EUROPA LEAGUE: ANFIELD, THURSDAY MARCH 17, 2011. KICK-OFF: 2005 GMT
Liverpool may well be 1-0 down to Braga following the first leg of this last 16 contest but they will be hoping the Anfield factor plays in to their hands as it has so many times before.
Night games in Europe see Anfield come alive and Liverpool will need every one of their fans in a bid to overturn the deficit following last week's abject display in Portugal.
The Europa League is Liverpool's last chance to add some shine to a season that started disastrously under Roy Hodgson but has since improved dramatically under Kenny Dalglish.
Dalglish has undoubtedly brought some magic and confidence back to English football's most successful club and winning the Europa League would further convince Liverpool's fans that the glory times are once again around the corner.
It would also cement Dalglish in the Liverpool hotseat on a permanent basis so while some clubs do not show this competition the respect it deserves, do not underestimate how important this tie is to Liverpool's long-term ambitions.
Key Match-up: Raul Meireles v Lima. Meireles is going to have to adopt even more Liverpool responsibility in the absence of Steven Gerrard but he has grown into his role at Anfield and will be confident of pulling the strings from midfield. If he can dominate and get forward then he will help to keep Lima quiet although the Braga man has been impressive in Europe this season and will be hoping that can continue.
Form Guide: Liverpool go into the contest having lost to Braga last week while that contest was also Braga's last match as both teams had the weekend off.
Odds: Liverpool 4/9 Braga 7/1 Draw 4/1
Going over for this one so hopefully I will bring the "luck of the Irish" with me on ST Patrick's Day.
On second thoughts I would prefer if we didn't need any luck to go through.
My nerves aren't what they used to be.
Liverpool may well be 1-0 down to Braga following the first leg of this last 16 contest but they will be hoping the Anfield factor plays in to their hands as it has so many times before.
Night games in Europe see Anfield come alive and Liverpool will need every one of their fans in a bid to overturn the deficit following last week's abject display in Portugal.
The Europa League is Liverpool's last chance to add some shine to a season that started disastrously under Roy Hodgson but has since improved dramatically under Kenny Dalglish.
Dalglish has undoubtedly brought some magic and confidence back to English football's most successful club and winning the Europa League would further convince Liverpool's fans that the glory times are once again around the corner.
It would also cement Dalglish in the Liverpool hotseat on a permanent basis so while some clubs do not show this competition the respect it deserves, do not underestimate how important this tie is to Liverpool's long-term ambitions.
Key Match-up: Raul Meireles v Lima. Meireles is going to have to adopt even more Liverpool responsibility in the absence of Steven Gerrard but he has grown into his role at Anfield and will be confident of pulling the strings from midfield. If he can dominate and get forward then he will help to keep Lima quiet although the Braga man has been impressive in Europe this season and will be hoping that can continue.
Form Guide: Liverpool go into the contest having lost to Braga last week while that contest was also Braga's last match as both teams had the weekend off.
Odds: Liverpool 4/9 Braga 7/1 Draw 4/1
Going over for this one so hopefully I will bring the "luck of the Irish" with me on ST Patrick's Day.
On second thoughts I would prefer if we didn't need any luck to go through.
My nerves aren't what they used to be.
