Carroll to start as Liverpool aim to knock-out Braga

Liverpool march into the 2nd leg of their vital Europa League tie against Portuguese side Braga tonight aiming to avenge from last Thursday’s defeat, with striker Andy Carroll rumoured to start his first game.

The £35m striker, who has made two appearances from the bench since his move from Newcastle in January, appears to have fully recovered from a thigh injury enough to feature in the game.

Reds boss Kenny Dalglish is more worried, however, with the English striker keeping his cool, as he faces Braga’s Kaka who floored Carroll with a supposed deliberate elbow in the first leg.

“The best way for him to respond would be to do what he did last week, which was to keep his composure,” said Dalglish, in his mid-week press conference.

“The best way for Andy to answer anything is to be on the winning side. The best way to vent our anger will be to get a good result.”

“It is one thing going up to protect yourself; it is another going up to hurt an opponent. That was to hurt Andy.”

Whilst Carroll looks set to feature at some point, Liverpool are missing Steven Gerrard, Daniel Agger, and Jonjo Shelvey, all with knee injuries. Luis Suarez is ineligible.

Braga’s 1-0 home win came courtesy of Alan's 18th-minute penalty, after Sotiris Kyrgiakos's foul. It was the only goal in the first leg. Liverpool cannot underestimate their opponents for this game, as Braga have already recorded away victories against both Sevilla FC and FK Partizan in Europe this season

Form
All Competitions:

Liverpool: DWLWL (5 goals for, 5 against)
Braga: LWDWW (6 goals for, 3 against)

Europa League:

Liverpool: DDDWL (2 goals for, 2 against)
Braga: WLLWW (5 goals for, 3 against)

1st Leg result:

Braga 1-0 Liverpool