Bore Draw at Anfield As Liverpool Are Held By Utrecht in The Europa League

Liverpool were held to a 0-0 draw at Anfield tonight, as the group stage of the Europa League finished in disappointing fashion.

Despite assurances made only yesterday that both Spanish stars Pepe Reina and Fernando Torres would play in the game and that not so many changes would be made as in previous European games, Liverpool took to the field against their Dutch opponents with 10 changes in personnel from the defeat at Newcastle on Saturday, with Fernando Torres on the bench and Reina left out of the 18 man squad entirely.

Only Martin Skrtel remained in the starting 11 from the previous match and, on his 26th birthday, was Reds captain for the night.

In a move aimed at introducing a younger generation of fans to the famous Anfield experience, owners Tom Werner and John Henry had allowed fans under the age of 17 into the stadium for free for tonight's game, but on the evidence of this match, a bit more persuading may be needed to get them to come back.

From the start, the game lacked intensity and any sort of rhythm, with many misplaced passes in midfield from both teams.

Joe Cole and Milan Jovanovic had both been recalled to the starting line-up and it was the Serb who caused the first moment of excitement as he cut in from the right flank onto his favoured left foot a quarter of an hour in, before lashing a shot against the crossbar from range.

Unfortunately, that was about as good as it got for the Reds in an uneventful first half, which was more notable for an injury to Utrecht forward Ricky van Wolfswinkel than for any serious goalmouth action.

The Dutch youngster looked to have a broken collarbone and was taken away to the hospital at half time.

For the away side, the left sided Mertens gave Martin Kelly a few anxious moments at left back, but the two players who had most possession were the Dutch centre backs, who must have had a wonderful pass completion percentage at half time as they passed the ball to and fro for minutes at a time, due to a lack of movement ahead of them and a lack of pressure from the Liverpool forwards.

Ryan Babel was given another chance to impress but failed to deliver on this occasion, while youngster Nathan Eccleston was handed his full Liverpool debut. The local born forward was a menace with his pace at times, but struggled to make an impression on the opposition defence as Liverpool's approach play was laboured and, as seen far too often this season, often started a good seventy yards from their opponents goal.

Jonjo Shelvey was perhaps the one bright spark in the first half with his powerful running, but he was unable to fashion any openings for his team.

In the second half, Liverpool made two early substitutions: Kyrgiakos replacing Skrtel as both central defender and captain at half time, before Dani Pacheco made a welcome appearance ten minutes in as a replacement for Eccleston.

Within minutes, Pacheco had shown two glimpses of his potential, a direct pass towards Babel and a ball infield both times allowing Liverpool a chance to attack.

However, it was still dire fare from both sides as the game progressed without pace or urgency.

In fairness, neither side had anything to play for as Liverpool had already definitely qualified top and Utrecht could already not get through the group, but it was hoped that a string of players looking for form and fitness could take their chance to impress.

Sadly, this was not the case and the game petered out to its inevitable goalless conclusion.

A hash of a free-kick between Aurelio, Shelvey and Cole about summed up the game.

Dirk Kuyt got the moment he had waited for, as he came on for Jovanovic to loud applause from both his current side and his old Dutch team Utrecht, but he was also unable to inspire any moment of attacking genius.

The best chance of the second half fell to Joe Cole just a few minutes from time as a loose ball fell kindly for him on the right edge of the six yard box, but his first time volley was blocked at close quarters, before a teasing cross from Aurelio just eluded him at the left hand post.

Brad Jones was rarely tested in the Liverpool goal, with a handful of tame efforts coming straight at him late on.

In the end, it was an uneventful and, in all honesty, largely boring game of football between these two sides, but one which means Liverpool continue their unbeaten run in Europe, which now stretches to ten games under Roy Hodgson.

Full time from Anfield: Liverpool 0 Utrecht 0.

Liverpool Ratings (4:4:2) - Jones six, Kelly seven, Skrtel six, Wilson seven, Aurelio seven, Jovanovic six, Poulsen five, Shelvey seven, Cole six, Babel five, Eccleston six. Subs, Kyrgiakos six, Pacheco seven, Kuyt six. Not Used, Hansen, Meireles, Torres, Johnson.

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