It was a point gained but few points proved as Liverpool were fortunate to avoid defeat in a 0-0 draw with FC Utrecht in the Europa League on Thursday.

The draw brought to an end a run of five straight wins on Dutch soil for Liverpool, who have enjoyed a good record over PSV in recent years.

The hosts were the better side throughout, with striker Fernando Torres once again looking out of sorts as tournament top-scorer David Ngog warmed the bench.

Pepe Reina kept the Eredivisie division side at bay, despite struggling with crosses, while Liverpool occasionally threatened on the break.

With ten minutes on the clock, Raul Meireles got the visitor’s first shot on target, but his left-foot effort was too central and weak to trouble Michel Vorm in Utrecht’s goal.

And the Portugal international was involved again eleven minutes later as he was left unmarked inside the penalty area, but he could only guide Glen Johnson’s cross in Vorm’s direction once more.

Lucas picked up a soft yellow card on 35 minutes as he tugged back Edouard Duplan, but Tim Cornelisse could only drill the resulting free-kick into the Liverpool wall.

The visitors were on top towards the end of the opening period, but the Dutch outfit struggled to test Reina early on.

Cornelisse then went close for Utrecht twice in the space of a minute as he tested Reina from a tight angle before heading over the bar from the corner which followed.

Kuyt handed the home side a reminder of the English side’s threat on the break but, once again, the effort was tame and central as Liverpool failed to offer any significant threat to Vorm in the entire first half.

Second half

Torres again looked lacklustre after the restart and he confirmed his poor form by firing a volley way off target early after the restart.

The effort had Hodgson eyeing up the possibility of bringing on top scorer David Ngog as Torres’ confidence looked well short of re-emerging, but the former boss overlooked the Frenchman.

On 57 minutes, Reina had to be on top form to deny the Dutch side from close range and a bombardment on the Liverpool goal ensued, with Meireles clearing off the line before the keeper claimed and launched a counter-attack.

From the counter, Kuyt teed up Torres in the centre but the Spaniard’s woeful form continued as he clipped his effort straight into the path of Vorm, who was down quick to parry wide.

The hosts continued to be on top, though, and Michael Silberbauer went close from range, thumping a shot just off target with Reina scampering.

Silberbauer almost grabbed the breakthrough ten minutes from time as he drilled a low effort through a sea of bodies after collecting a clearance, but Reina was alert to make the save.

If Liverpool were going to find a breakthrough, you sensed it would have to be something spectacular and they almost found it in that form from Maxi Rodriguez, who acrobatically executed a volley just over the bar moments after being introduced for the ineffective Joe Cole.

The Dutch side responded well, though, and Jacob Mulenga almost sneaked in with the opener as he beat the Reds’ defence in straight race, but he couldn’t steer he shot on goal as the onrushing Reina narrowed the target.

The game began to filter out in the final ten minutes as both sides seemed content with a point, which keeps Roy Hodgson’s boys top of Group K.