Source: PA
Point secures Reds passage
Liverpool secured top spot in Group K of the Europa League with a 1-1 draw against Steaua Bucharest in Romania but required a helping hand from their rivals after a howler from goalkeeper Jose Reina.
Milan Jovanovic's first-half header was cancelled out when the Reds captain on the night allowed Eder Bonfim's effort to escape his grasp and creep over the line.
A point would have been enough to put Roy Hodgson's side through but Utrecht's 3-3 draw with Napoli ensured they could not be caught at the top of the table with a match still to play.
The Reds boss put his faith in fringe players and reserves having travelled to Romania without eight first-teamers, only three of whom were injured, and he was rewarded by the likes of Jovanovic and Ryan Babel.
Neither have made much of an impression to date in their Anfield careers, although Jovanovic admittedly has only had a little more than four months to settle in. However, they both did a decent enough job on a night when they could easily have gone missing again.
The same could not be said of Joe Cole, returning from a five-week lay-off with a hamstring injury. Despite playing in his supposedly favourite position behind the striker, he cut a peripheral figure and was unable to affect the game in any way before he was replaced 15 minutes from time.
