Liverpool v Udinese

Liverpool 2

Shelvey 23′ Suarez 75′

Udinese 3

Di Natale 46′ Coates 70′ (og) Pasquale 72′

FT 90 +4
HT 1-0

By Ben Smith BBC Sport

Antonio Di Natale delivered a virtuoso display as Udinese came from behind to stun Liverpool in the Europa League.

Brendan Rodgers' side dominated the first half, snatching the lead thanks to a thumping header by Jonjo Shelvey.

But the Italians came roaring back after the interval, with Di Natale scoring 32 seconds after the restart.

An own goal by Sebastian Coates and a low strike by Giovanni Pasquale meant Luis Suarez's sublime free-kick was nothing but a consolation.

It was a result that Brendan Rodgers and his young side will find hard to stomach. A third successive home defeat tells only part of the story of a game from which the Reds should draw encouragement as they dictated for long spells.

And yet Udinese were everything their Premier League opponents were not - streetwise, hard-nosed and ruthless when presented with a chance.

Italian job

Liverpool completed 691 passes tonight, nearly four times as many as Udinese (173)
Udinese are the first side to beat Liverpool at Anfield in Europe since Fiorentina in December 2009, ending an unbeaten streak of 13 matches
Source: Opta

The home side, who are left third in Group A as a result of this defeat, dominated the opening 45 minutes, displaying a renewed swagger and assurance as they plotted a series of eloquent attacking moves and found passing angles with great precision.

Liverpool deservedly led at the break, having starved Udinese of possession, much to Rodgers' delight, but their failure to capitalise on their dominance would come back to bite them after the interval.

Shelvey started and finished the move, switching the ball wide to Stewart Downing on the right flank. The winger drifted beyond Maurizio Domizzi before delivering a driven cross which Shelvey met with a header that was too powerful and well-directed for Udinese goalkeeper Zeljko Brkic.

Udinese were threatening in fits and starts, with Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina forced to make a stunning save low down to his right as he tipped Mehdi Benatia's close-range header to safety.

Di Natale was a constant threat for the Italians, his darting runs and willingness to shoot forcing Reina into action twice more.

The Italy international was warming to the task and, 32 seconds into the second half, he scored the goal that changed the complexion of the game.

Andrea Lazzari, only just on as a substitute, robbed Glen Johnson of possession and exchanged passes with Di Natale before the veteran striker clipped the ball beyond Reina. Liverpool were visibly shaken by the goal and the game was swiftly put beyond them.

Group A - Europa League

	Pld	GD	Pts

Anzhi	2	2	4
Udinese	2	1	4
Liverpool	2	1	3
Young Boys	2	-4	0

Table correct as of 04/10/12

Rodgers threw Steven Gerrard and Suarez into the fray as Liverpool attempted to reassert their dominance and the Uruguay striker might have scored moments after coming on, had Shelvey not inadvertantly cleared his goalbound shot off the line. But while Liverpool pushed for a winner, Udinese had a sting in their tail.

Two goals in three minutes saw the Italians decide the tie as Coates headed past Reina before Di Natale delivered a beautifully timed pass that allowed Pasquale to drill a low shot beyond the Liverpool keeper.

But before despondency could set in among the home support, Suarez roused them with a fizzing free-kick, curling the ball up and over the Udinese wall with too much power for Brkic.

With 15 frantic minutes remaining, Suarez twice went close, while Gerrard's goalbound shot was blocked. Raheem Sterling was also introduced but was unable to take either of the two late chances that fell to him as the game slipped away.

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (6)

Liverpool

25 Reina
02 Johnson
16 Coates
23 Carragher
49 Robinson
14 Henderson (Gerrard - 65' )
19 Downing
24 Allen
33 Shelvey
11 Assaidi (Suarez - 65' )
29 Borini (Sterling - 79' )

Substitutes

01 Jones
37 Skrtel
47 Wisdom
04 Sahin
08 Gerrard
31 Sterling
07 Suarez

Udinese

01 Brkic
05 Danilo
06 Faraoni Booked
11 Domizzi
17 Benatia Booked
26 Pasquale
27 Armero (Lazzari - 46' )
07 Agyemang
66 Pinzi Booked (Willians - 70' )
10 Di Natale (Ranegie - 85' )
37 Pereyra

Substitutes

25 Padelli
16 Coda
75 Heurtaux
21 Lazzari
88 Willians
13 Ranegie
31 Fabbrini

Ref: Johannesson

Att: 40,092

Match Stats

Possession 71 29

Shots

21 8

On target

16 5

Corners

6 6

Fouls

6 9

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:44 Full time

Full Time The referee blows his whistle to end the game.

90:00 +2:20

Stewart Downing takes a shot. Save made by Zeljko Brkic.

90:00 +1:43

The ball is crossed by Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu.

90:00 +0:26 Booking

Booking Booking for Davide Faraoni for unsporting behaviour.

90:00 +0:04

Effort from the edge of the box by Raheem Sterling goes wide of the right-hand upright.