Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live text commentary of Liverpool's Europa League clash against Udinese.
The Merseyside outfit head into the encounter knowing that only a win will guarantee them a spot in the knockout rounds of the competition but a draw will suffice if Young Boys fail to get a result against Group A leaders Anzhi Makhachkala.
The Premier League side will be without inspirational skipper Steven Gerrard, who has been ruled out due to illness, but manager Brendan Rodgers will be hoping that his side can secure three points over an Italian team that defeated the Reds at Anfield in October.
Can Liverpool clinch a place in the knockout phase of the European competition? Stay tuned with us to find out.
Hello all! We're focusing on Liverpool's Europa League campaign this evening and it's a vital match that could result in the Reds getting dumped out of the competition at the group stage.
The Reds are up against Udinese tonight and the Italians have already tasted victory over the Premier League outfit following their 3-2 win at Anfield. The return leg is teed up to favour Udinese since they're on home turf.
Let's have a look at what can happen to the teams in Group A then. Anzhi Makhachkala currently top the standings with 10 points, Liverpool sit in second with seven points. Young Boys also have seven points and are placed below the Reds, while Udinese reside at the bottom with four points.
If Liverpool claim a win in Italy this evening then they are guaranteed a place in the knockout rounds. However, they can still progress depending on the other result in the group.
If Anzhi manage to defeat Swiss side Young Boys then the Reds can proceed into the next round with a draw against Udinese but Rodgers will be urging his side to grab maximum points and not rely on the other game.
Right, now that's sorted, let's get some team news!
Liverpool starting XI: Reina; Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Enrique; Sahin, Henderson, Allen, Downing; Suarez, Suso
Liverpool bench: Jones, Coates, Wisdom, Cole, Sterling, Shelvey, Assaidi
Udinese starting XI: Padelli; Danilo, Faraoni, Pasquale, Armero; Heurtaux, Badu, Pereyra, Pinzi; Ranegie, Fabbrini
Udinese bench: Brkic, Benatia, Berra, Frison, Reinthaler, Di Natale, Marsura
There we are then! Let's have a look at Liverpool's starting lineup. Luis Suarez finds himself in the XI for the first time in the Europa League this season. The Uruguayan is handed the starting spot as expected considering that the 25-year-old is banned from Sunday's Premier League bout with West Ham United.
If you remember, Suarez, somewhat foolishly, committed a handball in the penalty area during Liverpool's 1-0 win over Southampton last weekend, which resulted in a booking and a one-match suspension.
Anyway, back to the game in question! Suarez is likely to lead the line up front on his own with support from Suso and Stewart Downing, who has had questions raised over his Anfield future.
As previously mentioned, captain Steven Gerrard did not fly to Italy with the squad due to illness so veteran defender Jamie Carragher will don the skipper's armband for tonight's match.
Jordan Henderson has been given another chance to impress Rodgers after getting the nod, while Nuri Sahin should hold the midfield, possibly giving Joe Allen the chance to push up the pitch.
There's no place for Lucas Leiva on the bench, despite the midfielder returning to action against Southampton last Saturday following over three months out with a knee injury.
It's a strong side for Rodgers, which indicates that the Northern Irishman is serious about this competition. Given that the Reds are already out of the League Cup, I'm sure Liverpool will be hoping to stay in as many competitions as possible in order to add silverware to their cabinets.
Right, let's have a look at the home side that manager Francesco Guidolin has selected. It's a boost for the Udinese fans as skipper Giampiero Pinzi makes his comeback to the side following a bout of injury.
However, there's no place for Andrea Lazzari, who is not even on the bench as he continues to recover from an injury.
Interestingly, Guidolin has opted to go for a forward partnership of Diego Fabbrini and Matias Ranegie, which means that Antonio Di Natale has been relegated to the bench.
You would perhaps assume that Di Natale would start against the Reds considering that he scored against Liverpool at Anfield in October. On the other hand, the Italian side are already out of the competition so they may be looking to rest the 35-year-old and bring him on for his lethal finishing at some point during the game.
Kick-off is at 6pm so shall we have a look at some fun facts while we wait? Why not! Liverpool's history against Italian teams in Europe are as follows: The Reds have won eight of their 24 games, drawn five and lost 11.
Nine of those 11 defeats have come away from home so Rodgers will be hoping not to round that number to 10 this evening.
It's been a disappointing campaign for Udinese this year. This is the first time that they have missed out on the knockout stage in four UEFA Cup and UEFA Europa League tournaments.
So, just to remind you, Liverpool will definitely reach the final 32 if they win tonight but they can also go through if Anzhi prevent Young Boys from getting a result in their respective match.
The one thing that Liverpool must not do is lose the game because regardless of the result in Switzerland, in this instance, the Reds will be out of Europe.
Rodgers has been speaking to ITV4 ahead of the match, which is due to kick-off in just under five minutes. The Liverpool boss said: "We've got strength, we've got experience. The idea was to put out a team that could win the game and that's what we'll look to do."
Right, the teams are just emerging and heading onto the pitch. It looks chilly out there, even the match officials have gloves on!
So here we go then! Udinese get us underway.
Udinese launch their first attack courtesy of a corner and the Reds had to work at it to get it away but they manage to clear the danger.
Oh dear, an injury scare for both teams in these early stages! Skrtel and Ranegie both have their eyes on the ball and try to claim the header but clatter into each other instead. Thankfully both players are now on their feet.
Udinese look like they mean business, despite already being out of the competition. The Italian team are having some joy down that right-hand side but Johnson has managed to regain possession for the away side.
Henderson launches the ball into the box looking for Suarez but it's knocked out for a corner, which Sahin takes and the keeper leaps to clear the ball.
Reina tries a long-ball shot to Suarez but it goes straight to Padelli, who begins at attack from the back for Udinese.
Liverpool regain posession and once again a long ball from midfield is aimed towards Suarez but it's too far for the Uruguayan to latch on to.
A clumsy turn from Ranegie allows Skrtel to steal the ball and take a surging run down the right-hand side. He passes to Suarez but he loses the ball himself in the final third.
Sahin moves off the field to seek treatment on what seems to be a nose bleed. The Reds are currently operating with just 10 men.
Allen gives the ball away, which allows Udinese to attack in numbers but there is no danger to trouble the Liverpool goal.
Ranegie drops back into midfield to set up a nice move with Pasquale but the ball gets snuffed out and Liverpool regain possession.
SUB! Liverpool are forced into an early substitution as Sahin can't recover from the nose bleed and Shelvey is brought on in place of the Turkish midfielder.
Seconds later Shelvey had a chance to snatch the first goal after a Downing free kick rebounds to the feet of the midfielder. His shot is far wide though and isn't enough to force the keeper into a save.
A pass from Johnson on the right-hand side into the feet of Suso allows the Spaniard to take a shot but it's bounced off the defence and allows Pereyra to counter.
CHANCE! Ranegie has the chance to open the scoring for the home side after he's found inside the penalty area with plenty of space. The ball is lofted into the box on the head of the forward but his header fires wide. He should have done better.
BOOKING! Fabbrini gets the first yellow of the game after a lunging challenge on Shelvey. There's not real damage to the Liverpool midfielder but the studs were showing so it was a justified booking.
Fabbrini takes a corner for the home side but it's hooked away by Downing and Liverpool get control on the ball.
SAVE! Reina is forced to tip the ball over the crossbar after Pereyra nicks the ball from Liverpool and manages to tuck inside and take a shot on goal but Reina gets fingertips on the ball to keep the scoreline 0-0.
Liverpool try to get some composure in midfield but a sliding tackle from Pinzi on Shelvey gives the Reds a free kick just outside of the area.
Suarez takes the free kick but it hits the wall and finds Enrique. Suarez receives the pass but it's blocked and goes out for a throw.
GOAL! Udinese 0-1 Liverpool (Henderson)
Well, an unlikely goalscorer for the Reds! Downing's corner finds the head of Suarez, who looks like he tries to head towards goal, but it's wide off the mark and falls to the feet of Suso, who lays the ball back to Henderson on the edge of the box and he manages to drill the ball into the bottom left-hand corner.
GOAL OFFSIDE Liverpool have a second goal ruled offside after a scramble in the penalty area involving Downing and Enrique. The ball eventually finds the feet of Johnson, who buries his shot into the back of the net but the full-back is offside.
Liverpool have been more assertive on the ball since going ahead in Italy and have managed to unsettle Udinese, who started the brighter of the two teams.
Downing shrugs off Fabbrini but the Italian manages to win a free kick for his side in their own area.
Fabbrini loses the ball again and Henderson hits the ball back to the defence to set up another attack. Udinese look a tad shaky at the moment.
Udinese find themselves at the other end of the field and a cross from Pasquale finds Ranegie, who jumps to catch on to the header but ends up tumbling on top of Carragher and giving away a foul.
It's Suarez this time who is ruled offside. Some lovely link-up play with Enrique allows the Uruguayan to surge forward but he's just a fraction offside when he goes to receive the ball.
CHANCE! Fabbrini takes a shot on goal after a swift run from the middle of the park but Reina manages to get down in time to block the shot.
BOOKING! Suso gets a yellow for kicking the ball away in anger after he was penalised for pulling back Pererya after losing the ball.
Pasquale finds himself on the right-hand side of the field and launches a cross into the ball but it's hit too hard and fails to find a black and white shirt in the box.
A strong run from Downing allows Enrique to skip past him and receive the pass to cross into the box but the keeper dives down to snuff out the chance before Suarez can latch onto it.
News from the group! Young Boys are 1-0 up against Anzhi so this means that a draw for Liverpool would definitely not be good enough to progress into the next round. As it stands, the Reds have to win.
Suarez forces Badu to knock the ball out for a corner but Shelvey's attempt eventually comes to nothing and Udinese have the chance to set up an attack.
Faraoni finds plenty of space on the left but his cross lashes behind Fabbrini and the chance goes missing.
CHANCE! At the other end, Suarez has the chance to double Liverpool's lead following a swift pass from Suso in the box but the Uruguayan, who moves out wide to get his shot on, fires over the bar.
CHANCE! Johnson wins a corner for his side after battling Armero down the right and it falls to Suarez, who tries a overhead kick but the keeper tips the ball over the bar.
HALF-TIME: Udinese 0-1 Liverpool
Liverpool are 45 minutes away from reaching the knockout phase of the competition. On the half-time whistle there seemed to be a slight disagreement between Suarez and Udinese keeper Padelli, with Suarez seeming to suggest that the shot-stopper had committed a foul with his elbow. The duo had a few words but the two sides' teammates stopped the exchange from getting heated as they walked to their respective dressing rooms.
Let's have a look back on the first half then! While Udinese's start wasn't blistering, they did seem the hungrier of the two sides and troubled Liverpool keeper Reina in the early stages.
However, Henderson's goal gave Liverpool more composure and confidence and they managed to control the majority of the game and looked more threatening as the game went on.
Shelvey and goalscorer Henderson have stood out for the Reds so far. They're both controlling the midfield well and getting some strong forward runs into the box. We'll see if that can continue in the second half!
For Udinese, we may see the inclusion of Di Natale, who is known for his lethal finishing and is on the bench for the Italian side at the moment. Could he be a vital goal threat for the home side in the second half?
While we wait for the players' return, have a little read of our half-time match report here.
And we're back! Liverpool get us underway for the second half and it's worth noting that Anzhi have got a goal back against Young Boys, which serves the Reds' chances of qualifying even better.
SUB! Udinese have made a change at half-time as skipper Pinzi makes way for Benatia.
Suarez latches onto the ball in midfield and passes to his right to find Suso, who finds space and takes a shot on goal at the keeper's near post but it's a poor effort as the ball clips the side of his foot and goes wide off the mark.
Udinese gets a free kick at the other end of the field and Faraoni's ball into the box is headed out instantly and Liverpool regain possession.
Downing's cross into the box finds the head of Benatia, who gets the ball out of danger but Suarez manages to launch a thumping shot on goal but it fires over the crossbar.
Ranegie receives the ball from Faraoni in the box but he's leaning already when he chests the ball and falls to the ground. There's no claims for a penalty.
Fabbrini runs inside to get a shot on but manages to get a corner instead after the ball bounces off Carragher. The set piece comes to nothing as the home side continue to search for an equaliser.
Henderson loses the ball in midfield to Armero and tries to atone for his error but the Udinese player shakes him off to set up an attack for Badu, who fires towards goal from a long way out but Reina has it covered.
Udinese are seeing more of the ball in these early stages of the second half with Ranegie and Fabbrini completing some impressive link-up play. Liverpool's strong defence of Carragher and Skrtel are stopping the Italian side from breaking their deadlock.
Group A update: It's all switched again! Young Boys are now 2-1 up against Anzhi, which means that Liverpool must win if they are to progress.
Udinese gets a free kick after what looks like a dive from Ranegie after Carragher tried to snatch the ball from the forward. A mistake from the ref there.
CHANCE! Some danger for Liverpool as Udinese get a corner kick, which finds Ranegie but his powerful shot drifts over the bar and crashes into the back netting.
Ranegie tries to play in Armero, who surges down the left-hand side but his shot is too far and the player fails to control it and is forced to give away a throw-in.
Udinese are showing a lot more urgency but Liverpool will have to be careful because if they concede, as it stands, they're going out of Europe.
Benatia seeks treatment on what appears to be his knee. It doesn't look like there was a challenge on the Udinese player, he's just pulled up. Not great news for the Italian side, who brought Benatia on at half time.
SUB! Benatia is forced to go off and Reinthale comes on.
SAVE! A vital reaction from Pradelli prevents Henderson from doubling Liverpool's lead. Enrique launches the ball into the box and the first-half goalscorer is there to try a snap volley but the Udinese keeper palms the ball over the bar.
BOOKING! Pasquale gets cautioned after catching Suso on the Achilles from behind. The Spaniard gets to his feet and is fit to continue.
What a run by Suarez! The Uruguayan receives the ball on the right side of the box and manages to cut inside and dink past two players to get a shot on goal but once again Padelli gets a hand to it.
BOOKING! Another yellow card comes out of the ref's pocket. Allen mistimes a tackle on Fabbrini and pays the price for it.
SUB! It's the end of Suso's evening on the pitch as he makes way for 17-year-old Raheem Sterling.
Pasquale latches onto the ball after Liverpool's defence try to fend off a set piece but his thumping shot heads into a wall of bodies. You get the feeling the Udinese can damage Liverpool here if they get in the right position.
Skrtel saves Liverpool after a nervy few minutes for the away side after Pasquale's cross tries to find Ranegie. The Reds survive the pressure and retain possession.
Another free kick for Udinese but Enrique manages to head the ball away from danger but the home side snatch a corner. The header from Ranegie goes wide but Udinese are definitely piling on the pressure!
Allen snatches possession in the middle of the park to find Sterling, who manages to hold off pressure and release the ball back to the midfielder.
Enrique's long ball gets to Suarez's feet but the striker fails to make it count as he's dispossessed by the Udinese defence.
SENT OFF! Pasquale is given his marching orders after receiving a second yellow card, which was issued for clipping Sterling's ankle from behind as the winger tried to turn when receiving the ball. It wasn't dangerous but it was a definite yellow.
BOOKING! Well the ref sure likes his yellow cards! Carragher is at the receiving end of one after a reckless challenge, which gives Udinese a free kick in a dangerous area.
Ten-man Udinese fail to make the most of the opportunity and Liverpool regain possession as we enter the final 10 minutes.
Liverpool look shaky in defence as the ball bobbles around the box but a vital clearance from Henderson gives the Reds time to breathe and start their own attack.
SUB! Here he is! Di Natale makes his way onto the pitch in place of Ranegie. Liverpool won't be too pleased to see the 35-year-old.
Liverpool pass the ball back and forth from midfield to defence in a bid to keep possession in these last few minutes.
Rodgers has to be calmed down by the match officials. Well, calmed down may be a slight exaggeration... The Liverpool boss has some choice words for Pererya after the Udinese player tried to claim a throw-in that belonged to the Reds.
Rodgers picked up the ball and Pererya tried to snatch it off him. The Northern Irishman was having none of it!
Suarez cuts in from the left but the ball is forced behind for a corner just as the fourth official indicates three minutes of added time.
The corner comes to nothing but the Reds have possession again and try to see out these last few moments of the second half.
Suarez somehow finds Downing, despite getting closed down by two players. The cross from the winger finds Sterling but his header is wayward and fails to trouble the goal.
CHANCE! Di Natale almost ruined Liverpool's chances of progression with seconds to go by launching a powerful shot towards Reina from the corner of the box but it skids over the bar.
FULL-TIME: Udinese 0-1 Liverpool
Well, Liverpool fans would have held their breath for those last few seconds as Di Natale was just inches away of pushing the Reds out of Europe!
He failed to convert his chance though, which means that Liverpool are granted a spot in the final 32 of the tournament along with Anzhi Makhachkala.
Liverpool's 10 points mean that they finish at the top of Group A, which is an advantage for the Reds when they enter the draw for the knockout rounds.
You would have to argue that Liverpool deserved their victory this evening against the Italian side, who finished the game with just 10 men. Despite Udinese trying to launch a comeback in the second half, the Reds managed to weather the storm and grab a place in the next stage of the competition.
Well, I hope you enjoyed that! If you haven't had your fill of Europa League action then stick with Sports Mole and follow our live commentary of Tottenham Hotspur's match against Panathinaikos here. Enjoy!
Written by
Danielle Joynson
Danielle Joynson
