Alan makes Reds pay penalty

Liverpool must do it the hard way to reach the quarter-finals of the Europa League after Alan's first-half penalty secured Braga a 1-0 home win.

Missing the drive of the ineligible Luis Suarez and the influence of injured captain Steven Gerrard, Liverpool were a shadow of the team which had comprehensively beaten Manchester United last weekend.

Only the second-half introduction of Andy Carroll sparked the Reds into life as Joe Cole again struggled to make an impression for the club.

In a game bereft of opportunities, Braga were ahead through the first real chance when Alan drilled home a penalty on 18 minutes after Sotirios Kyrgiakos fouled Mossoro.

Braga came close to extending their lead before half-time when Silvio's stunning volley from distance cannoned back off the crossbar.

Liverpool only started to look a threat when Carroll was brought on for his European debut before Sunday's hat-trick Dirk Kuyt's first-time shot was tipped over by Braga keeper Artur Moraes.

The game ended on a sour note when Braga defender Kaka was fortunate to escape punishment for elbowing Carroll in the face and Liverpool will hope for an improved display in the return leg at Anfield in a week's time.

The omens were there from the start with a side featuring three defensive midfielders - albeit with Jay Spearing patrolling the right side of a 4-2-3-1 - which still never looked comfortable or particularly solid.

They spent much of the opening quarter of an hour chasing possession, although the hosts never came close to threatening Jose Reina's goal.

They were just getting into their stride until the 17th minute when Mossoro raced onto a through-ball to the right of the penalty area and was brought down by Krygiakos' mis-timed tackle.

The spot-kick was expertly slotted away by the Brazilian, who must have one of the least exotically-sounding names of all his countrymen.

Raul Meireles was given a hard time by Braga fans on his return to his homeland, having moved to Anfield from nearby Porto.

He had a rare shooting opportunity from a 25-yard free-kick but drilled his effort into the wall.

Pressure was growing on Liverpool though and centre-back Kaka almost lived up to the reputation of his more illustrious namesake when he attempted a cheeky shot from a narrow angle after taking a corner but drilled the ball into the side-netting.

Left-back Silvio went even closer with a thunderous 35-yard volley which beat Reina but rattled back off the crossbar.

The visitors were crying out for some creativity and pace to be injected and to that end all seven substitutes were sent out to warm-up during the interval.

Ten minutes after the restart Carroll was sent on for Christian Poulsen, with Spearing dropping back into central midfield and Meireles moving to the right.

His early involvement saw him head over Meireles' corner, although he was adjudged to have committed a foul in the act, and then had a shot deflected for a corner.

Carroll's arrival certainly livened things up, with Braga unable to handle his aerial power; Liverpool's problem was they were not providing him with decent enough crosses to threaten the hosts' goal.

When Meireles did whip one in from the right it was Kuyt who controlled it and volleyed over the crossbar.

The closing stages became increasingly scrappy as the Reds pushed for an equaliser.

Carroll continued to win headers with confident regularity but they were mostly in non-threatening positions from Reina's long punts up field, with absolutely no service coming from either flank with Cole cutting a particularly inconsequential figure.

Braga by no means look like a side who will pose a significant danger at Anfield in a week's time but Liverpool's greatest problems are of their own making.

They have scored once in five away matches in Europe this season. Their home record is much better, and they need it to be if they are to turn things around.

Source: Sky Sports

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