Source: Liverpool_Echo
Liverpool FC 0 FC Utrecht 0 - Reds' Europa League hopes still alive, despite boring dead rubber
THE Europa League has been good to Roy Hodgson.[LNB]His run with Fulham to last season's final greatly enhanced his reputation and went a long way to securing him the job as Rafa Benitez's successor.[LNB] Since arriving at Anfield this summer the continent's second club competition has provided welcome relief for the manager during a turbulent five months.[LNB]Domestically, optimism fuelled by commanding home triumphs has been swiftly snuffed out by insipid displays on their travels.[LNB]The result is a home record in the Premier League better than Arsenal and Manchester City but an away points tally worse than Wigan and Blackburn - and mid-table mediocrity.[LNB]That inconsistency has been galling for supporters but in Europe the Reds have made serene progress.[LNB]Hodgson has gambled by fielding largely a combination of fringe senior stars and hungry youngsters - he has used no fewer than 31 players so far - but it has paid dividends.[LNB]An adventure which began in Macedonia in July has seen Liverpool cruise past Rabotnicki and Trabzonspor before securing top spot in their group with something to spare.[LNB]Of course they have hardly been mixing it with European heavyweights. Steaua Bucharest and Utrecht are only also-rans in their respective leagues, but taking four points off a Napoli side flying high in Serie A isn't to be sniffed at.[LNB]Last night's final chapter in Group K will hardly live long in the memory. It was dire and desperate.[LNB]Despite the manager's vow there would never be a 'dead game' under his tenure it certainly had the feel of a pre-season friendly.
