UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE:TO ALL intents and purposes this was as meaningless a match as Liverpool will play in Europe yet, such is the lot of Roy Hodgson, it merely raised fresh questions over his authority after he confirmed his team was altered on medical advice. Coming just 48 hours after Liverpool's owners had described the season so far as unacceptable, it was not the admission of an emboldened manager.

John W Henry and Tom Werner, Liverpool’s new chairman, missed a sterile display against Utrecht after returning to the United States to attend a funeral. They missed a game on which nothing rested, with Liverpool having already qualified as group winners, but also one that did nothing for the manager’s attempts to restore the confidence of key individuals. Liverpool started with seven internationals and threatened twice all night.

Hodgson was unequivocal on the team selection on the eve of the game as he revealed he had torn up his Europa League policy in order to play Fernando Torres and Jose Reina from the start, the former due to form and a minor injury to David Ngog, the latter for unspecified reasons. Both Spaniards were keen to play but Torres was on the bench and Reina excluded altogether.

Hodgson’s explanation contained a first – an apology to the press – and made sense in many respects. But it did nothing to dispel the suspicion Liverpool’s manager must cede authority to Dr Peter Brukner, the club’s head of sports science and sports medicine.

“I had a change of heart,” Hodgson said. “I must apologise to the reporters. I was certainly considering giving Fernando a start. But I also had a talk to our fitness people and they made me see sense it wasn’t the wisest thing to do . . . The same applied to Pepe Reina. They made me see sense. I am a bit sad that, unintentionally, I tricked some supporters and a few journalists.”

Liverpool’s new owners had increased the gate – the attendance was a respectable 37,800 – and produced a fine PR move in the process, by allowing under-16s in free, hence Hodgson’s contrition on the absence of the biggest draw.

His argument it was needless to risk Torres to injury was merely strengthened when Utrecht lost their leading forward, Ricky van Wolfswinkel, to a serious shoulder injury on the stroke of half-time.

It did not augur well for Hodgson when Anfield began chanting “attack, attack, attack” with the contest in its embryonic stage. Nathan Eccleston was handed a first Liverpool start in place of Torres and made his presence felt after six minutes.

Unfortunately it was for a dangerous challenge through Mihai Nesu that warranted the booking he received. Milan Jovanovic looked to have accepted the need to impress when he drifted inside and unleashed a fine 25-yard drive that goalkeeper Michel Vorm tipped onto his crossbar shortly afterwards. That was a rare highlight in the first half.

Hodgson sent Torres out for a warm-up, and a warning to those on the pitch, after half an hour and words were exchanged at half-time on the evidence of a more purposeful second half. Ryan Babel twice went close to giving Liverpool the lead while the disappointing Cole had a goalbound effort blocked late on.

• Guardian Service

LIVERPOOL:Jones, Kelly, Skrtel (Kyrgiakos 46), Wilson, Aurelio, Jovanovic (Kuyt 73), Poulsen, Shelvey, Cole, Eccleston (Pacheco 56), Babel. Subs Not Used: Hansen, Johnson, Meireles, Torres. Booked: Eccleston.

FC UTRECHT:Vorm, Cornelisse, Keller, Wuytens, Nesu, Duplan (Oar 71), Silberbauer, Nijholt, Mertens, Maguire (Sarota 84), van Wolfswinkel (de Kogel 45). Subs Not Used: Cummings, Van der Maarel, Vorstermans.

Referee: Kristinn Jakobsson (Iceland).