Considering Liverpool’s very poor display in the first leg against Braga last week, every Reds fan will be expecting an improvement in the return fixture at Anfield tonight (Team Sheet Below). Some mistakes were made tactically in the last match and King Kenny has rectified those errors in the team selection tonight. In the first leg, a midfield of Christian Poulsen, Jay Spearing and Lucas Leiva was never likely to make for a good attacking performance, and with Spearing playing out of position tucking in from wide right, the display in the first half was always going to be very negative.

There will certainly be no negative approach to tonight’s match with both Carroll and Kuyt up top. Although the Reds must be wary about conceding an away goal, after not scoring in Portugal, the best way to go into a European night at Anfield 1-0 down, is to be positive and ensure there is a high tempo and high pressing from the off. The Anfield crowd will do their job in getting the players up for the game, and it will be up to the players to come out of the traps fast and make an impression on the Portuguese opposition.

Using the intimidating atmosphere to their advantage, the Reds should make some earlier challenges to get the crowd noise up and not allow the opposition any early possession so they do not get comfortable on the ball and settle into their surroundings. If we make the opposition rush in possession, they will be liable to make mistakes, and if we pressurise them early on and get an early goal from that resulting pressure, I doubt Braga will have the resilience to really fight the Reds.

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Braga have only won 3 times away all season, and they will be going into tonight’s leg on the back of losing seven of their last 11 meetings with English opposition. They tend to play on the counter attack both away and at home but they lack a goal threat with Rodrigo Lima being their top goalscorer on 6 goals this season. After only scoring 17 goals in all competitions away from home this season too, it means the Portuguese side will be looking to hold onto their 1-0 lead from the first leg rather than have any ambitions to add to their advantage.

With Luis Suarez ineligible, Steven Gerrard and Fabio Aurelio injured, Kenny Dalglish has only a certain number of attacking options to go with tonight. After Andy Carroll frightened the life out of the Braga defence as a second half substitute in Portugal, Kenny will be looking for the same impact from ths start against Braga tonight.

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With Braga’s poor away record, and Liverpool’s equally good home record, there should be only one likely winner from proceedings tonight. Raul Meireles, Maxi Rodriguez, Joe Cole, Dirk Kuyt and Andy Carroll could be crucial players tonight and I think we should have too much for our Portuguese opponents. Prediction: Liverpool 2 – 0 Braga.

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Team News:

GK: Pepe Reina

RB: Glen Johnson

LB: Danny Wilson

CB: Jamie Carragher

CB: Martin Skrtel

CM: Lucas Leiva

CM: Raul Meireles

RW: Maxi Rodriguez

LW: Joe Cole