Result all that matters as Houllier's side overcome first hurdle

YOU could hardly say the European glory days returned to Anfield last night.

It wasn't stylish or impressive, but Liverpool still squeezed through to the second round of the UEFA Cup with a flat performance against a well-organised but uninspiring Rapid Bucharest side.

In the end Nick Barmby's first leg goal was the vital statistic as Liverpool showing six changes from the side that played in Romania a fortnight ago struggled to discover their flowing rhythm and impose themselves.

But the Reds are still in Europe and, as Gerard Houllier was at pains to point out afterwards, it's the result that counts most.

After all, last night's fall guys Leicester and Chelsea would happily swap places with Liverpool in today's second round draw.

Liverpool won the greater share of possession but never looked like taking a positive grip on the game in the first-half as they desperately toiled in vain for the goal that would have put the tie beyond their Romanian visitors.

Liverpool's best early chance arrived on 15 minutes when Bernard Diomede teed-up Dietmar Hamann from a free-kick after Patrik Berger was fouled by Damiel Chirita. The German lashed his shot through the wall, but just inches wide of the post.

Houllier rang the changes, bringing Sami Hyypia, Robbie Fowler and Patrik Berger back after injury lay-offs in a calculated gamble.

No doubt he had one eye on Sunday's visit to Chelsea, as regulars Stephane Henchoz, Jamie Carragher and Nick Barmby began the match on the bench.

Liverpool struggled to mount any sustained attacking play. Too many balls were played square or backwards in the first half and no one seemed prepared to take responsibility to thread a through ball forward.

Fowler, starting his first senior game for 12 months, couldn't be faulted for his workrate but was understandably rusty after so long out.

Houllier's judgement that he's still some way short of being ready for England duty was borne out, but the very sight of Fowler back in a Liverpool shirt can only give encouragement for the season ahead.

Midway through the half he was picked out by Vegard Heggem's cross from the right, but his far-post header was easily turned round for a corner by keeper Razvan Lucescu.

The Liverpool goal was under threat moments later when the lively Daniel Pancu for once slipped past Hyypia. Fortunately, Sander Westerveld was alert to the danger, charged off his line and made the vital interception.

Westerveld then foiled Cornel Frasineanu's shot on 33 minutes.

Liverpool's frustration mounted and Rapid, struggling in 11th place in their domestic league, grew in stature and posed a danger on the break.

The home side, though, finally hit on a penetrating move eight minutes before the interval. Berger and Fowler combined smartly on the edge of the box but the disappointing Diomede blazed high over the bar.

Houllier brought on Christian Ziege five minutes into the second half in place of Djimi Traore in search of an added spark.

The German international was straight into the thick of the action. He won the ball to set-up Steven Gerrard, who moved to a more natural central position after the interval, and he unleashed a 30-yarder that whistled agonisingly wide of the post.

Ziege's arrival lifted his team - and the crowd. He has bedded down well into the side since his contentious transfer and was indisputably man of the match for his impressive 40-minute cameo.

Gerrard fizzed another low drive that Lucescu held before the effervescent Ziege gifted another chance to the returning Fowler.

The former Middlesbrough player's free-kick was met by Fowler eight yards out but he couldn't find direction with his header and Lucescu comfortably clutched the header.

Houllier next brought on Barmby, called into the England squad yesterday, as Liverpool began to exert a hold over the game.

After 65 minutes Owen raced onto a long Westerveld clearance. The little striker brushed off the challenges of Mihaai Iencsi and Florin Constantinovici but Lucescu came to the rescue as Owen tried to chip him.

With time running out, Liverpool looked to settle for a draw on the night.

Rapid refused to lie down and continued to press forward in an anxious last few minutes.

Credit to Liverpool for keeping a clean sheet to help banish recent talk of a creaky defence. They showed composure towards the end and Westerveld was barely troubled.

LIVERPOOL: Westerveld, Heggem, Babbel, Hyypia, Traore (Ziege, 50 mins), Gerrard, Hamann, Berger, Diomede (Barmby, 59 mins), Fowler, Owen. Subs: Arphexad, Henchoz, Murphy, Meijer, Carragher.

RAPID BUCHAREST: Lucescu, Stanciu, Frasineanu, Chirita, Constantinovicr, Iftodi (Bundea, 56 mins), Maldarasanu, Pancu (Constantin, 75 mins), Schumacher (Radu, 67 mins), Iencsi, Isaila. Subs: Buta, Radu, Radulescu, Balan, Mutica.

REFEREE: M Liba (Czech Republic)

BOOKINGS: Rapid's Chirita and Frasineanu

ATTENDANCE: 37,954

© Liverpool Daily Post & Echo