Their next effort came from all of 50 yards, Marius Onofuras trying to catch Reina out from distance. Again, the Reds keeper was untroubled.

Shortly after it was Liverpool asking the questions again. Riera’s shot looked destined for the bottom corner until Unirea captain George Galamaz threw himself in the way to deflect it out for a corner.

The volume cranked up a notch when Riera forced another corner in the 35th minute as Liverpool camped in Urziceni’s half.

Ngog was then inches wide after turning well inside the area to get his shot away. It seemed a matter of when, not if, Liverpool would score.

Good work by Aquilani saw him link up with Riera to get a cross in from the left, Bruno Fernandes getting there before Ngog.

The Brazilian centre half was booked moments later for scything Gerrard down as the number eight burst through the middle. Aurelio smashed the resultant kick into the wall granting Urziceni further reprieve.

Visiting manager Roni Levy hinted beforehand he would take a cautious approach, and the second half started as the first ended, with Urziceni defending on their 18-yard line.

Carragher delivered a dangerous ball from the right which Gerrard headed wide as the Reds looked to make their possession pay.

On the hour mark, Aurelio powered a shot past the post just before Riera was replaced by Ryan Babel.

The Dutchman’s injection of pace was welcomed and it was his searching cross that nearly picked out Gerrard arriving at the back post. With 10 men behind the ball at any given time however, Urziceni continued to frustrate Liverpool.

Good skill by Carragher midway through the half saw the defender turn away from Frunza and feed Kuyt down the right. The cross, though, was again headed clear as Ngog failed to escape his marker.

The Frenchman’s scuffed shot deflected for a corner that was met by Martin Skrtel but arrowed over the crossbar.

Ngog was next to see a header flash wide as Liverpool kept pressing but to no avail.

Gerrard was next, stinging Arlauskis’ palms from a tight angle, with 15 minutes remaining.

Dani Pacheco was then introduced for Aquilani. The youngster tucked in behind Ngog with Gerrard dropping into a central midfield role.

A rare attack at the other end saw Frunza skew a shot wide following a slip from Mascherano. Better quality would have punished Liverpool.

If that was a reminder of the fatal late goals conceded against Lyon and Fiorentina this season, Liverpool took heed.

Within a minute they were in front. Babel’s cross from the left was headed down superbly by Pacheco for Ngog to bundle over the line.

The celebrations were accompanied by a sigh of relief that, at least, Liverpool have a slender lead to take to Bucharest next week.