Hearts held as Reds progress to group stages

Liverpool secured their place in the group stages of the Europa League last night after achieving a 2-1 aggregate victory over Scottish side Hearts. Heading into the second leg at Anfield, Rodgers' Reds were confident of progressing after claiming a one-goal lead a week earlier north of the border. They had their hearts in their mouths, though, when a calamitous error from Pepe Reina gifted Hearts the opener five minutes from time and set up the unwelcoming prospect of extra time. Thankfully, Suarez saved the day with a superb solo strike to level the contest on the night and therefore send the Reds through.

Rodgers showed yet again that he has faith in the club's youngsters, handing Adam Morgan his competitive debut as well as starting both Kelly and Shelvey. As promised, Stewart Downing was given an opportunity to start as a left wing back and the England international impressed, flying down the wing on regular occasions and providing useful crosses.

A prime example of this arrived on the quarter of an hour mark, when Downing latched onto a long ball and then sent a dangerous deep cross to the back post. Gerrard squared the ball back to Suarez, whose header was desperately cleared off the line. Hopefully Downing can continue this good form and really challenge Enrique for a starting berth at left back because not only could that finally bring the best out of the 28-year old, it would also prevent the club wasting money on a reserve left back. Downing has stated his willingness to play in the position and it could be a win-win situation for both club and player.

Hearts retained a threat of sorts during the first period and kept the ball relatively well, but the hosts were creating most of the goal scoring chances. On the half hour mark, Steven Gerrard showed that he still possesses tremendous talent when his brilliant jinking run took him into the box and only a sprawling save from MacDonald denied the Scouse skipper an outstanding goal.

Fellow local lad Adam Morgan thought he had capped his debut in perfect fashion when he had the ball in the back of the net from Suarez's low cross. Unfortunately, as he wheeled off in celebration the officials cut short his elation as they deemed the ball to have already exited the field of play during the build-up.

Towards the end of the half Hearts had a few opportunities themselves. First, Sutton headed off target from Paterson's cross. Then, Templeton shot high and wide after turning on the edge of the box. However, although their form in front of goal was frustrating, Liverpool remained in the ascendancy in the second half. Unsurprisingly, they played patient, possession-orientated football but the end product was crucially missing.

Shortly after the hour mark Raheem Sterling, who has been a revelation during the first few fixtures, replaced Morgan in an attempt to inject an extra dimension to Liverpool's attacking play. It almost worked too, as soon after Suarez went through one-on-one and beat the keeper. The Uruguyuan was only denied due to McGowan racing back and the ball ricocheting off the defender and onto the post. Gerrard's long range strike than had MacDonald scrambling but the ball flew wide, before the number eight fired into the side netting from a tight angle after Sterling had danced into the penalty area.

The visitors had remained in the contest, though, knowing that one goal from a piece of individual brilliance or a moment of madness was likely to earn them an extra half hour of Europa League football at least. Unfortunately, the latter occurred on 85 minutes when David Templeton's seemingly tame long range shot was embarrassingly fumbled into his own net by Pepe Reina.

The Spaniard's own goal was remarkably similar to the one he conceded against Arsenal in August 2010, which cost the Reds an opening day victory in Roy Hodgson's first Premier League game in charge. It should be little cause for concern, however, because a crucial element of Reina's brilliance is his ability to bounce back immediately after mistakes. Expect a fine performance from the number 25 when Arsene Wenger's men return to Merseyside on Sunday.

Liverpool were desperate to avoid a draining extra half an hour of football. There was widespread relief, therefore, when Suarez equalised on the night minutes before the final whistle to clinch a 2-1 aggregate victory for the home side. Picking up the ball in the middle of the park, Suarez beat two men before expertly finishing with his left foot from a very tight angle. Touchingly, he then revealed a shirt of support for Lucas Leiva, who was recently ruled out for three months due to a thigh injury, during the celebrations.

After coming through a difficult Europa League play-off, Liverpool now face Udinese, Young Boys and Anzhi Makhachkala in what could potentially by the group of death. It will certainly represent an intriguing challenge for the Reds' youngsters and squad players to try and overcome. If they succeed in doing so, first team football in the near future will not be an unrealistic prospect for them.

YNWA