Bruno Fernandes 18    Mascherano 29

                                                                                                                 Babel 40

                                                                                                                 Gerrard 57

(Liverpool win 4-1 on agg)

Liverpool eventually secured safe passage through to a Europa League last 16 meeting with French side Lille, after overcoming an early jolt in Rumania.

A goal to the good from the first leg, Rafa Benitez’s men were back on level terms within 20 minutes. But goals from Javier Mascherano and Ryan Babel turned matters round before the break. And Steven Gerrard sealed the tie early in the second half.

It was another disjointed display from the Reds. But it could have been a lot worse after Joao Bruno Fernandes powered in a free header from Razvan Paduretu’s corner in the 18^th minute.

Liverpool had lacked fluency throughout the tie to that point. But they were stung into action just before the half-hour mark when Mascherano latched onto a half-cleared cross and drove the ball past Unirea Urziceni keeper Giedrius Arlauskis from over 20 yards.

Their second goal could scarcely have come at a better time, Babel turning and shooting in one moment past Arlauskis from a Gerrard right-wing free-kick five minute before the break.

Gerrard grabbed the third himself, twelve minutes after the break, driving the ball low into the net after a jinking run and neat pass from Yossi Benayoun.