Liverpool against Braga

Another deep free-kick finds its way into the Braga area, but the ball just won't drop for the Reds.

That was a great chance.

Meireles floats it in for Ngog but the striker fails to make contact!

Liverpool have a free-kick in a dangerous position. Meireles is lining it up.

Meyong has a shot from distance but it's over the bar.

There are four minutes of injury time, which gives the Reds hope...

Kuyt shows his frustration as he's given offside. It looks to be all over for Liverpool.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Leandro Salino is replaced by Mossoro.

Liverpool are still trying to make something happen but Braga are defending in numbers and the hosts just don't seem to have any ideas how to break them down.

Skrtel fouls Leandro Salino.

That was about as good as it's got for Liverpool.

Carroll heads the corner on target, but it hits Kuyt. Skrtel is then put through, but Artur comes out to deny him.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Lima comes off to be replaced by Meyong.

Lucas sees his cross blocked and wins a corner.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Ngog is bundled over by Rodriguez, doesn't win a free kick, and Meireles is booked for his protests.

The crowd are trying to create a bit of an atmosphere, but they're not getting a lot of help from the Liverpool players.

The corner comes out for Spearing, who blazes his shot high and wide. We're into the final ten minutes now.

Meireles attempts a cross and wins a corner, prompting a roar from the crowd.

Kuyt unleashes a shot from the left-hand side of the area, and it's miles wide.

Ngog receives the ball with his back to goal, and plays a perfect lay-off to the Braga defence.

Ngog gets a shot away. It's straight at the 'keeper, but it was probably one of Liverpool's better efforts tonight. Ngog has actually given Liverpool a bit of an edge since he came on.

Spearing plays it long for Ngog, before Carroll heads off target.

Carroll combines with Ngog, but the Frenchman is denied by a fine tackle on the edge of the area.

Dalglish had to do something, and Maxi and Cole have been disappointing, but they're not the most exciting subs.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Maxi is replaced by Spearing, and Cole is replaced by Ngog.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Vandinho is booked for taking too long to leave the field.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Vandinho comes off for Kaka.

Johnson gets some space out on the right flank after a good ball from Carragher, and he whips it in for Meireles to challenge. He just fails to make contact, and injures himself.

Viana fires it straight in on goal and, although it's straight at Reina, it's a decent enough effort.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Skrtel picks up a booking for bundling over Leandro Salino. Braga have a free-kick in a decent position.

Cole has the ball and has the opportunity to set Carroll free, but the pass is less than perfect and doesn't give him enough time to release a decent shot. His shot was pretty wretched, even so.

Liverpool play a long free-kick towards Carroll, but Braga are able to break away.

Silvio floats a cross in from the left but there's no one there to meet it.

Skrtel tries a shot on goal, which is going well wide until Carroll - clearly offside - deflects it towards Artus. The linesman got that one right anyway.

Alan - although he looked offside - is allowed to prod a shot wide of goal as the corner results in a deflected shot falling into his path.

Braga take the free-kick short and manage to win a corner.

Meireles fouls Alan, and Alan rolls around theatrically.

Meireles has space in the area to get a header away, but he's well off target. It might not be Liverpool's night on this evidence, although they are starting to create more chances.

Lima opts for a shot, unwisely, and it hits the wall.

Braga have a free-kick and will look to put this into the area.

Maxi gets a shot away inside the box but it doesn't quite sit for him. Goal kick.

Cole clips a nice cross into the centre but it's just above Maxi's head. Carroll might have made something of that.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Carroll looks to burst through but his touch lets him down. He ends up widly lunging for the ball and gets a booking, with Braga trying to get him sent off. Nice.

Carroll runs offside again after Liverpool threatened to put a bit of incisive play together.

Andy Carroll manages to turn a fire off a long ball for Kuyt to chase. The 'keeper shields it for a goal kick, though.

Cole sends the ball into the danger area from the right flank, but no one can get a shot away.

Liverpool get the second half underway.

The teams are now heading back out onto the field.

Analyst Pat Nevin on <i>5</i> has shown how Carroll is taking the defenders away to create space for Kuyt. It's not come to anything as yet, of course.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2011/0317/andycarroll20110317_275x155.jpg"><br>Andy Carroll battles to win possession

Braga, meanwhile, have shown signs they might be able to hurt the Reds on the counter, although they've been just as disappointing in front of goal.

A thoroughly uninspiring first 45 minutes. Carroll has looked the only man capable of making something happen for Liverpool, but there's been a real absence of clear-cut chances.

IT'S HALF-TIME.

Maxi crosses for Carroll, whose header goes wide.

Liverpool see a relatively promising attack break down as Johnson fails to do much with the ball on two occasions.

Kuyt's now taken a knock in a challenge with Lima. Possibly his head or elbow. Not much in it anyway.

The 'keeper punches Meireles' corner away.

Paulao makes a rash clearance and Liverpool win a corner.

Paulao's taken a knock and has had to leave the field for treatment.

Carroll goes up for the ball alongside Artur Moraes, and the goalkeeper comes off worse. He doesn't look too badly damaged.

Cole goes chasing after a long ball from Carragher, but even a physically fit player would struggle to get anywhere near that.

Johnson heads the free-kick clear.

Lucas concedes a free-kick on Cesar and Braga can whip this in from the left flank.

Kuyt sends a cross into the area and, again, Carroll prompts penalty shouts as he goes down, but nothing's given. Lucas is barged over in the area in the aftermath, and again nothing is given. They weren't exactly stonewallers to be fair.

The corner is headed straight back out of play.

Alan leaves Wilson for dead with a neat piece of skill before firing off a shot and winning a corner.

Kuyt nearly breaks free from Rodriguez, but the Peruvian wins the battle.

Meireles sends a deep cross to the far post, but it's an easy catch for Artur Moraes.

Reina punches the corner away.

After some really sloppy defending, Lima gets a shot away and it takes a deflection from Meireles. There's a shout for handball but it's a corner.

Carroll is causing problems up front, but not quite to the extent that Braga and having to deal with many real chances. Liverpool need to find a bit more creativity in the midfield.

Carroll goes down in the area as the cross comes in and, as the whistle goes, there's a moment when the whole of Anfield seems to think it's a penalty. It isn't - the foul's given against Carroll.

Liverpool win a corner.

Alan gets a shot away, but he's not troubling Reina.

It's been a less than thrilling start, but there have been only two goals in the Reds' last four Europa League games, so perhaps we shouldn't be surprised.

Wilson collects the ball on the left wing, but his control lets him down and then he plays a poor pass. Disappointing.

Lima gets a shot away from distance. He catches it well enough but it's an easy save.

Skrtel makes a fine sliding challenge on Leandro Salino, which fires up the home fans.

Kuyt receives the ball in an advanced position and squares it to Maxi on the edge of the area. He flicks it cleverly on for Carroll, who's offside. Nevermind.

Johnson meets the corner from Meireles but he can't get any sort of direction on it. Goal kick.

Liverpool have a free-kick, and Meireles floats it in to win a corner.

Carroll meets the corner but heads just wide. He ought to be hitting the target there.

Carroll heads Cole through on goal, and he brings a fine save from the goalkeeper. Carroll follows up and there's claims for handball. Corner kick.

Carragher angles a long ball over the top for Carroll, but he's given offside. It was a tight one.

Viana fires the free-kick into the wall.

Wilson gives away a free-kick for a high boot.

You can follow both the Champions League and Europa League draws <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/895391/champs-lge-and-europa-league-draw?cc=5739">live with Soccernet on Friday</a>. Jon Carter will be online from 10.30am taking your questions, and he'll then guide you through both draws. They take place at 1100 and 1200 GMT respectively.

It's a bit of a bitty start, but Cole fires through a pass for Kuyt that looks threatening before just eluding the forward.

Liverpool race down the right flank and Johnson puts a cross in, but Braga get it clear.

Hugo Viana fires it in and it's a dangerous one indeed. It goes all the way through to Reina, luckily for Liverpool.

Braga have a free-kick in a dangerous position.

Braga get the game underway.

There's a banner in support of Japan out on the field and Braga are now getting ready to get underway.

The teams are now out on the field at Anfield and the match is nearly underway.

Braga have made two changes, bringing in captain Vandinho - after a month out injured - and Paulao.

Carroll is one of three changes from the side which lost in Braga, with Maxi Rodriguez and Danny Wilson also coming in at the expense of Sotirios Kyrgiakos, Jay Spearing and Christian Poulsen.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2011/0317/andycarrolltraining20110316_275x155.jpg"><br>Andy Carroll will make his first start for Liverpool.

Dalglish knows Liverpool's <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/894906/european-status-at-risk,-says-kenny-dalglish?cc=5739" target="_blank">European status is at serious risk</a> and that they must improve at Anfield.

Liverpool trail 1-0 from the first leg in Portugal, and Kenny Dalglish said afterwards that they were "fortunate" it had not been worse after a desperate first-half showing.

Live commentary will appear here from 2005 GMT.

The crowd are trying to create a bit of an atmosphere, but they're not getting a lot of help from the Liverpool players.

The corner comes out for Spearing, who blazes his shot high and wide. We're into the final ten minutes now.

Meireles attempts a cross and wins a corner, prompting a roar from the crowd.

Kuyt unleashes a shot from the left-hand side of the area, and it's miles wide.

Ngog receives the ball with his back to goal, and plays a perfect lay-off to the Braga defence.

Ngog gets a shot away. It's straight at the 'keeper, but it was probably one of Liverpool's better efforts tonight. Ngog has actually given Liverpool a bit of an edge since he came on.

Spearing plays it long for Ngog, before Carroll heads off target.

Carroll combines with Ngog, but the Frenchman is denied by a fine tackle on the edge of the area.

Dalglish had to do something, and Maxi and Cole have been disappointing, but they're not the most exciting subs.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Maxi is replaced by Spearing, and Cole is replaced by Ngog.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Vandinho is booked for taking too long to leave the field.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Vandinho comes off for Kaka.

Johnson gets some space out on the right flank after a good ball from Carragher, and he whips it in for Meireles to challenge. He just fails to make contact, and injures himself.

Viana fires it straight in on goal and, although it's straight at Reina, it's a decent enough effort.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Skrtel picks up a booking for bundling over Leandro Salino. Braga have a free-kick in a decent position.

Cole has the ball and has the opportunity to set Carroll free, but the pass is less than perfect and doesn't give him enough time to release a decent shot. His shot was pretty wretched, even so.

Liverpool play a long free-kick towards Carroll, but Braga are able to break away.

Silvio floats a cross in from the left but there's no one there to meet it.

Skrtel tries a shot on goal, which is going well wide until Carroll - clearly offside - deflects it towards Artus. The linesman got that one right anyway.

Alan - although he looked offside - is allowed to prod a shot wide of goal as the corner results in a deflected shot falling into his path.

Braga take the free-kick short and manage to win a corner.

Meireles fouls Alan, and Alan rolls around theatrically.

Meireles has space in the area to get a header away, but he's well off target. It might not be Liverpool's night on this evidence, although they are starting to create more chances.

Lima opts for a shot, unwisely, and it hits the wall.

Braga have a free-kick and will look to put this into the area.

Maxi gets a shot away inside the box but it doesn't quite sit for him. Goal kick.

Cole clips a nice cross into the centre but it's just above Maxi's head. Carroll might have made something of that.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Carroll looks to burst through but his touch lets him down. He ends up widly lunging for the ball and gets a booking, with Braga trying to get him sent off. Nice.

Carroll runs offside again after Liverpool threatened to put a bit of incisive play together.

Andy Carroll manages to turn a fire off a long ball for Kuyt to chase. The 'keeper shields it for a goal kick, though.

Cole sends the ball into the danger area from the right flank, but no one can get a shot away.

Liverpool get the second half underway.

The teams are now heading back out onto the field.

Analyst Pat Nevin on <i>5</i> has shown how Carroll is taking the defenders away to create space for Kuyt. It's not come to anything as yet, of course.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2011/0317/andycarroll20110317_275x155.jpg"><br>Andy Carroll battles to win possession

Braga, meanwhile, have shown signs they might be able to hurt the Reds on the counter, although they've been just as disappointing in front of goal.

A thoroughly uninspiring first 45 minutes. Carroll has looked the only man capable of making something happen for Liverpool, but there's been a real absence of clear-cut chances.

IT'S HALF-TIME.

Maxi crosses for Carroll, whose header goes wide.

Liverpool see a relatively promising attack break down as Johnson fails to do much with the ball on two occasions.

Kuyt's now taken a knock in a challenge with Lima. Possibly his head or elbow. Not much in it anyway.

The 'keeper punches Meireles' corner away.

Paulao makes a rash clearance and Liverpool win a corner.

Paulao's taken a knock and has had to leave the field for treatment.

Carroll goes up for the ball alongside Artur Moraes, and the goalkeeper comes off worse. He doesn't look too badly damaged.

Cole goes chasing after a long ball from Carragher, but even a physically fit player would struggle to get anywhere near that.

Johnson heads the free-kick clear.

Lucas concedes a free-kick on Cesar and Braga can whip this in from the left flank.

Kuyt sends a cross into the area and, again, Carroll prompts penalty shouts as he goes down, but nothing's given. Lucas is barged over in the area in the aftermath, and again nothing is given. They weren't exactly stonewallers to be fair.

The corner is headed straight back out of play.

Alan leaves Wilson for dead with a neat piece of skill before firing off a shot and winning a corner.

Kuyt nearly breaks free from Rodriguez, but the Peruvian wins the battle.

Meireles sends a deep cross to the far post, but it's an easy catch for Artur Moraes.

Reina punches the corner away.

After some really sloppy defending, Lima gets a shot away and it takes a deflection from Meireles. There's a shout for handball but it's a corner.

Carroll is causing problems up front, but not quite to the extent that Braga and having to deal with many real chances. Liverpool need to find a bit more creativity in the midfield.

Carroll goes down in the area as the cross comes in and, as the whistle goes, there's a moment when the whole of Anfield seems to think it's a penalty. It isn't - the foul's given against Carroll.

Liverpool win a corner.

Alan gets a shot away, but he's not troubling Reina.

It's been a less than thrilling start, but there have been only two goals in the Reds' last four Europa League games, so perhaps we shouldn't be surprised.

Wilson collects the ball on the left wing, but his control lets him down and then he plays a poor pass. Disappointing.

Lima gets a shot away from distance. He catches it well enough but it's an easy save.

Skrtel makes a fine sliding challenge on Leandro Salino, which fires up the home fans.

Kuyt receives the ball in an advanced position and squares it to Maxi on the edge of the area. He flicks it cleverly on for Carroll, who's offside. Nevermind.

Johnson meets the corner from Meireles but he can't get any sort of direction on it. Goal kick.

Liverpool have a free-kick, and Meireles floats it in to win a corner.

Carroll meets the corner but heads just wide. He ought to be hitting the target there.

Carroll heads Cole through on goal, and he brings a fine save from the goalkeeper. Carroll follows up and there's claims for handball. Corner kick.

Carragher angles a long ball over the top for Carroll, but he's given offside. It was a tight one.

Viana fires the free-kick into the wall.

Wilson gives away a free-kick for a high boot.

You can follow both the Champions League and Europa League draws <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/895391/champs-lge-and-europa-league-draw?cc=5739">live with Soccernet on Friday</a>. Jon Carter will be online from 10.30am taking your questions, and he'll then guide you through both draws. They take place at 1100 and 1200 GMT respectively.

It's a bit of a bitty start, but Cole fires through a pass for Kuyt that looks threatening before just eluding the forward.

Liverpool race down the right flank and Johnson puts a cross in, but Braga get it clear.

Hugo Viana fires it in and it's a dangerous one indeed. It goes all the way through to Reina, luckily for Liverpool.

Braga have a free-kick in a dangerous position.

Braga get the game underway.

There's a banner in support of Japan out on the field and Braga are now getting ready to get underway.

The teams are now out on the field at Anfield and the match is nearly underway.

Braga have made two changes, bringing in captain Vandinho - after a month out injured - and Paulao.

Carroll is one of three changes from the side which lost in Braga, with Maxi Rodriguez and Danny Wilson also coming in at the expense of Sotirios Kyrgiakos, Jay Spearing and Christian Poulsen.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2011/0317/andycarrolltraining20110316_275x155.jpg"><br>Andy Carroll will make his first start for Liverpool.

Dalglish knows Liverpool's <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/894906/european-status-at-risk,-says-kenny-dalglish?cc=5739" target="_blank">European status is at serious risk</a> and that they must improve at Anfield.

Liverpool trail 1-0 from the first leg in Portugal, and Kenny Dalglish said afterwards that they were "fortunate" it had not been worse after a desperate first-half showing.

Live commentary will appear here from 2005 GMT.