Liverpool 2-0 Rabotnicki

Liverpool win 4-0 on aggregate

Cavalieri
Johnson Carragher Skrtel Kelly
Gerrard Lucas
Pacheco Cole Jovanovic
Ngog

Goals:
Ngog 21'
Gerrard 40' (pen)

Not a bad first match at Anfield for Roy Hodgson.

Just like in the last leg, a 2-0 win is a little misleading. But unlike in Macedonia, where Liverpool scored on what were pretty much their only two opportunities, I'm amazed that the home side didn't put more past a dire side that were almost always on the defensive.

Liverpool set the tone from the opening whistle. Cole and Jovanovic were beyond lively, Gerrard sprayed passes of every length from every angle. Ngog had a 7th minute "goal" ruled out for offside and should have opened the scoring seven minutes later, failing to round the keeper when set up by Cole's wonderful vision, backheeling to Gerrard in space for a throughball. But the young French striker again struck in the 21st, with Cole again the provider – this time following a short corner, a whipped-in cross leading to a bullet header. And it was Ngog who won a spot kick five minutes before the interval, cleverly controlling around the defender before being pulled out, with Gerrard easily slotting in after sending the keeper the wrong way.

The second half was mere formality, but it's not as if the first-half wasn't with a two-goal advantage and Rabotnicki rarely getting the ball out of their own half. Liverpool were able to play however they wanted whenever they wanted, and it was only a six-man (at least) line in front of the penalty box that prevented more goals. Hodgson used his substitutions early in the second half, bringing on Aquilani, Maxi, and Spearing for Gerrard, Jovanovic, and Lucas before the 73rd minute, and Liverpool saw out the game on cruise control. The home side still tested the keeper, but were also increasingly over-intricate and casual with the tie in the bag. Mortifyingly, Rabotnicki nearly pulled one back on the break in the dying seconds, first seeing Kelly get back to prevent a tap-in header on the goal line before Petkovski hit the post from a corner. That certainly would have taken some of the shine off.

Unlike in the last leg, there's no way I can rehash every scoring opportunity. Ngog should have had a hat-trick – at times looking like a world beater, and at others looking like the raw 21-year-old he is – and should have won a second penalty in the 77th. I have no clue how Joe Cole didn't open his Liverpool tally, and it would have been more than deserved after his man of the match performance. Pacheco, Maxi, and Jovanovic had multiple excellent chances blocked, usually by the resilient Belica.

The front four were incredibly fluid – Pacheco and Jovanovic switched flanks at will – and passed and moved exceptionally. I can't wait to see similar with Torres and Kuyt (among others) back in the side. Lucas was everywhere in midfield while Gerrard was buoyant, obviously pleased to be in his self-proclaimed preferred position – both looking to get forward more than the central midfielders usually did under Benitez, but that's partly down to the quality of opposition. And special mention also goes out to Martin Kelly. The 20-year-old's already played right-back, center-back, and left-back so far this season, and has looked assured in all three. Yes, he had very little defending to do, but sent in dangerous crosses with either foot and bombed forward at every occasion. And unlike Liverpool's other full-back, he got back when he needed to.

Sure, a few more goals would have been nice as well as deserved, while Rabotnicki were probably the worst side Liverpool's faced since having to play three rounds of Champions League qualifying in 2005. But Liverpool did exactly what was needed in both legs, while we saw some sumptuous football today, especially in the first half. It's just the start that was needed.

But let's not get carried away until they do it against tougher opposition. Which Arsenal should provide in ten days time.

Liverpool v Rabotnicki 08.05.10

Liverpool lead 2-0 on aggregate.

Kickoff is 2:45pm ET. Once again, it's not on live in the US. Hopefully this'll be the last time that's the case for the Europa League, at least for those of us with DirecTV. I'm getting really sick of watching internet streams.

Guess at a line-up:
Cavalieri
Johnson Carragher Skrtel Wilson
Cole Lucas Gerrard Jovanovic
Aquilani
Ngog

In lieu of refreshing Twitter and multiple Liverpool forums hoping for concrete news on the possible departure of our current custodians, what say we worry about the football for a little while?

Despite a two-goal advantage, it appears Liverpool will deploy a stronger line-up in this leg, with Hodgson stating that Cole, Gerrard, Carragher, Johnson, and Jovanovic are in line to start. Good. It's also promising to see Roy single out Pacheco in the above link, although a substitute appearance seems more likely having just returned from the u19 tournament.

According to UEFA, this is who's available. Aurelio, Insua, and the recently-arrived World Cup participants (Reina, Torres, Kuyt and Babel, or Masch for that matter) aren't on the list. And if Insua and Aurelio aren't available, I'm curious to see who will start at left back with the news that Agger picked up a knock in training. I've guessed Wilson, which is based solely on hope, but Darby or Kelly (who played left-back during his loan at Huddersfield) are also possibilities – Darby's probably the safer bet.

There's obviously the desire to see young players get another chance (Amoo, Ince, Ayala, and Robinson played in last night's reserve friendly against Tranmere, so it's highly doubtful they'll feature tomorrow), but I can't help focusing on the "first team" considering how short a preseason the majority of them have had, especially with a new manager. This match is much-needed preparation before the league campaign starts in a week and a half.

I really want to see what a central midfield of Lucas and Gerrard can do against lesser opposition under Hodgson. I'd like to see both Cole and Aquilani, as well as Gerrard, on the pitch at the same time. On paper, it seems the above formation could be written as 4-4-1-1, 4-2-3-1, or 4-1-4-1. I've got Cole ostensibly on the right because Jovanovic seemingly needs to be on the left, while Cole can play anywhere in attack. Maxi's on the above list, but we haven't seen him at all during preseason.

Rabotnicki demonstrated little threat on their own pitch, which suggests that a match at Anfield should be mere formality. It's tough to see this as much more than another friendly, but that anything can happen goes without saying. The Macedonians may have been limited to a smattering of shots from distance in the last leg, but if one of those goes in tomorrow, nerves would undoubtedly set in amongst both players and fans. Finish this tie off early, and we can start thinking about the next round, as well as Arsenal ten days later.

Liverpool 2-0 Rabotnicki

Cavalieri
Kelly Skrtel Kyrgiakos Agger
Amoo Lucas Spearing Jovanovic
Aquilani
Ngog

Goals:
Ngog 18' 58'

Competitive club football, oh how I've missed you. And Liverpool winning. Yeah, I've missed that too.

So, after a comfortable 2-0 away win, maybe Hodgson was publicly downplaying expectations in yesterday's press conference?

Don't get me wrong; a victory in Europa League qualifiers against last year's Macedonian league second-place finishers won't go into the annals of amazing European heroics. But it's a win, and the team looked far better than in either preseason friendly.

After an initial, unsurprising feeling-out period, it was a mistake by Rabotnicki's defense which allowed Ngog to pick up possession behind the backline, sweetly control around the keeper, and slot in. But from there, Liverpool managed proceedings. While Rabotnicki saw more of the ball than expected, the midfield of Lucas and Spearing and the pairing of Kyrgiakos and Skrtel refused to allow them possession anywhere near dangerous territory. I don't think they had a shot inside 25 yards.

Liverpool never dominated as we'd hope against lesser opposition (okay, maybe abysmal opposition), but Liverpool were never going to dominate in late July with this XI, no matter the opposition. There were few chances at goal, but Ngog efficiently took both of his, adding a second 13 minutes after the interval in style, exquisitely sweeping home Kelly's cross with a side-footed volley. From there, Liverpool were content to stifle, poke, and prod, with Darby, Dalla Valle, and Eccleston on as substitutes, and it sees them take a 2-0 lead back to Anfield.

Outside of Ngog's two well-taken goals, there were no standout performers, but it was a good team performance, and that's far more warmly welcomed at this stage of the season. As said above, I was most impressed with the central midfield and defense: Lucas putting in a shift worthy of the armband and Spearing mopping up well, while Skrtel and Kyrgiakos (who, as a Greek, was unsurprisingly jeered by the Macedonians every time he touched the ball) gave no quarter. Kelly and Agger also did well from fullback, especially Kelly's assist and despite Agger looking a bit off the pace after no preseason appearances.

There's obviously room for improvement, but that's to be expected. Adding Agger and Skrtel (in addition to Aquilani, who missed the last friendly) led to a vast improvement on Saturday's performance. I expected more from both Aquilani and Jovanovic, who impressed in flashes but nowhere near consistently enough, but that will come. Amoo showed how speed can kill, but he needs to bulk up and figure out the final ball before he'll truly threaten.

Job done, and a win in Woy's first competitive match. That's absolutely all that could be asked for today.

Liverpool at FK Rabotnicki 07.29.10

2.45pm ET. Not on live TV in the US. As usual with these games, check myp2p or LFC Globe for streams tomorrow.

Guess at a line-up
Cavalieri
Kelly Skrtel Kyrgiakos Agger
Amoo Lucas Spearing Jovanovic
Aquilani
Ngog

"Once more into the breach, dear friends, once more;
Or close the wall up with our English dead!"

I've used 'once more into the breach' before, but it seemed fitting to go back to that well while including the subsequent line. Yep, I'm looking forward to the coming season! Pity Liverpool aren't up against French opposition. That'd make the Henry V quote even more apt.

Before today, I would have guessed the same XI that faced Kaiserslautern outside of Aquilani for Eccleston. But this morning, the Liverpool Echo reported that while the English World Cup players will stay at Melwood, Agger and Skrtel are among those making the trip to Macedonia. It makes little sense to bring those players except to start.

With Darby uncomfortable at left-back during Liverpool's two previous friendlies, especially against Kaiserslautern, I'm hopeful Agger will step into the fray as a makeshift LB. I'll continue to fervently argue that he's a center-back, and playing him at full-back borders on wastefulness, but at least he's left-footed and comfortable with the ball at his feet. New signing Danny Wilson's in the squad as well, and has recently asserted his willingness to play in the position, but Agger seems the safer option. Meanwhile, a central pairing of Skrtel and Kyrgiakos would set a new standard for terrifying; it'd be a battle to see who can consume more opposition body parts. They may not be the most mobile, but you'd better not let either of them catch you.

Otherwise, I can't see many changes to the front six. I still assume Hodgson will deploy some variation of 4-4-2/4-4-1-1, especially with Liverpool away from Anfield. Aquilani seems the most suited to playing behind Ngog as a lone striker, although we know Jovanovic can play up top if Liverpool use an orthodox 4-4-2. But with a lack of options for the flanks – Jovanovic, Amoo, Eccleston, and Ince are basically it – and an almost certain midfield partnership of Lucas and Spearing (especially after Hodgson's praise of Spearing), Aquilani behind Ngog makes the most sense with this blend of youngsters, reserves, and senior players.

I'd imagine most Liverpool fans are still reliant on Wikipedia and the like for information on Rabotnicki. I won't pretend I'm ahead of the curve. I don't think I've seen any of the Skopje side's players in action before; if I did when England faced Macedonia in Euro 2008 qualifying, I don't remember them. I couldn't find a stream to see their 0-0 in the second leg of the previous round against Mika, which took them through after a 1-0 win at home. Rabotnicki finished second last year in the 12-team league, and have a bunch of Macedonians and a smattering of Brazilians. One of those Brazilians, Fabio Silva, is the side's top scorer through two rounds of Europa League qualifying with five goals. Another Brazilian, Wandeir, has four. It's probably safe to assume those are the main threats. That's all I've got. I'd hope Liverpool's scouting department knows more than I do.

Back to the heady days of traveling to far, foreign lands, to a country where Liverpool's never played. I'm sure there's some sort of metaphor in Hodgson's first competitive match coming in such exotic territory, but I'm too lazy to find it. My only hope is this unfamiliar line-up does themselves more credit than in the two previous preseason matches.

I'll be honest; the Europa League isn't a priority with a thin squad that needs to reassert itself domestically. It should be a competition almost akin to the Carling Cup: blooding youngsters and spelling first-choice players when necessary. But Hodgson has to begin on the right foot, no matter the line-up, or the knives will come out immediately. Being British only gets you so much of a reprieve from the howling wolves who make up the press pack.