It all looked a bit grim for Liverpool as Teofilo Gutierrez’s 4th minute goal stood for 80 more minutes before Glen Johnson’s foray down the right resulted in an own goal by Remzi Giray Kacar.
In the 88th minute, Dani Pacheco in a cameo showing signs he maybe the face of the future, took a nicely timed swing which Trabzon’s goalie Onur Kivrak was unable to hold onto and newly committed Dirk Kuyt was at hand to win it for Liverpool. Before the match began the Liverpool striker had earned kudos for spurning Inter’s overtures and pledging his future at Anfield.
Liverpool looked much better in the second half as Joe Cole came alive with some nice deliveries to isolate David Ngog who had two very good looks.
Roy Hodgson was a much relieved man. He has legions of skeptics who deride him as Sir Woy and a loss would have put him on very thin ice.