Preview: Reds v Unirea

Liverpool kick-off their Europa League challenge by taking on Unirea Urziceni in the first leg of the last 32 tie at Anfield tonight.

The Romanians may be something of an unknown quantity, though, like the Reds, they enter into the competition having dropped out of the Champions League group stage.

Indeed, their last trip to Britain in October saw them record a stunning 4-1 victory at Ibrox over Rangers, and Liverpool know they'll pose a stern test.

The winners of this tie will face either Lille or Fenerbahce in the last 16 with the second leg at home.

The opposition

Unirea Urziceni claimed their first Romanian league title in 2008-09 to secure a place in the Champions League - the only major honour in their history.

Written off by some before a ball had even been kicked, Lupii din Baragan (The Wolves of Baragan) put up a spirited performance in Group G alongside Rangers, Stuttgart and Seville.

Unirea narrowly missed out on qualification for the last 16 - finishing third in the group having tallied eight points

The boss

Roni Levy took up the reins at Unirea on New Years Eve after former Chelsea defender Dan Petrescu departed his post at Tineretului Stadium.

The Israeli made his name in the game as a defensive midfielder with Maccabi Haifa and also won international honours before being forced to retire from playing due to a knee injury.

He later went on to manage Maccabi, winning three titles in a row in his first three seasons at the helm.

Levy was also in charge when the Israeli side went head-to-head with Liverpool in a Champions League qualifier in 2006.

After being beaten 2-1 at Anfield in the first leg, Maccabi held the Reds to a 1-1 draw on a tense night in the rearranged venue of Kiev.

However, following two campaigns without a title, Levy quit Maccabi in 2008.

A brief spell with Maccabi Petah Tikva came next for the 43-year-old before Unirea swooped to secure his services.

The danger man

Pablo Brandan caught the eye during Unirea's Champions League campaign.

The energetic left-back netted the final goal in the Romanian's 4-1 win over Rangers at Ibrox and has since been linked with several high-profile European clubs.

26-year-old Brandan has represented Argentina at U20 level and also starred for Spanish club Alaves before making the switch to Unirea in 2007.

Match stats
By Ged Rea

This is the only last 32 fixture which two features two of the teams that finished third in the Champions League group stages.

This will be the first time Rafa Benitez has managed Liverpool in Europe's secondary club competition.

Liverpool's last tie in what was the UEFA Cup saw them eliminated by Marseille 3-2 on aggregate in March 2004.

On the only other occasion the Reds have parachuted from the Champions League into the UEFA Cup they were knocked out by Celtic in the quarter finals in 2002-03.

The Reds have lifted the UEFA Cup on three occasions - 1973, 1976 and 2001 - and ended those three seasons by also qualifying for the European Cup.

Only Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher remain at Anfield from that 2001 win.

Steven Gerrard has scored 32 goals in Europe, the most by any British player for one English club. His next goal will take him past Alan Shearer whose 32 goals came with two teams (30 for Newcastle and two for Blackburn).

Four of Gerrard's goals in Europe have come in this competition including the final of 2001.

Liverpool need five goals for 350 in Europe at Anfield.

Rafa Benitez won the UEFA Cup in 2004 with his Valencia team defeating Liverpool's conquerors Marseille in the final.

Video: Rafa on Unirea clash>>