Source: Daily_Mail
Europa League live
Follow Sportsmail's coverage of the Europa League as Liverpool hope to escape their domestic worries when they take on Celtic's conquerors Utrecht in Group K. While Manchester City, fresh from their win against Chelsea, host the tie of the evening against Juventus straight after in Group A.[LNB] Manchester City 1-1 Juventus (8.05pm)Man City: Hart, Kompany, Zabaleta, Adebayor, Adam Johnson, Boateng, Barry, Vieira, Toure, Tevez, Toure Yaya. Subs: Given, Milner, Lescott, Silva, Jo, De Jong, Boyata.[LNB]Juventus: Manninger, Chiellini, Sissoko, Marchisio, Iaquinta, Del Piero, Bonucci, Grygera, Martinez, Krasic, De Ceglie. Subs: Storari, Motta, Felipe Melo, Lanzafame, Pepe, Legrottaglie, Giannetti.[LNB]Goals: Iaquinta (11).[LNB]Referee: Eduardo Iturralde Gonzalez (Spain)[LNB]40min: Remember that early pressure from Juventus, forget it it's all City now.[LNB]37min: GOAL! Manchester City 1-1 Juventus[LNB]What a splendid goal. Yaya Toure plays one of the great through balls to split a pretty deep Juve defence and Adam Johnson strolls in from the right to slip the ball past the onrushing Manninger. Lovely goal.[LNB]36min: Tevez will never be so pleased to see an offside flag what a miss! It wasn't on par with the Sunderland chance (what is) but from two yards out his first time effort from Johnson's cross goes over the bar.[LNB]34min: What fantastic play from Tevez, he looks to shoot but he sends a delightful chip in to the box for Gareth Barry whose back header glances off the post, before Manninger fumbles away any rebound. Mighty close from City.[LNB]32min: As mentioned earlier not even the crowd seem up for this, not very loud inside the stadium and Juve are looking pretty comfortable.[LNB]31min: Opening half hour and it is typical Manchester City. Inconsistent.[LNB]They look nothing like the side that defeated Chelsea at the weekend.[LNB]26min: Hmmm one to watch, Vieira slighlty catches Marchisio, and the Italian again goes down in apparent agony, much to the annoyance of Vieira.[LNB]24min: Small stoppage here. Claudio Marchisio has gone down after a knock to the back, he looks to have made a bit of a meal of that to be honest, as does the ref who shows no sympathy in telling him to get off the pitch.[LNB]22min: Now Vieira gets his shooting boots on. He receives the ball 20 yards out but he gets his foot around it and drags his left foot shot just wide of the post.[LNB]19min: Unlucky from Tevez. Vieira does well to win the ball and upon laying off Tevez on the left the Argentine cuts inside and fires across goal which sails just wide of the post.[LNB]18min: Excellent opening quarter of an hour to this game, both sides looking to attack, but I'm surprised to see Eastlands is not full. I mean Italy's most successful club is in town, it's Juventus for crying out loud![LNB]16min: Looking at that goal again it appears to take ever the slightest of deflections off Kolo Toure's head, which perhaps is the reason Joe Hart was bamboozled by it.[LNB]12min: Moments later City nearly equalise from a corner, it's pandemonium in the Juve box and one of Manninger's own players causes him to spill the ball towards his goal. The ex-Arsenal stopper gets back just in time to keep it out, but the referee has already saved him as he blows up for a mysterious free-kick, don't ask me what for I honestly can't tell you.[LNB] Lost in translation: Iaquinta celebrates his opening goal[LNB]11min: GOAL! Manchester City 0-1 Juventus[LNB]What a strike from Vincenzo Iaquinta! He must be about 25 yards out at an angle and as he opens his body out he lets fly with a right foot effort which sails across Joe Hart in to the bottom corner. Hart will feel he should have at least got a hand to it.[LNB]7min: Smart stuff from Del Piero, with this Jubulani ball he hits viscous low swerve on a free-kick which bounces up at Joe Hat, the keeper doing well to parry the ball clear of danger.[LNB]6min: Final word from Group K. Napoli scored an equaliser in the ninth minute of injury time to complete their comeback from 3-0 to draw 3-3. Who says the Europa League is boring?[LNB]4min: Smart save from Joe Hart, Vincenzo Iaquinta has a low powerful drive from the edge of the box which the England stopper is well awake for.[LNB]1min: City with some early attacking threat, but another player I'm looking out for this evening is none other than Alessandro Del Piero. Now a veteran, that man still has a few tricks up his sleeve I tell you.[LNB]Kick-off: We are underway at Eastlands.[LNB]20.00: Fatboyslim's 'Right Here Right Now' reverberates around Eastlands as the players walk out, before its dampened by the Europa League's official jingle. In reality it doesn't compare in terms of atmosphere and just sounds a cheap version of the Champions League music...now there is a jingle.[LNB]19.55: And yes that indeed is Alex Manninger of Arsenal in goal for Juventus, he of course is up against another former Gunner in Patrick Vieira, who starts for City.[LNB]19.54: The lineups:[LNB]Man City v JuventusMan City: Hart, Kompany, Zabaleta, Adebayor, Adam Johnson, Boateng, Barry, Vieira, Toure, Tevez, Toure Yaya. Subs: Given, Milner, Lescott, Silva, Jo, De Jong, Boyata.Juventus: Manninger, Chiellini, Sissoko, Marchisio, Iaquinta, Del Piero, Bonucci, Grygera, Martinez, Krasic, De Ceglie. Subs: Storari, Motta, Felipe Melo, Lanzafame, Pepe, Legrottaglie, Giannetti.Referee: Eduardo Iturralde Gonzalez (Spain)[LNB]19.52: Of course though we now focus on Manchester City who face Juventus at 8.05pm.[LNB]Team news on the way at that game and I will bring you the result from Steaua Bucharest and Napoli which is 3-2 in injury time at the moment.[LNB] Utrecht 0-0 Liverpool (6pm)FC Utrecht: Vorm, Cornelisse, Wuytens, Schut, Nesu, Lensky (Nijholt, 82), Silberbauer, van Wolfswinkel, Mertens, Duplan (Maguire, 69), Mulenga. Subs: Sinouh, Demouge, Van Der Maarel, Keller, Vorstermans.Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Kelly, Poulsen, Kuyt, Lucas, Cole (Maxi, 81), Meireles, Torres. Subs: Jones, Jovanovic, Kyrgiakos, Babel, Ngog, Spearing.Referee: Duarte Gomes (Portugal)[LNB]19.49: But it's another ordinary performance from the Reds (who tonight were in black) that still underlines how the confidence is throughout the team.[LNB]The likes of Joe Cole and Fernando Torres are well off their best.[LNB]19.47: In the concept of the Europa League that is a good result for Liverpool, who will go through if they win their home games and draw their away ones.[LNB]Full-time: FC Utrecht 0-0 Liverpool[LNB]90+1min: Two minutes added on.[LNB]90min: For all my promises of goals, it doesn't look like we are going to get any. But honestly good chances have gone begging in this game which has been played at a good tempo and been fairly open. [LNB]88min: Few minutes remain and both sides still attacking, Utrecht remain the slightly more threatening though.[LNB]82min: Gianluca Nijholt is on for Jacob Lensky, as Mulenga latches on to a through ball to slide a shot just wide of Reina's right post, with the keeper doing well to narrow the angle as he came out.[LNB]81min: Lucky boy. From that corner Carragher seems to pull a shirt of a Utrecht player but the referee doesn't see it before Reina makes a comfortable low stop.[LNB]Maxi Rodriguez is on for an ashen faced Joe Cole.[LNB]79min: Interesting, it's now Steaua 3-2 Napoli. 10 minutes left there. In Holland though it's a Utrecht corner...[LNB]78min: Things becoming stretched, the ball has hardly been in midfield as we continue to go from box to box, even if we lack a few chances.[LNB]75min: I know 0-0 on a Thursday evening in the Europa League does not sound appealing but this has been a good spectacle, and I maintain there is still a goal to be had in this.[LNB]72min: Good effort from Michael Silberbauer, he pounces on Carragher's poor clearance to slide and shoot from 25 yards out that goes just over the bar, considering his technique he had to use, he is slightly unfortunate not to at least hit the target.[LNB]69min: First sub from Utrecht. Barry Maguire (who is Dutch) is on for Edouard Duplan.[LNB]65min: Chance for Torres again, he latches on to a poor back pass, but Vorm is out his goal quickly and Torres jumps over him as the keeper clears the ball. Good sportsmanship from the Spaniard, nine out of 10 players would have gone down platoon style there.[LNB]63min: Now Liverpool have a dangerous free-kick 30 yards out after Schut brings down Torres. Liverpool hit the bar from a header but the ref had already brought play back for a foul.[LNB]61min: From that free-kick the ball in the box is volleyed just over by Alje Schut. This game has really come to life.[LNB]60min: The yellows are racking up now. Martin Kelly is booked for a shirt tug on the ever dangerous Mulenga.[LNB]57min: The pressure continues, and after Reina flaps at the corner, Meireles heads a looping ball off the line.[LNB]Liverpool counter after a superb clearance form Reina and Kuyt finds Torres free in the box. The striker though forces a fine save from Vorm who gets fingertips to his effort to keep it out. What a mad couple of minutes![LNB]55min: But Utrecht go closer! Mulenga sends a low ball in the six yard box and Reina just beats Van Wolfswinkel to clear Liverpool's lines. Moments later Meireles is booked for a foul out wide on the edge of the box. Liverpool rocking.[LNB] Sort it out! Pepe Reina screams at his defence after a Utrecht chance[LNB]53min: Half-chance for Torres. Johnson's ball in the box is flicked back by Joe Cole and Torres is just slightly under the ball as he half-volleys on the edge of the box.[LNB]51min: Utrecht have started how they ended the first...on top. Liverpool struggling to find any rhythm as yet. [LNB]49min: I maybe being too harsh on Liverpool. Utrecht have played three home games in Europe this season and have yet to concede. Gear not though net-busting fans, there is goals in this one believe me.[LNB]46min: 0-0 then and so far the two number nines have been ineffective. Surely one of Torres or Van Wolfswinkel will take this game by the scruff of the neck.[LNB]Second-half: Utrecht get this game back underway.[LNB]18.59: Don't forget folks, Manchester City v Juventus will follow immediately after this game.[LNB]18.57: Just before we kick-off again. In the group's other game Napoli have pulled one back and it's now Steaua 3-1 Napoli.[LNB]18.52: As for Fernando Torres well...it's not been his fault, in truth he has been starved of any sort of useful service but he does seem to lack 'that' edge.[LNB]18.51: That's not to say the Reds are being over-run but up front they been toothless, causing Utrecht no problems at all.[LNB]18.48: As the ref blows up two seconds before half-time you would have to say Utrecht have had the better of that first half.[LNB]Half-time: FC Utrecht 0-0 Liverpool[LNB]45min: Half-time coming up and you would have to say Utrecht have been the better side overall.[LNB]42min: Michel Vorm in the Utrecht goal has still yet to be tested as Dirk Kuyt low drive goes low and straight in to the keeper's arms. Kuyt getting a few whistles of sort from the home crowd. Not too sure whether they are boos or cheers though.[LNB] Threat: Jacob Mulenga had a bright first half for Utrecht[LNB]39min: And there is two at once! First Dries Mertens beats two players to force a fine save from Pepe Reina at an acute angle and from the resulting corner, Tim Cornelisse heads a free header wide. Should have scored.[LNB]38min: More pressure from Utrecht, after a throw in deep in Liverpool's half Lucas scuffs his clearance to give another corner to Utrecht. We still await our first chance.[LNB]36min: Having said that Lucas gives away a free kick 25 yards out after bringing down Edouard Duplan moments after giving it away, he is booked for his troubles. That's a couple of times Lucas has lost the ball a couple of times now.[LNB]34min: A little bit sloppy from Utrecht, passes are going astray, headers being misjudged they are looking a bit on the ropes here.[LNB] Midfield tussle: Utrecht's Eduoard Duplan (Left) fights for the ball with Liverpool's Christian Poulsen[LNB]31min: That's more like it from Torres. Just over 20 yards out he runs square before rifling in a shot that zips just past the far post.[LNB]28min: Approaching the half hour mark in this game and no side has really made the keeper work yet, positive play just no chances.[LNB]25min: Dangerous play from Utrecht, Jacob Mulenga sends a low ball across the six yard box and Jamie Carragher is on hand to just clear in front of Van Wolfswinkel, with the ball eventually going out for a corner.[LNB]22min: That is a chance. Glen Johnson is in acres of space on the right and upon receiving the ball from Joe Cole plays a delightful ball in the box...but nobody is willing to attack it. Torres is looking very leggy, you just feel a fitter more in-form Torres would of at least made contact with that.[LNB]20min: Group K news, Steaua Bucharest are chomping at the bit at home. They are 3-0 up against Napoli in under 20 minutes. Cakewalk.[LNB] Rein in the ball: Pepe Reina was alert during the first half[LNB]18min: Fair play to Utrecht though, they have started with a positive attitude themselves but so far the Liverpool defence has looked strong.[LNB]17min: Good open game of football this, Joe Cole is orchestrating things in the middle for Liverpool who are constantly looking for the forward pass.[LNB]14min: I'm no groundsman but the pitch looks sort of Wembleyesque and that's not a good thing.[LNB]Players slipping and sliding all over the place and I would not be surprised if a player goes off injured tonight.[LNB]However no signs of the pitch cutting up...yet.[LNB]12min: No doubt encouraged by his effort against Steaua Bucharest, Lucas tries his luck again, this time he has a short run at the defence but he wraps his foot around the ball too much, and drags his shot low and wide from 20 yards out.[LNB]10min: In regards to my tactical nous, Hodgson seems to have favoured an unorthadox 4-4-2 with Kuyt playing just off Torres instead of Meireles.[LNB]8min: Liverpool still trying to pass the ball about but it's more in their own half now, Utrecht players are very quick to press on Liverpool.[LNB]5min: It's loud in the stadium and the home team respond, Ricky Van Wolfswinkel is inches away from making contact in the box but he fouls Martin Skrtel as he reaches out for the ball.[LNB]2min: Bright start from Liverpool who have all the possession early on, may as well be at Anfield the way they are dominating the opening exchanges.[LNB]Kick-off: And Liverpool get us underway.[LNB]17.59: Teams are out on a fine sunny evening in Utrecht, perfect conditions for a football match.[LNB]17.57: Should be interesting to see what tactics Hodgson employs tonight.[LNB]It looks as if Raul Meireles will play behind Fernando Torres but even i remember how badly that failed against Manchester United.[LNB]17.55: Big night for Dirk Kuyt as well. He returns to the club he started his career with.[LNB]He spent five years at Utrecht and it should be interesting to see what reception he receives from the home fans.[LNB]17.47: One pattern that has been emerging in Liverpool's European tour this season is they have been slow out the blocks.[LNB]Ok, Joe Cole scored after a few seconds against Bucharest but the Romanians bossed the first half there.[LNB]17.43: For a quick preview on tonight's game click here to read John Edwards piece who has been in Utrecht.[LNB]17.40: It's Liverpool's 300th game in UEFA competition this evening but why no Steven Gerrard in the squad I hear some of you ask?[LNB]Roy Hodgson is resting the captain tonight but that still a reasonably strong lineup there.[LNB]17.30: Good evening folks, we have two live games for you tonight. At 8.05pm we have what promises to be a cracker in Manchester City v Juventus, but right now we will be focusing on Group K and more importantly FC Utrecht v Liverpool.[LNB]Kick-off is at 6pm and after their good start against Steaua Bucharest, Liverpool will hope to continue what has actually been a fine European run.[LNB]The Reds have won their last five European games that stretches back to late July when they won 2-0 in Skopje against Rabotnicki.[LNB]Utrecht however will be their biggest test yet. Thanks to a Ricky Van Wolfswinkel hat-trick they overturned Celtic's two goal advantage in the play-offs and the Dutch striker has the potential to do damage to Liverpool tonight.[LNB] Welcome distraction: Liverpool have had a better time in Europe than domestically this season[LNB] Italian job! Adebayor rises to the City challenge after impressing ManciniThe real Iron Man: Robotic suit that gives wearer 17 times more strength to be used by military 'within 5 years'LIVERPOOL FC
