• Europa League

Gerrard the hero for Liverpool as City slump in Poland

November 4, 2010

Europa League gallery

Steven Gerrard came off the bench to score a hat-trick as Liverpool came from behind to beat Napoli 3-1 in the Europa League.

Gerrard scored three goals in the final 15 minutes to inspire an impressive turnaround as Roy Hodgson's side maintained their unbeaten record in the Europa League to remain top of Group K.

With Reds boss Roy Hodgson opting to rest striker Fernando Torres and leave Gerrard on the bench, new owner John Henry saw his team comprehensively outplayed in the first half.

Ezequiel Lavezzi was lively on the wing for Napoli and put the visitors ahead on the half-hour mark just moments after seeing an effort inch past Pepe Reina's far post. Edinson Cavani latched onto Christian Poulsen's poor header and his through ball found Lavezzi, who poked the ball past the advancing Reina.

But Gerrard came off the bench to inspire a stunning turnaround for Liverpool, with a lightning-quick response to level the scores. Gerrard was quickest to react to a poor backpass from former Liverpool player Andrea Dossena after Jonjo Shelvey was dispossessed in the penalty area.

Gerrard scored the winner from the penalty spot after Glen Johnson was felled by Salvatore Aronica, who was lucky to be on the pitch after a poor tackle on David Ngog. And he sealed the win with a calm dink over the advancing Morgan de Sanctis after Liverpool won the ball from the restart.

Mateusz Mozdzen scored in stoppage time to condemn Manchester City to their third straight defeat after being beaten 3-1 by Lech Poznan in the Europa League.

Emmanuel Adebayor scored his sixth goal in four games for Roberto Mancini's men, but two late goals sealed an impressive win for Poznan.

After a bright start, City began to lose their way, and Dimitrije Injac put the Polish side ahead after Patrick Vieira's weak clearance. Adebayor levelled for City shortly after the break - his initial header was well saved by Lech 'keeper Jasmin Buric, but the striker made no mistake with the rebound.

Just as the match looked to be heading for a draw, Manuel Arboleda netted with four minutes left on the clock, although the defender knew little about it - Dedryck Boyata headed the ball against him and the ball rebounded off the Colombian and past Shay Given into the City net.

Mozdzen compounded City's woes when his long range effort sealed an impressive win after David Silva squandered a chance to equalise at the other end. The result sees Poznan go ahead of City at the top of Group A by virtue of having scored more goals than City after Juventus were held to a fourth successive draw by Salzburg in Turin.

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