It was clear beforehand that it was never going to be easy travelling to Turkey with only one goal advantage - and it only took a couple of minutes into the game for it to substantiate. With only three minutes on the clock, Liverpool were cut open, to see Gustavo Colman's shot slotted in by Teofilo Gutierrez and their first leg lead quashed.
The first half continued as frustrating, Liverpool not able to coordinate an attack - showing a clumsy and lacklustre display similar to their absent performance against Manchester City in the Premier League match last Monday.
In the second half Liverpool came back looking much better, the Reds picking up on steel and determination. David Ngog missed a couple of sitters in the mean time though, putting one wide from only six yards out, seemingly taking the "You're alone here!" banner of the typically hostile Turkish crowd to heart.
The Reds left it late, for Giray Kacar to put a Glen Johnson cross from the right into his own net on 84 and Dirk Kuyt to slot in the rebound of Daniel Pacheco's shot on 88 and take the game to 3-1 on aggregate and beyond the Turks.
Liverpool seemed asleep for the most of the match - first half especially, losing the ball and all sence of the game. They got a grip in the second half and got it all together in the last 5-10 minutes, cruel on Trabzonspor who did their best and well to disable and frustrate their opponents which the results of both legs don't reflect.
I know they always say results count most, but if Liverpool continue in this fashion against stronger opposition, they won't last long, that's for sure!
1st half Stats
Trabzonspor-Liverpool
Attempts: 4-3
On target: 2-2
Offsides: 1-1
Corners 2-3
Free kicks: 3-2
2nd halfs stats
Trabzonspor-Liverpool
Attempts: 1-5
On target: 0-2
Offsides: 1-0
Corners: 0-1
Free kicks: 4-4
Trabzonspor: Kivrak; Cale (Jaja 86.), Gulselam (booked 39., Atas 65.), Korkmaz (booked 72.), Kacar, Inan, Yilmaz (booked 41.), Balci, Teofilo Gutierrez, Colman, Ibrahima Yattara (Alaozinho 46.)Subs not used: Zengin, Baytar, Badur, Oztorun.
Liverpool: Reina; Johnson, Aurelio (Pacheco 77.), Kyrgiakos, Carragher, Kelly, Cole, Lucas, Poulsen (Skrtel 91.), Kuyt, Ngog (Babel 86.).Subs not used: Gulacsi, Spearing, Shelvey, Eccleston.
Referee: Ivan Bebek (CRO)
Man of the match: Daniel Pacheco
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