blah blah blah"

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[hold51]

purile ****e, please you old duffer next time you rub your face can you reveal Guardiola underneath in a faceoff kind of way!

failing that Roy just **** off now!

[Mattshark]

hmm.....

Is she Craig H's version of Stevie Gerrard (still got it, but not as good as once was)

or...

Is she Arn's version of Stevie Gerrard (well past it and not really worth having)

??

The former actually.

What was most surprising though is that she appears to be staying at Ma Egertons, behind Lime St and the Empire.

[Mostar]

Thank **** its over

I could not agree more. I couldn't wait for the game to end.

It was horrible performance. I feel for all those fans that came to watch this ****e.

We all deserve better.

[Roboklopp]

I see from Tee's post I wasn't the only on to completely forget about the second half- til this morning in fact. Famous stats mind- Secret Squirrel will be proud.

Anyway, had a lot of fun finishing Vanquish- great game, if a bit short.

[Assassin]

For the first time in my life. I stopped watching a Liverpool game at half time. The grossly incompetent **** has caused so much damage to the team and the club. It is beyond belief, I am truly shocked that this is allowed to go on.

We rid our selves of two american numpties and appear to be saddled ourselves with another group american numpties.

Actions speak louder than words. Words are used to cover incompetence. The owners speak and do nothing. The grossly incompetent **** has verbal diarrhea, that fully explains his level of incompetence.

My message to owners is; Man up, grow some balls and take some ****ing action!!!