Steaua Bucharest vs Liverpool Half-Time Update

A second-string Liverpool side are currently leading 1-0 in their Europa League match against a resolute Steaua side.

As expected, first team regulars such as Glen Johnson, Raul Meireles, Dirk Kuyt and Fernando Torres are all left to rest at home, meaning a handful of reserve squad members are drafted in, including 18-year-old Jonjo Shelvey, who started his first Liverpool match in last month’s Europa League tie against Napoli. Odds as much as 20/1 are available for the young midfielder to bag his first Liverpool goal in the second half.

Shelvey is joined in midfield by 29-year-old Joe Cole, who makes his first appearance in red since suffering a strain to his hamstring against Bolton in October. His action in the first half has been muted so far, as he gets back to match fitness, and he may not be able to last the full 90 minutes.

Steaua have had some decent efforts so far, which included a great chance to take the lead on 16 minutes; after a Surdu cross, a free header for Bicfalvi went just over the bar. Minutes later, Liverpool scored the only goal of the half after an identical build-up; a Babel cross picked out a leaping Jovanovic who nodded beyond the helpless goalkeeper.

Should results in Group K stay as they are, Liverpool would progress with a game to spare, something that would please manager Roy Hodgson, who is facing a busy winter period of games.

His Liverpool side are playing with a limited away support, after hundreds of supporters were left stranded at Luton Airport due to adverse weather conditions over the UK.

Steaua manager Marius L?c?tu?, in his third spell as manager of the Romanian club, is a club legend at Steaua, having won ten league championships in his playing career. His varied dugout career so far is yet to sparkle to the same standard, and it is reflected in the current odds: 8/1 for a home win shows just how tough it could be for the Romanians to get back into the game, whilst odds of 5/2 are priced for the score to remain the same.

FCSB: Tatarusanu, Bonfim, Gardos, Alves, Latovlevici, Vilana, Bicfalvi, Nicolita, Surdu, Tanase, Stancu

Substitutes: Lungu, Emeghara, Abrudan, Martinovic, Angelov, Matei, Szekely

LFC:  Reina, Kelly, Aurelio, Kyrgiakos, Wilson, Cole, Poulsen, Shelvey, Pacheco, Jovanovic, Babel

Substitutes: Jones, Skrtel, Flanagan, Robinson, Lucas, Ngog, Eccleston