Liverpool 2-1 Trabzonspor

Reina
Johnson Carragher Kyrgiakos Kelly
Kuyt Lucas Poulsen Aurelio
Cole
Ngog

Goals:
Gutierrez 4'
Kacar (og) 83'
Kuyt 88'

Indescribably terrible for 20 minutes, barely mediocre for the rest of the first half, slightly stronger after the interval (improving as the half went on), and then came two goals in the last ten minutes. Phew. I'd forgotten the immense relief that comes with late winners.

It was never going to be easy against tough opposition in a stereotypically raucous Turkish stadium, especially with a weakened side. And it was the worst possible start, giving up a goal before four minutes were off the clock. Kuyt sloppily lost possession in midfield and Colman's throughball-slash-shot found Gutierrez, played onside by Carragher, for a tap-in. It didn't get any easier from there, with Liverpool shell-shocked and Yattara tormenting both Kelly and Aurelio down the left. The away side, as at City, couldn't string passes or get out of their own half, resorting to ill-advised hoofs in the direction of an incredibly isolated Ngog.

It got slightly better after spending those 20 minutes fumbling with all hands on deck, slowly but surely steadying the ship, which was capped by Johnson – Liverpool's best player on the night – with the ball in the net in the 32nd only to be rightfully ruled offside. And, like against Arsenal and Rabotnicki, Liverpool were thankfully much improved after the restart.

Ngog should have leveled the match in the 52nd, set up by Joe Cole's right-sided cross, only to see his six-yard header whistle past the back post. Five minutes later, the young French striker did well to turn his marker and muscle past two defenders but pushed his shot wide from the top of the box. Trabzonspor's response – sending on the more defensive Atas for midfielder Gulselam – blunted Liverpool's "burgeoning" attack, but the entrance of Pacheco in the 77th (how dare Rafa Roy wait so long to make substitutions!) finally marked the true turning point.

Within five minutes, Liverpool equalized, leaving Trabzonspor needing two goals to go through. Once again, it came from a Johnson burst forward – cutting inside past the left back and centering dangerously, with the final touch from center-back Giray Kaçar under pressure from Ngog. Liverpool's second came with the game stretched – Babel in space to run at a defender, cutting back for Pacheco, whose laser blast rebounded fortunately for Kuyt. 1-1 would have been a fair scoreline on the night, 2-1 seems a gift, but either would have seen them through, and I'm certainly not complaining about a hard-won win.

It wasn't pretty, but at least Liverpool consistently improved after the early abomination and once again got the late goals to win matches, a trait they thrived on during the wonderful 2008-09 campaign. As angry as I was during the match – and if you follow me on Twitter, you'll know I was murderously angry – by the end of the night, it's a fantastic result. The first time Liverpool's beaten Turkish opposition in Turkey, a side that's rarely beaten at home, with an under-strength squad. That would have been a tough tie with everyone available and fully fit.

After early threats, Johnson was rarely tested in defense, and was Liverpool's only consistent option going forward in the first half. Lucas was typically steady, but Liverpool needed more than steady from central midfield today to make this system work, and his pairing with Poulsen isn't often easy on the eyes. Kyrgiakos was once again dominant aerially. And Pacheco and Babel both had excellent cameos; I hope both have a role to play on Sunday against West Brom. I single out Pacheco for turning the game because his singular ambition to drive forward seemed to perk up the entire side and peg back Trabzonspor, even if he wasn't involved in the crucial equalizer.

But the "fantastic result" can't mute some obvious problems. The team was constantly bereft of ideas for long stretches, bypassing midfield with punts forward despite Ngog unable to hold up play until runners could join in the "attack," which rendered Cole invisible for long stretches. Aurelio's nowhere near fitness and Kuyt looked every bit the scapegoat people make him out to be in the first half, taking both flanks out of the attack. But Fabio, despite his versatility (having played left-back, wing-back, left midfield and central midfield), isn't a left-winger in a four-man midfield, while Kuyt ended up with the final goal thanks to his often-displayed nose for the rebound.

There's still a long season ahead, but Liverpool's over this high hurdle, which will make Anfield a far happier place to be. Confidence matters, and despite the poor performance for long stretches, this result will raise the side's confidence.

Liverpool at Trabzonspor 08.26.10

Liverpool lead 1-0 on aggregate.

1:30pm ET; not on TV in the US. Again. And so far, my DirecTV guide only has Sunday's West Brom game on delay: FS+ at 7pm. Not good. I'm blaming Purslow for this, too.

Last three matches:
Liverpool: 0-3 City (a); 1-0 Trabzonspor (h); 1-1 Arsenal (h)
Trabzonspor: 3-2 Fenerbahce (h); 0-1 Liverpool (a); 2-0 Ankaragucu (a)

Referee: Ivan Bebek (CRO)

Guess at a line-up:
Reina
Johnson Carragher Skrtel Aurelio
Lucas Poulsen
Kuyt Cole Pacheco
Ngog

The traveling party, announced this morning, seemingly tells the world where Liverpool's priorities lie. Torres, Gerrard, Maxi, Agger and Jovanovic all stayed on Merseyside after four of those five started at City on Monday.

It comes down to cold, cruel calculations. As so often noted, Liverpool have a small squad and this competition isn't anywhere near the list of priorities. We were always going to see some rotation. But resting key players will not guarantee a better league performance, as Aston Villa proved in a similar situation last year. I cannot imagine the torrent of criticism that would follow going out of the Europa League at this stage, and – I hate to admit – this squad makes that look a bit more likely. I was already worried with such a slight advantage in a daunting venue after Monday's abortion of a match.

The full squad of 19:

Reina, Gulacsi, Hansen, Johnson, Kelly, Skrtel, Carragher, Krygiakos, Aurelio, Cole, Spearing, Poulsen, Lucas, Pacheco, Shelvey, Babel, Kuyt, Ngog, Eccleston.

From that, looks like it'll be Lucas and Poulsen clogging the midfield, Ngog or Babel up top, two of Kuyt, Pacheco, and Babel on the flanks, and Cole definitely in the hole (yes, I thoroughly enjoy writing "Cole in the hole"). Johnson and Aurelio will probably start at fullback – although I'm still tempted to suggest Kelly take one of those spots – while Carragher will captain the side and partner either Skrtel or Kyrgiakos. Eking a narrow win or draw isn't outside the realm of possibility with that XI, but the job's a lot harder with five important players missing.

It's no surprise to see Torres and Agger out because of each's respective fitness. Maxi's illness forced his exclusion. But the omission of both Gerrard and Jovanovic is surprising; make no mistake, they're both being rested. Jovanovic's played every competitive match to date this season, while if Gerrard needed or wanted to play tomorrow, he could, minor back injury or not. I'd have guessed both to start before seeing this morning's squad.

The Europa League's no cash-spinner, and it'd be nice to have Saturday league games again, which isn't going to happen as long as there are Thursday night cup matches. But winning breeds confidence. And Liverpool desperately need confidence at the moment. I wouldn't mind the above squad so much if Liverpool had put more past Trabzonspor at home or weren't so dire on Monday, but circumstances are what they are. And these circumstances feel like more shit piled upon the growing mountain. Even if it's not the case, the implication is now that Hodgson doesn't care about the Europa League, and the media will assuredly respond accordingly. I can hear the knifes being sharpened already. The honeymoon was fun while it lasted.

Trabzonspor beat one of the big Istanbul three at home last Sunday: scoring three against Fenerbahce, with strikes from Yattara and Glowacki as well as an own goal. The Huseyin Avni Aker Stadium will be an absolute cauldron, and any win would be an excellent win, no matter the XI. By all accounts, their match on Sunday was open in the extreme, with five goals in the first half (and, as football goes, none in the second), which is the antithesis of this year's Liverpool team to date. This year's model has all of last season's attacking ineptitude combined with Gerrard in midfield and a defense that sits 10 yards deeper. Yes, there have only been five games so far, but still, fun times.

Right now, Liverpool seem there for the taking with a narrow lead going into a tough away venue. In the Europa League qualifiers, of all competitions. But this is Anfield these days.

You're doing a heck of a job, George and Tommy. You too, Cecil and Martin.

Liverpool 1-0 Trabzonspor

Reina
Kelly Carragher Kyrgiakos Aurelio
Lucas Poulsen
Maxi Cole Jovanovic
Babel

Goals:
Babel 45+1'

Well, it's a win, but it's somewhat an unhappy one, one reminiscent of struggling against "lesser" sides last season. Liverpool were dire throughout the first half only to be saved by a clever attack at pace, with Cole setting up the anonymous Babel for an excellently-taken strike on the stroke of half-time. The home side were far better in the second half, mainly due to the introduction of Torres for the goal-scorer after the interval, but couldn't put the eventual dominance to use, first seeing Cole's penalty saved before Poulsen unluckily had a debut goal ruled out.

Liverpool simply couldn't cope with the away side early on. For the second-straight game, Liverpool didn't have more possession than the opposition at Anfield (granted, only for the first 30-40 minutes), something we're definitely not accustomed to. To be fair, Reina was never tested in the first half, while Liverpool created the best early chance through Kyrgiakos' 5th minute header well-saved by Kivrak, but they couldn't keep the ball or cope with Trabzonspor's relentless pressing. Misplaced passes and a lack of match sharpness from key players were the main themes until Cole fortunately picked up possession in the opposition half, charged forward, and found Babel's smart run, with the Dutchman smashing a cool finish low into the far corner. Somewhat surprisingly, it'd be his last kick of the game. Once again, Cole makes things happen right before halftime. Thankfully, this time it was a good thing.

Torres' entrance clearly fortified the home side while unsettling Trabzonspor. He nearly scored after a minute, reminiscent of his goal-of-the-season against Sunderland, only to see the keeper make a save, while Lucas put a free header wide from the subsequent corner. Five minutes later, Liverpool should have had a penalty when Maxi was taken down, and forty seconds after that, Liverpool actually got one – Torres running into the box, Lucas picking up possession and winning the spot kick. Cole immediately grabbed the ball (and said in his post-match interview that he was the designated taker), but saw his tame penalty in front of the Kop saved by a keeper that was four feet off his goal line. Joey just can't buy a break, but – a yard inside the post and waist-height for the keeper – it was not a good effort.

Trabzonspor bringing on Brazilian winger Alanzinho in the 56th helped settle the away side, even though both Jovanovic and Torres tested Kivrak with good strikes in the 57th and 63rd, bracketing Reina's one necessary save, beating away Umut's shot in the 59th when the striker timed his run perfectly. Liverpool's lone excellent opportunity in the final half-hour was Poulsen's disallowed goal: a corner headed on goal by Kyrgiakos, hitting Cole before Poulsen stabbed it over the line, only to see the referee blow his whistle. I'll buy that Poulsen was offside – and I needed two replays to see it – but it looked as if the referee called a foul that never was, solely because the keeper rolled around on the ground as if he was shot. Frustrating, just like the majority of tonight's proceedings.

As said in the run-up, Trabzonspor are not easy opposition, and a one-goal lead for a trip to Turkey is slim, to say the least. There were a fair few bright spots: Torres looked outstanding, Maxi and Jovanovic both had excellent matches (Jova especially, probably man of the match), Kyrgiakos was huge at the back, and Poulsen grew into the game very well. But there's also a bit to worry about. Liverpool could and should have killed them off during the 20 minute stretch to start the second half. That first half performance cannot be replicated (although, admittedly, it was an unfamiliar XI); Babel, Lucas and Aurelio (and Poulsen in the first half) looked incredibly rusty; and Liverpool got next to nothing from either fullback going forward (although Kelly was good defensively). I want Joe Cole to succeed so badly – it's clear he'd kill to do well for Liverpool – but little came off outside of his assist, he was anonymous for long stretches in the middle for the second straight match with a pressing, high-line defense, and the saved penalty cannot be good for his confidence.

But at least it's a win, a clean sheet, and a good workout for Torres – who looked fit enough to start on Monday. Liverpool will need to score in Trabzon, but that's never out of the question, especially if the #9's playing. The pressure's now on Trabzonspor to perform in front of their baying crowd; another clean sheet and Liverpool's through to the Europa League proper. The only problem is that long trip – where Liverpool will probably need to play more big names than they'd like – will come after an immense early season match at Manchester City, and the result there will go a long way in dictating the team's confidence come next Thursday.

Liverpool v Trabzonspor 08.19.10

2:45pm ET. Once again, no live coverage in the US. If Liverpool make it past this stage, they'll at least be on DirecTV when the Europa League proper begins (if not the more widely carried GolTV), but no one's televising the qualifiers. Check the usual places for streams.

So far this season:
Liverpool: 1-1 Arsenal (h); 2-0 Rabotnicki (h); 2-0 Rabotnicki (a)
Trabzonspor: 2-0 Ankaragucu (a); 3-0 Bursapora (n)

Referee: Thomas Einwaller (AUT)

Guess at a line-up:
Reina
Kelly Carragher Skrtel Aurelio
Gerrard Lucas
Maxi Cole Pacheco
Ngog

Once again, we're facing the dilemma of who to play in Europe before a more important league fixture. Prior to Sunday's match, I probably would have guessed a few more changes than the above. And chances are, with City on Monday, there'll be more changes than I'm guessing.

Trabzonspor won't be pushovers – Liverpool need to put some distance between themselves and the opposition in the home leg, senior players need match practice, and the Europa League still matters for something despite the obvious priority of the league.

That Joe Cole's now suspended for the next three league matches poses a particular question. Does Hodgson start Cole tomorrow to reaffirm his faith in the player or start Aquilani because the Italian's most likely to take over the play-making role against City, West Brom, and Birmingham? I honestly have no idea; this is where the feeling-out period for a new manager has me clueless. I'd wager Benitez would start Aquilani though, not that it matters here.

The only defensive change that seems certain is Agger out – there is absolutely no need to take chances with a concussion – and Hodgson affirmed that both Agger and Mascherano will miss the match in today's press conference. Which probably means a choice between Aurelio and Kelly. Once again, if Aurelio's fit enough, I'd like to see him start, but Kelly was more than adequate at left-back in the previous round. At the same time, Johnson's one of the few I wouldn't mind seeing rested, which is why I've guessed Kelly on the right. Carragher's another, even though the Carragher/Skrtel pairing was fantastic against Arsenal; tomorrow should see either those two continue to anchor the defense or Wilson get the opportunity to show what he can do. It's completely contingent on whether Hodgson reckons Carra's fit enough for three games in eight days.

With Mascherano missing, tomorrow might be a good first match for Poulsen – it depends on how near to match fitness and acclimating to the team Hodgson thinks he is (as said in the above link, he's in the squad) – but it also seems one of those matches where Liverpool would have less of a need for a defensive holding midfielder. Again, I'm certainly not downplaying Trabzonspor, but Liverpool will be at home and looking to attack, which is why I've guessed the Lucas/Gerrard pairing.

With far more senior players registered with UEFA for this round, Pacheco's been shifted to the B-list, but I still think there's an excellent chance of the youngster starting – either in place of Jovanovic (who went off after 66 minutes on Sunday) or Kuyt. Replacing Jovanovic seems more likely; if Kuyt doesn't make the XI, it should be for Maxi, which raises last season's argument about using Kuyt when Liverpool's expected to attack, similar to the aforementioned "holding midfielder" argument.

The other main squad question seems that of Torres. He needs minutes – the manager's said as much – but I still worry about his fitness level. Ngog's in fine form, and another appearance off the bench seems the safer way to get Torres back to full speed. But I certainly wouldn't rule him out, especially if Hodgson makes other changes to the attack and wants to compensate with more firepower. But like Mascherano, it seems more likely that City will be Torres' first concern.

Since we last spoke, when I pretended I'd heard of more of Trabzonspor than its name, Teofilo Gutierrez has scored five goals: a hat-trick in the Turkish Super Cup and a brace in the first match of the Turkish league season – all five of Trabzonspor's goals this season. It's yet more evidence that this side are no Sunday League amateurs, and Liverpool will be tested, even at Anfield. It's also an argument for keeping a strong, settled center-back pairing.

Liverpool needs a dynamic home leg performance to settle the tie and allow Hodgson to rest players for the long trip to Turkey. I assume we're all familiar with the notion of Turkish stadia being irrepressible, frightening cauldrons despite fond recollections of Istanbul. I still can't shake the memory of a 1-2 loss at Besiktas in 2007. But, yes, the Manchester City match will undoubtedly influence tomorrow's line-up and tactics.

Liverpool have the fortune of being at Anfield tomorrow, unlike City and their trip to Romania. Maybe that means more players get a rest – Gerrard, Carragher, Johnson, etc. – with an eye on the league, but I'm sure Hodgson would rather not need to a result in Trabzon, no matter how much everyone's downplaying the Europa League's importance.

Remember how last season's loss at Fiorentina sparked a massive downward spiral? Liverpool had finally looked settled after the early August defeats, winning all five September games after the international break. Then came the trip to Florence, Aurelio in midfield, and an embarrassing 0-2 result. Liverpool subsequently lost the next three matches, against Chelsea, Sunderland, and Lyon, before the false dawn against United. That's where the wheels truly fell off, and that simply cannot happen again. It's not possible to overemphasize how a similar result tomorrow could set the side back.

Get this match out of the way, then play more of the youngsters in Turkey. Worry about City after tomorrow night.

Europa League Playoff Round: Trabzonspor

Yet another trip into far, foreign lands...

Neither one of these Europa League qualifying rounds has been good for Liverpool's carbon footprint, racking up the air miles. With Grasshoppers (SUI), Utrecht (NED), AIK (SWE), FK Qarabag (AZE) and Trabzonspor possible, Liverpool drew the Turkish opposition. At least they're not going to Azerbaijan. Not to mention there's a bit of history in facing this opposition, with Liverpool beating Trabzonspor in the second round of the 1976-77 European Cup on the way to lifting Ol' Big Ears for the first time in Rome. And a bit of history in traveling to Turkey, although Trabzon, unfortunately, isn't Istanbul (it's also around 650 miles further away).

It's another team I know little about in regards to players. While Trabzonspor are the most successful Turkish club outside of the big Istanbul three, and are are arguably the toughest opposition Liverpool could have drawn – winning the Turkish Cup last season and finishing fifth in the Süper Lig – I'm unfamiliar with the majority of their squad. Alanzinho and Yattara are well-regarded wingers. Striker Teofilo Gutierrez has made a handful of appearances for the Colombian national side. Unsurprisingly, they also have a few players who've been called up to the Turkish national team. And, no, I'm not completely reliant on Wikipedia for all of this information. Just most of it. Wikipedia does describe Trabzonspor's 22-year-old starting keeper, Onur Recep Kivrak, as "young and soulful," which amuses me to no end.

No matter how far the team has to travel or the league games that will bracket both legs, Liverpool should progress. For once, it's nice to have the first leg at home. Not only will Liverpool be able to set the marker for what's needed at Anfield, it'll ease the domestic schedule. Liverpool are at home to Arsenal before the first leg and at home against Trabzonspor before facing City the following Sunday. Meanwhile, City's will have to travel to Romania for their Europa League match before hosting Liverpool. And the match after the trip to Turkey, currently scheduled for Sunday (but should be moved to Monday), is against West Brom at Anfield. It could be a lot worse were the Europa League legs reversed, but I still wouldn't expect a full-strength side for either Trabzonspor match. I'm be utterly stunned if Torres, among others, features.

The matches will take place on August 19 and 26.