published: thursday 4 october 2012, 23.30cet liverpool fc 2-3 udinese calcio
trailing at half-time, the serie a side beat pepe reina three times in 26 minutes to go level on points with fc anji makhachkala atop group a.
liverpool fc were stunned by three second-half goals as udinese calcio came from behind to win 3-2 at anfield.
antonio di natale's strike, an own goal by sebastián coates and a superb effort from giovanni pasquale were enough to trump jonjo shelvey's early opener and a sublime luis suárez free-kick. udinese move onto four points in group a, with liverpool on three.
having scored five goals in two of their last three away matches, liverpool looked as though they were ready to continue in similar vein back on merseyside. shelvey gave the reds the lead on 23 minutes with a perfectly timed run and header past željko brkić from stewart downing's cross.
udinese, though, who had drawn their last three european fixtures, drew level immediately after half-time. the serie a outfit cut open the home side's defence with a fluid passing move, substitute andrea lazzari cutting the ball back to di natale; the predatory striker making no mistake.
liverpool boss brendan rodgers recently emphasised the importance of senior players taking responsibility, so on 65 minutes it was little surprise to see him introduce steven gerrard and suárez. shelvey somehow deflected the latter's goal-bound effort out of the net, before the visitors went in front in their 50th european outing. this time di natale supplied the dangerous cross and coates unwittingly headed past pepe reina.
the travelling contingent soon had further cause to cheer, di natale holding the ball up long enough for the arrival of pasquale, who drove low past reina. though suárez restored hope for liverpool with a super free-kick, udinese hung on.
