- Utrecht v Liverpool LIVE from 6pm / Europa League fixtures
History
Utrecht were formed in July 1970 after a merger between three clubs - DOS, Elinkwijk and Velox.
Their only league title came in the 1958/59 season, when they were known as DOS, but they have experienced more recent success in the KNVB cup, the equivalent of the FA Cup.
Between 2002 and 2004, they reached the final of the competition three times, winning twice to add to their other triumph in 1985.
They are no strangers to European football having played a total of 36 games in the Europa League, winning 13, drawing seven and losing 16. They will be hoping that they have a better experience than their last European campaign in the 2004/05 season, where they lost all four of their group stage matches.
The signs look more positive this time around after they convincingly knocked out Tirana, Luzern and Scottish side Celtic to reach this stage, beating the Parkhead side 4-2 on aggregate and overturning a 2-0 first leg deficit in the process.
The Boss
Dutchman Ton du Chatinier is Utrecht through and through. After spending the whole of his ten-year playing career as a defender with the club, he then served as a youth coach and assistant coach.
The 52-year-old was finally given his crack at the top job at the end of 2008, taking over from now technical director, Foeke Booy.
Preparation
Utrecht enter tonight's game on the back of a 1-0 weekend defeat against AZ Alkmaar. They currently lie in twelfth place after winning three and losing four of their matches this season.
They are unbeaten at home though, winning all six of their games this campaign.
Danger Man
The Reds defence will have to be on their guard tonight as they face the brilliantly named Ricky Van Wolfswinkel. But it's not just his name that has been attracting everyone's attention.
The 21-year-old has already netted a goal a game this season, splitting his 14 strikes evenly between the Eredivisie and the Europa League.
He made his senior international debut for the Netherlands in August this year, in a friendly against Ukraine and was reported to be a target for Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson.
Trivia
They are the only side outside of the top three (Ajax, Feyenoord and PSV) who have never been relegated from the Eredivisie.
Although Liverpool and Utrecht have never met in a competitive fixture, they contested a couple of pre-season friendlies in the 1970s at Stadion Galgenwaard, with Liverpool victorious on both occasions.
Source: DSG
