Own Goal Gives Reds The Advantage

Robert Nevitt

An Andy Webster own goal twelve minutes from time was enough to give Liverpool victory at an atmospheric Tynecastle and edge them towards the group stages of the Europa League.

Backed a vociferous Edinburgh crowd, unfancied Hearts matched their illustrious opponents until centre-half Webster could do little but divert a vicious Martin Kelly cross into his own net.

Following Saturday's opening day defeat at West Brom, and with one eye on Sunday;s clash with champions Manchester City, Brendan Rodgers decided to utilise his squad by making seven changes to the team that started at the Hawthorns. Star quartet Steven Gerrard, Luis Suarez, Martin Skrtel and Glen Johnson all remained on Merseyside with the likes of Charlie Adam, Jordan Henderson and Jonjo Shelvey given the chance to shine. Exciting youngster Raheem Sterling was also handed his first competitive start in a red shirt.

Eager not to suffer a repeat of their 5-0 drubbing against Tottenham Hotspur last season, Hearts started well. John Sutton, younger brother of former Blackburn and Celtic star Chris, nearly capitalised on Jamie Carragher's weak backpass, whilst Arvydas Novikovas swerving left-foot shot forced Pepe Reina to save high to his right.

Lively forward David Templeton also went close before the visitors slowly got into the game, with Adam forcing Jambos' keeper Jamie MacDonald into a save low to his left.

As the Liverpool midfield saw more of the ball, youngster Sterling started to exhibit just why he is thought of so highly.

After already causing problems down the left which resulted in Hearts doubling up on him, the winger received the ball on the touchline before cutting in and stinging the palms of MacDonald with a swerving 25-yard effort.

Italian striker Fabio Borini was next to go close for the visitors after beautifully exchanging passes with Henderson, though the former AS Roma striker failed to connect to Henderson's pin-point clipped cross.

The home side responded with Templeton again going close, but the best chance of the half fell to the visitors on the stroke of half-time.

Inevitably, Sterling was involved as he intercepted just inside the Hearts half before bearing down on goal. With Borini in support, Sterling teed him up, only for the Italian to fire against the post from 12 yards. The Reds' woodwork curse from last season rearing its head once more.

The second half started as the first with Harts' Callum Paterson going close, whilst Novikovas unsuccessfully tried his luck from range. But as Hearts' high-tempo pressing game started to ease up, Liverpool upped their game and slowly exerted their class.

Adam shot narrowly wide from 25 yards, whilst Sterling continued to cause problems down the left.

Searching for a winner, Rodgers brought winger Stewart Downing on in an unaccustomed left-back slot, whilst the introduction of recent signing Joe Allen helped the Reds assert control, with the Welsh International hardly giving away possession in his 23-minute cameo.

On 78 minutes, the Reds mounting pressure finally told. Martin Kelly bombed down the right flank before delivering a fierce low cross into the Hearts six-yard box. As Borini swung and missed, Jambos' defender Webster could do little as the ball rebounded off his knee and past the despairing MacDonald.

Sterling nearly capped a fine debut minutes later when he tried to curl a shot into the far corner, only to see it drop a yard wide, before he forced MacDonald into another save with the next attack.

To their credit, the goal didn't result in Hearts heads dropping. Substitute Andrew Driver was unlucky when the ball got caught up in his feet just inside the Reds' box resulting in a weak shot at Reina, before the impressive Paterson forced the Reds stopper into a fine save low to his right with the last action of the game.

The Hearts faithful will be delighted with their side's performance, but in truth, after surviving the home side's initial pressure, the Reds rarely had to get out of third gear as they secured a narrow advantage going into next week's second leg.