Reds through with Euro draw (1-1)
Milan Jovanovic headed the Reds into a 19th minute lead when he converted Ryan Babel's cross, somewhat against the run of the early play. Steaua drew level on the hour when a rare mistake from Pepe Reina allowed a tame header from Eder Bonfim to roll over the line.
Both sides had chances to win the game, with Sotirios Kyrgiakos coming closest when he cannoned a header against the crossbar.
However, the result was enough to secure a safe passage into the next stage of the competition for Liverpool with a game to spare.
The Reds touched down in the Romanian capital on Wednesday afternoon minus the likes of Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Fernando Torres, Raul Meireles, Glen Johnson and Dirk Kuyt.
Instead, Roy Hodgson decided to utilise the depth of his squad ahead of Monday's Barclays Premier League showdown with Aston Villa by naming a youthful travelling party that included teenage defenders Jack Robinson and John Flanagan.
The duo were handed places on the substitutes' bench, but there were starting berths for Danny Wilson, Daniel Pacheco, Jonjo Shelvey and Martin Kelly.
Fit-again Joe Cole and Fabio Aurelio were also drafted into the starting XI, joining Jovanovic, Babel, Sotirios Kyrgiakos and Christian Poulsen.
Meanwhile, the boss handed the captaincy to Reina in the absence of Gerrard and Carragher.
Liverpool kicked off knowing a point would be good enough to secure their place in the last 32 of the Europa League with a game to spare, while victory would ensure they'd finish top of the pile in Group K.
Maintaining an unbeaten record in the competition so far this season served as an added incentive for the Reds, who had comprehensively dispatched Steaua 4-1 at Anfield earlier in the tournament.
But the Militarii made a lively opening to the contest, buoyed by an enthusiastic home faithful - the visitors surviving an early scare when Banel Nicolita sprung the offside trap but was unable to beat Reina to an attempted through ball.
Still, Liverpool's goal remained largely untroubled until the 16th minute when Eric Bicfalvi was presented with an excellent headed opportunity inside the six-yard box, but could only power his effort over the crossbar.
But Hodgson's contingent offered a telling instant riposte by taking the lead three minutes later.
It was Jovanovic who started and finished the move, initially twisting and turning his way into space deep inside Steaua territory before laying the ball out to Babel on the right.
A feint from the Dutchman bought him the half yard required to swing in a deep cross, where Jovanovic was on hand to gleefully nod beyond Ciprian Tatarusanu.
Galvanised by breaking the deadlock, Liverpool went close to doubling their lead soon after as Florin Garados misjudged a headed clearance, sending Babel motoring towards goal. His low cross picked out Cole in the centre, but a heavy first touch allowed Steaua to get bodies back into the box and Pacheco eventually dragged a shot well wide.
The goal had visibly knocked the wind from the sails of the Militarii, but after Bicfalvi had struck a volley wide, Bogdan Stancu should have levelled on the stroke of half-time.
Holding off the challenge of Kyrgiakos inside the box, the striker plucked a cross from the air and shoved off the Greek before stabbing an effort way off target as the home fans waited for the net to ripple to ensure Liverpool's lead remained intact heading into the break.
However, much as they did in the opening 45, Steaua started the half strongly and should have restored parity when Geraldo Alves headed into the midriff of Reina from six yards when unmarked.
The centre-back then flashed an aerial effort across the face of goal from a corner just shy of the hour mark as Marius Lacatus's men continue to probe.
The pressure finally told when Bonfim levelled in fortunate circumstances.
Aurelio deflected Nicolita's attempted cross from the right up into the air, allowing Bonfim to head towards goal from 15 yards. His effort appeared to be of no cause for concern to Reina, but an uncharacteristic error from the stopper saw the ball squirm between his legs and over the line.
Nonetheless, only the crossbar prevented Kyrgiakos from restoring Liverpool's lead on 65 minutes as the centre-back crashed a header against the woodwork from Aurelio's corner.
Nicolita then skewed wide for the home side following an attempted clearance by Aurelio failed to reach its intended destination prior to Stancu finding the roof of Reina's net with a curling effort.
Steaua poured forward in search of a winner in the latter stages, but they were unable to breach the Reds' rearguard again.
The scoreline means Liverpool can look forward to more European football in the New Year as the point was enough to guarantee them a place in the Europa League last 32 with a game against Utrecht still to play.
- Match stats:
Steaua Bucarest: Tatarusanu, Latovlevici, Gardos, Geraldo, Bonfim, Tanase, Gomes, Bicfalvi (Angelov 47’), Nicolita, Surdu (Szekely 80’), Stancu.
Liverpool F.C: Reina, Kelly, Wilson, Kyrgyakos, F. Aurelio, Pacheco (Lucas 89’), Poulsen, Shelvey, Jovanovic (Ecclestone 78’), Cole (Ngog 75’), Babel.
Bookings: Nicolita 71’, Surdu 72’, Bonfim 80’
Goals:
0-1 (19’) Jovanovic
1-1 (60’) Bonfim
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