LIVERPOOL FC avoided a potential Europa League banana skin in Romania as they came from behind to book their place in the last 16.
Poor defending from a corner in the first half saw them fall behind to Bruno Fernandes’ header in the 19th minute and for a while they looked rattled.
However, Javier Mascherano from long-range, and Ryan Babel from close, turned things around before the interval before Steven Gerrard’s 33rd European goal wrapped things up after the break.
Knowing they had to score, Unirea had to abandon their defensive policy which had served them so well a week ago and, backed by a vociferous crowd, created their first chance in only the second minute.
Jamie Carragher’s header from Iulian Apostol’s free-kick only reached the edge of the penalty area and Sorin Frunza lashed a dipping volley on to the top of Jose Reina’s net.
Less than 60 seconds later Lucas Leiva picked out Steven Gerrard with a through-ball but the Liverpool captain’s fierce low drive was parried into the air by goalkeeper Giedrius Arlauskis.
Liverpool were retaining possession for long periods without really hurting their opponents but it was to cost them as, in the 19th minute, Unirea levelled the tie on aggregate.
Agger’s last-ditch tackle on Marius Onofras gave the hosts a corner from the left and Razvan Paduretu’s inviting delivery was perfect for centre-back Bruno Fernandes to power home a header virtually unchallenged.
George Galamaz’s foul on Martin Skrtel resulted in the Unirea captain coming off worst and despite trying to run off his injury he was replaced by Ersin Mehmedovic in the 28th minute.
Two minutes later Liverpool seized control of the tie from the most unlikely of sources.
Benayoun and Ngog combined to allow Carragher to cross and although Ryan Babel mis-controlled Gerrard’s far post header with only the goalkeeper to beat, the ball broke to Javier Mascherano just outside the penalty area and he smashed a shot past Arlauskis.
Liverpool gave themselves the cushion they so desperately need five minutes before half-time.
Gerrard swung in a free-kick from the right and Babel took one touch before swivelling to fire home from close range.
Early in the second half Gerrard fired wide of Arlauskis' right-hand post and also forced him into a low save on the same side as Liverpool started to play with slightly more freedom.
If there was any chance about Unirea staging an unlikely comeback it was snuffed out by Gerrard in the 57th minute.
Babel broke down the left, moving the ball to Lucas and he picked out Benayoun, whose mazy dribble into the area was half-stopped to allow the Liverpool captain to run onto the loose ball and blast a low shot under Arlauskis.
That strike was his 33rd in Europe, taking him past Alan Shearer who scored 30 for Newcastle and two for Blackburn.
That prompted the introduction of youngster Martin Kelly for Carragher at right-back and, almost immediately, Sotirios Kyrgiakos after Unirea substitute Antonio Semedo appeared to go in over the top on Martin Skrtel.
With thoughts turning to Blackburn on Sunday in the Barclays Premier League, manager Rafael Benitez replaced Benayoun with Fabio Aurelio for the final 15 minutes.
Emiliano Insua’s late intervention poked the ball off the toe of Paduretu just as he was about to pull the trigger in the six-yard area but otherwise there were no other scares.
But their first-half defensive lapses will not have gone unnoticed by Rovers boss Sam Allardyce ahead of his side’s visit to Anfield.
Much greater challenges lie ahead for Benitez and his Liverpool team.
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