Sky-high Liverpool fly out to face Braga

Fresh from a morale-boosting 3-1 thumping of rivals Manchester United, Liverpool take a trip to Portugal to face Braga in the next match of their Europa League campaign.

Kenny Dalglish’s side are unbeaten in 12 European games this seaso including their last six away from Anfield – albeit drawing the last four of those.

Dalglish must prepare his men for the match once again without Captain Steven Gerrard, who despite completing the entire game against Man United on Sunday, has not travelled with the squad for the 1st leg.

Instead, the Reds will be hoping on the continued form of Raul Meireles, who will be facing Portuguese opponents for the first time since departing Porto for English football in the summer.

Liverpool will as lobe able to call upon striker Andy Carroll, after the £35m man made his debut at the weekend.

“He's been fantastic in the way he has responded to the medical people's advice,” Dalglish said, of Carroll this week. “We're as desperate to get him on the pitch as he is. But we'll be responsible. The games are part and parcel of his fitness and recuperation, and we'll be as responsible as the medical people have been. Andy and ourselves will both have to be patient.”

Fabio Aurelio is another injury within the squad and isn’t likely to return for four weeks. He joins Jonjo Shelvey and Martin Kelly on the sidelines.

Braga have won their last three European home fixtures, all by 2-0 score lines, having played initially in the Champions League before knocking out Lech Poznań in the last round.

Form
All Competitions:

Braga: LLWDW (5 goals for, 4 against)
Liverpool: DDWLW (6 goals for, 4 against)

Champions League/ Europa League:

Braga: WWLLW (5 goals for, 3 against)
Liverpool: WDDDW (5 goals for, 2 against)