Kewell header means Liverpool progress

Liverpool 1 Steaua Bucharest 0 (agg 2-1)

Harry Kewell’s header gave Liverpool what they craved – European football in the new year.

It has been that sort of erratic, unsatisfactory season for the Anfield men that they were just relieved to have hung onto victory in a match that could so easily have gone so wrong for them.

Bucharest, who missed two glorious first-half chances, had a penalty appeal turned down and will have good cause to claim they did not have the rub of the green.

But Liverpool will not care one jot. So much has gone so wrong this term that they needed to be in the UEFA Cup third round come February to maintain their battered confidence.

This match encapsulated everything that has happened them this season. Sometimes excellent, sometimes uncertain and unsure, sometimes plain ragged.

But in skipper Steven Gerrard they had the inspiration needed. He was everywhere, defending, attacking down both wings and pulling his team along with his sheer desire.

Elsewhere Dietmar Hamann’s calming influence was welcomed on his first start since May while Sami Hyypia held together the defence.

Both Danny Murphy and Emile Heskey were consigned to the bench with Hamann making his first start of the season in midfield alongside Gerrard, while French teenager Florent Sinama-Pongolle came in for only his second start for the club.

But although Liverpool made the first chance, El Hadji Diouf’s first minute cross-shot from Kewell’s pass saved by Vasili Khamutovski, the Romanians should have been ahead seconds later.

Falemi Nana’s through-ball found Claudiu Raducanu completely clear of the defence but with Chris Kirkland rushing out he managed to lift the ball over the crossbar from 10 yards.

Gerrard, now released into his more familiar attacking midfield role, set the tone tearing into opponents and after only four minutes came out of a challenge with Matei Radoi with a free-kick despite the Romanian captain being reduced to a crumpled heap on the Anfield turf – much to the annoyance of players and coach Victor Piturca.

With Salif Diao replacing the injured Steve Finnan at right-back and Igor Biscan and Djimi Traore also included it was not Liverpool’s strongest defence and they were caught hanging back after 16 minutes when Marian Aliuta lashed a cross-shot just wide of the far post.

Steaua were not frightened to commit three men forward and attacked with movement, pace and excellent control with Raducanu a constant menace.

Liverpool were forced to play on the break and when one Steaua attack broke down, the ball was moved swiftly to Sinama-Pongolle, whose clever turn out-foxed Valeriu Rachita into a wild challenge, which cost him a booking.

After 36 minutes Steaua carved out another fine opening when Rachita’s angled ball from right to left dropped into the penalty area behind a sleeping Diao for Gabriel Bostina to send a looping header just wide.

The stalemate was soon broken at the beginning of the second half but Liverpool had to survive a penalty appeal before they took the lead after 48 minutes.

Biscan was trapped in his own box in possession and as he tried to spin out of trouble he looked to have tripped Raducanu, who was enraged at referee Florian Meyer’s disinterest.

The ball went straight down the other end and from Gerrard’s searching right-wing cross Kewell rose in the area to send a downward header into the net.

Steaua went looking for the equaliser and when Radoi’s 30-yard drive was blocked Raducanu sliced the rebound wide from 10 yards.

Owen, who had been quiet until this point, found space to stab a Kewell near post cross wide and then scampered clear to see a chip drop inches wide.

Liverpool had by now opted for experience and fresh legs by taking off Diouf and Sinama-Pongolle and sending on Vladimir Smicer and Heskey and the latter almost scored from his first touch when he almost forced Gerrard’s deflected corner past Khamutovski.

With 10 minutes left Nana and Daniel Oprita were replaced by Adrian Pitu and Laurentiu Dinita, Steaua knowing that despite Liverpool having the better of the second half, one goal would see them right back in it.

And it almost came on 87 minutes when the ball came in from the right and Dinita had time and space on the edge of the box to set himself for a shot but fired wide.

Heskey played deep in midfield until Owen was replaced by Murphy three minutes from time and Liverpool hung on against a Romanian side who went home believing they deserved more than this.