ANDREW YATES/AFP/GettyImagesLiverpool suffered their third defeat in three home games, a record the Reds will need to change sooner than later.

Not for the first time this season, Liverpool have dominated the game and come away with nothing. It's an irritating habit -- and one which is sooner culled the better. It's also a third defeat in three home games. Yet, the defeat to Udinese again showed the character and spirit of a Brendan Rodgers team.




Despite lapses in concentration leading to three goals conceded, the players responded. And while they failed in their examination, they demonstrated that the new system can succeed.

Defeats are always difficult to digest, especially after controlling the flow for a heavy majority of the match. Rodgers will need to take a stern look at the goals conceded, for the level of play in the opening minutes of the second half was far from what he requests. He shall also question the number of chances created in the first half. Despite possession of the ball and threatening intent, the lack of shots which tested Zeljko Brkic in the Udinese goal was worrying. Except for a Sebastian Coates header, there was little in the way of potency about the elegant Liverpool play.

Rodgers's starting XI selection certainly favoured adventure and again showed his willingness to tinker with youth and experience. The domestically suspended Jonjo Shelvey returned in the hole behind Fabio Borini, comforted by Joe Allen and Jordan Henderson in a midfield trio.

Stewart Downing was handed another opportunity to show he is committed to fighting for a place in the Reds team on the right and Oussama Assaidi took residence on the left.

It was Assaidi who started the brighter but ultimately lacked the cutting edge he had shown on his debut. His partner on the opposite wing, Downing, performed with admirable drive and caused problems alongside Glen Johnson. It was his cross which found the head of Shelvey to hand Liverpool the deserved lead halfway through the first period. Shelvey, for the first hour, was at the heart of Liverpool's creative side. His goal outlined his ability to judge a late run into the box, which only extends the improvement he has shown in his game throughout the season so far.

Shelvey's link-up with Henderson pleased the eye. The former Sunderland midfielder gave one of his best hours of football in a red shirt, looking composed in possession and energetic when out of it. It was a mature performance.

Up front, Fabio Borini offered hustle. His movement pulled defenders out of position and his attitude never ceased to cause problems.

Pepe Reina, given a rare cup start by Rodgers, showed significant improvement. But, with just 32 second-half seconds on the clock, the Italians leveled the match and ruined any possibility of a Liverpool clean sheet. Glen Johnson lost control of the ball and Antonio Di Natale produced a finish any 34-year-old in the world would be proud of. The usually reliable Allen and Henderson may ask themselves how the Italian international found the space in the box to curve a splendid shot past Reina. They simply forgot to track his run.

It was the substitution of Henderson which changed the game.

Liverpool, despite bringing on superstar duo Luis Suarez and Steven Gerrard, failed to organise quickly enough. First, a dangerous free-kick into the box was headed past his own keeper by the otherwise outstanding Sebastian Coates. Then Di Natale found space again in the defence to lay the ball into the path of Giovanni Pasquale, who smashed an unstoppable drive into the far corner. The Reds midfield was all over the place. Gerrard had been brought on to drive the side forward for a win but Shelvey, coping with missing from a yard out, failed to drop deeper in time. The tight-knit focused midfield were exposed and duly punished.

When Suarez, Gerrard and fellow substitute Raheem Sterling got into their grove it was a delight to watch. One-twos followed by more one-twos opened up space in the Udinese defence. Suarez pulled a goal back (his second goal from a direct free-kick this term ) to make it 3-2, setting up a thrilling finale. Sterling went close with a curling effort and Suarez could have leveled the match after latching onto a Downing ball, only to see his header eventually cleared by Ziljko Brkic.

If every game in the Europa League campaign is as exciting as the first two group matches, it sure will turn out to be a rocky, rollercoaster ride throughout for the Reds. The maligned second-string competition certainly offers some Thursday evening entertainment and let's be honest, what else would you want to do with your Thursday nights.


Take nothing away from Udinese -- they chased the game and took advantage of defensive dips in concentration with clinical finishing.

Spearheaded by Di Natale, the Italians stole a smash-and-grab victory and really gave the ideal away performance, bar one horrific rugby tackle by Giampiero Pinzi on Downing.

If possible, though, defeat to the Italians creates a sense of continued optimism and anticipation. There is no question there is an excitement among the current crop of players when they take to the field and the football the squad have produced remains progressive.

The number of goals conceded is, however, a growing concern. It can no longer be put down to “getting used to the system”. There are problems in concentration at pivotal times which need addressing. Defensive set-ups take time to master but it's individual slip-ups which are causing issues. And it is up to the individuals themselves to step up and extinguish them.

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