Liverpool Leave It Far Too Late At Home To Standard Liege

Let's just say before I start that it was Standard Liege who impressed me tonight and very little about the home side at Anfield.

The Belgians didn't hang on for 208 minutes like you may have expected but played some great football and in many peoples eyes deserved to go through.

Football however isn't about what you deserve but about what you take and with just two minutes left on the extra time clock it was Dirk Kuyt and Liverpool who snatched the victory.

Things had looked so promising for the Anfield side after claiming six points from six in the English Premier League. The crowd belted out "you'll never walk alone" with all the anticipation of a great European night but sadly many left without their finger nails as Liverpool flattered to deceive.

First half stalemate thanks to Pepe Reina 

The game was just minutes old when Liege's Mbokani fired goalwards and brought out a stunning save from Reina. An early wake up call to Liverpool.

The Belgian's set out their stall from the start as they hassled Liverpool and never allowed them to play, winning just about everything and drawing the fouls from Liverpool.

Liverpool had there moments however and Yossi Benayoun looked good early on as he linked well with Fernando Torres and Robbie Keane but the final ball was poor.

He's a great squad player but he's not good enough to be a first choice player in a League Championship winning side which is what I presume Liverpool want to be.

Benayoun's partner on the opposite wing was again Dirk Kuyt and I'm all for the little Dutchman working hard. I'd just rather have a hard working player in his correct position.

Liverpool need a winger and it was so obvious tonight.

The Merseysiders got another huge break on 17 minutes when Liege should again have gone in front but for a tangle between which striker as to who was going to put it away. When the ball came back in it was again Reina who dived low to tip the ball round the post.

The Reds were living on the edge.

Further evidence of Liverpool's frustrations were the numerous long range effort over the course of the 120 minutes. I honestly lost count and it was evidence of a lack of idea's rather than domination, believe me.

The game was on a knife edge and Liege were getting braver. The right back Marcos fired just past with a dipping half volley that had Reina scrambling.

As the half ticked on it became clear that Liverpool were in limbo and the match was being suffocated by the Belgian's.

There was no space for Liverpool to play in and no spark or imagination with which to break down Standard.

With the first half winding down Dirk Kuyt got a free header from a corner but he failed to make the most of it.

The teams went in level at the break and Standard far the happier with there performance.

Defensively the visitors were terrific with Keane and Torres not getting a sniff. Marcos at right back with Mohammed Sarr standing out at the back alongside former Newcastle man Onyewu.

Clubs looking to strengthen before the end of the month could do worse than look at those three players.

The other Liege player to impress me was Dalmat. The skillfull midfielder worked tirelessly for his team and caused Liverpool problems all night.

Liverpool continue to struggle through second half

The reds returned for the second half looking no better than the first much to the disappointment of the Anfield crowd who slowly fell silent over the second period allowing the noisy Belgian fans to gain ascendancy.

Ryan Babel came on to replace Benayoun after 60 minutes but it should have been Kuyt he replaced. Okay so Kuyt eventually scored but anything could have happened in the hour in between. Dante was finished at left back in the second half already but Kuyt failed to exploit anything from him.

The change brought about some renewed vigour from Liverpool even if it wasn't to last with Torres bursting though the defence but his effort was well blocked by the Liege defence.

It was now Liege fouling Liverpool in a reversal of the first half with many Standard players visibly tiring as the half wore on but again all Liverpool could do was shoot from distance.

The obvious tactic as I've mentioned would have been to attack Dante down the right but this wasn't forthcoming and Liverpool continued to clutch at straws.

Liege's task was made even easier by Ryan Babel's constantly turning up in the middle of the park, crowding Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso (who was having a poor night) and removing an attacking option from his side.

It's a lot easier to deal with a narrow team than a wide one after all. Especially when you're tired.

Finally in the 74th minute Liverpool sparked into life with a quick free kick that caught Liege asleep for the first time. The ball found its way to the feet of Robbie Keane in the penalty area but the Irishman miscued and the chance was gone.

The game was crying out for a change but it wasn't until 83 minutes on the clock that Rafa Benitez introduced Nabil El Zahr in place of Keane and it sparked the Reds again.

Kuyt and Alonso went close for Liverpool as the nervy final moments of the 90 ticked by. The final chance fell the way of Liege with Igor De Camargo heading just wide when he could possibly have done better.

That was that though and after 180 minutes neither team had managed the break through.

Extra time finally decides close encounter

I must admit I'd been expecting Liverpool to steal it inside the 90 with a moment of magic from Gerrard or Torres but it just never materialized.

Liege were happy to play on the counter and Liverpool looked less happy about what to do or how to do it? They looked more interested in preventing the counter attack than attacking themselves.

Torres looked tired and may be paying for a hard summer spent winning the European Championships with Spain but Liverpool can't rely on one or two players if they are to mount a league or European challenge. They were poor to say the least.

It was Liverpool's Arbeloa who brought extra time to life with a fantastic long ranger effort that was well saved by the rarely troubled Espinoza in the Liege goal.

Liverpool then thought they had won a penalty but the referee waved away the protests. El Zahr was definitely tripped inside the box but there may have been a hand ball by the youngster in the build up. All in all though the youngster was hard done by but it wasn't to cost Liverpool.

Babel finally beat his man and put a great cross into the back post where a tired Dante was unable to prevent Dirk Kuyt from saving Liverpool's blushes with just two minutes left on the clock.

So Liverpool fans head home relieved tonight as they'll see there name in the draw tomorrow but for Liege it's a case of what might have been.

The Belgians have impressed over the two legs and were in my opinion the better side.

I wouldn't fancy them in the UEFA Cup draw that's for sure.

Finally a word on young El Zahr who impressed after coming on for Keane late in the second half. The kid always wants the ball and is more than willing to try and make something happen.

More in fact than any other player playing in red tonight.

Liverpool are through but it'll maybe cost them against Aston Villa on Sunday.