Utrecht 0-0 Liverpool

A laboured Liverpool earned a hard-fought point as they drew at Utrecht in their Europa League Group K tie.

The Reds goal lived a charmed life as Dries Mertens had an angled shot saved for the Dutch side.

Raul Meireles then headed a a Michael Silberbauer effort off the Liverpool goal-line to keep the visitors level.

Fernando Torres almost punished Utrecht only to shoot wide from close range before Jacob Mulenga steered a strike for the home side just wide.

Roy Hodgson's urgency for his stuttering Reds team to start improving meant he abandoned his policy of picking a weakened side for Europa League games.

Torres started as he bids to rediscover his goalscoring form, while Utrecht's home record of six wins in as many games so far this season was also behind Hodgson picking most of his first-team stars.

But, despite the visitors showing glimpses of developing the understanding and fluency they are seeking, promising moves would too often break down.

Meireles was employed on the right of midfield as opposed to his more preferred central position and it was apparent he looked uncertain.

Although, when the Portugal international did drift into the middle, he had a long range shot comfortably saved before guiding a free header from a Glen Johnson cross straight at keeper Michel Vorm.

The Reds were feeding on scraps in attack and Utrecht set about exposing an unassured Liverpool defence which has conceded seven goals in the last three games.

Jamie Carragher crucially beat Utrecht striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel to a Mulenga cross and, another threatening delivery from the right was spilled by keeper Pepe Reina before Martin Skrtel cleared.

Torres curled a shot just wide from 22 yards at the other end but Utrecht again went close as Liverpool's sloppiness gave the home side added encouragement.

Reds striker Dirk Kuyt, who started his career at the Dutch side, dallied in clearing a ball and was robbed of possession by Dries Mertens, who had an angled drive blocked by Reina.

Tim Cornelisse put a free near post header from the resultant corner wide before the visitors almost buckled.

Utrecht skipper Silberbauer thought he had scored when he sidefooted a corner at the Reds goal only for Meireles to head clear off the goal-line.

Liverpool were living a charmed life but a long goal-kick from Reina found Kuyt and he crossed for Torres, who failed to convert the type of near post shot which he would have put away in his pomp.

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