Kuyt strikes late Turkey winner as Liverpool struggle in Europe

Liverpool escaped what could have been an embarrassing Europa League exit with two late goals to beat Trabzonspor 2-1 on the night and 3-1 on aggregate.

However, it was far from convincing and it needed a own goal by Remzi Kacar and a strike from Dirk Kuyt to secure their passage.

Their one-goal advantage had been wiped out in the fourth minute when Teofilo Gutierrez side-footed past Jose Reina but the late double salvo ensured manager Roy Hodgson did not become the first Reds boss to exit Europe before the end of August.

The victory was Liverpool's first in Turkey against Turkish opposition and their hosts' first defeat at home in 2010. Liverpool had chance to put the tie to bed in the first leg but taking a 1-0 lead to Turkey was never going to ensure a comfortable night.

And despite finding themselves under huge pressure in the opening 45 minutes they should have wrapped things up a lot sooner than they eventually did.

David Ngog missed two chances which Fernando Torres, the man he was standing in for with the Spaniard resting back on Merseyside, would probably have buried.

Kuyt, persistently linked with a move to Inter Milan, said: "Everyone has said a lot about my future but as far as I know my future is at Liverpool.

"I've had a great time so far and I hope my future will be great here. All I want is to win trophies with Liverpool."

Hodgson added: "Quite frankly we should have had the game sewn up long before we did."

Manchester City coasted into the group stages with a comfortable 2-0 victory against Timisoara at Eastlands.

Holding a 1-0 lead from the play-off first leg, Shaun Wright-Phillips extended their advantage after a glorious through-ball from Patrick Vieira.

City sewed the tie up with Dedryck Boyata's first goal for the club – a thumping header following David Silva's free-kick.

Motherwell lost to Odense 1-0, going out 3-1 on aggregate, Celtic lost 4-0 to FC Utrecht, 4-2 on aggregate, while Dundee United's 1-1 draw with AEK Athens saw them go out 2-1.