Reds boss Roy Hodgson was delighted with the club's progress to the group stages of the Europa League.

He said: 'We had the toughest possible start but I thought we got over it and throughout the game played well. Quite frankly we should have had the game sewn up long before we did.

'They were fresh off a win over Fenerbahce here, they are last season's champions, they don't lose at home and we beat them at home.'

Hodgson added: 'I'm quite pleased really because I've been invited by UEFA to a conference next week and it would have been a bit embarrassing to go there as one of the only coaches not to have a team in Europe! So I'm delighted we got the victory.'

Defender Jamie Carragher was delighted with his side's turnaround.

'It was very tough,' he said. 'They are a very good side, they showed that in the first leg at Anfield. The lads showed great character and concentration...not just to go through but to beat them with some of our top players not playing, is a great result.'