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.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. Since arriving at Anfield this summer the continent's second club competition has provided welcome relief for the manager during a turbulent five months.Domestically, optimism fuelled by commanding home triumphs has been swiftly snuffed out by insipid displays on their travels.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.That inconsistency has been galling for supporters but in Europe the Reds have made serene progress.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.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.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.Last night's final chapter in Group K will hardly live long in the memory. It was dire and desperate.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.

Source: Liverpool_Echo