Source: Daily_Mail
Braga 1 Liverpool 0: Alan's penalty proves the difference as toothless Reds misfire
[LNB]Liverpool's Europa League campaign has been one long, bumpy ride, and so it proved again.[LNB]Starting in Macedonia seven months ago, they somehow managed to go unbeaten through 12 games despite a series of patchy displays. But that came to a halt in Portugal as they were beaten by a well-organised Braga side.[LNB] Spot of bother: Alan converts from 12 yards to give Braga the lead[LNB]Had Liverpool managed to avoid defeat, they would have equalled a club record of 14 unbeaten matches in Europe - they won the last game of their previous campaign - but that proved a step too far. Sluggish and subdued throughout, they only perked up when Andy Carroll was introduced.[LNB]The ?35million striker received a nasty elbow to his nose from Braga defender Kaka late in the game when Liverpool were trying to snatch an equaliser, but snatching is exactly what it would have been.[LNB] Watch that elbow: Kaka challenges Andy Carroll[LNB] The visitors, once again, failed to liveup to their illustrious pedigree. With no stands behind either goal, this is one of the more unusual stadiums in Europe. Despite the frenziedattempts of a garrulous pitchside announcer to whip up some atmosphere,it felt as if it was hosting a pre-season friendly.[LNB]Going down: Carroll reacts after his clash with Kaka[LNB]The pedestrian pace of the opening exchanges added to that feeling. Both sides seemed happy to keep hold of the ball, showing no ambition to seize the initiative, but that changed in the 17th minute when Sotirios Kyrgiakos made an ill-advised lunge.[LNB]There was no question he fouled Marcio Mossoro, clumsily sticking out his right leg to crudely halt the Brazilian midfielder. Alan - another Brazilian - confidently drove the resulting spot kick past Pepe Reina.[LNB]It was a stupid challenge and the sight of his central defensive partner Martin Skrtel clasping his hands to his head in wide-eyed disbelief told its own story.[LNB]ForBraga to stand any chance of reaching the last eight winning the home leg was imperative, as they have a lamentable record in England - five games, four defeats, 17 goals conceded - and their erratic form in the Portuguese league throws into doubt their ability to flourish on Merseyside.[LNB]Liverpool, however, seemed intent on making things difficult for themselves.[LNB] Their play during a quite dire first 45 minutes was strewn with errors, they never created a chance and it was scarcely believable that some of those on duty had helped flatten Manchester United five days earlier.[LNB] Flying Dutchman: Dirk Kuyt challenges Kaka and Alan[LNB]Kenny Dalglish could easily have seen his side trail by two at the break but the bar came to Reina's rescue after Silvio's thumping leftfooted volley from 25 yards had whizzed pasthim. How Liverpool missed the guile, pace and devilment of Luis Suarez -in the stands, ineligible to play - and the drive of Steven Gerrard. The elegant simplicity of Maxi Rodriguez was also sorely lacking.[LNB]MATCH FACTSSC BRAGA (4-2-3-1): Artur 6; Garcia 6, Kaka 6, Rodriguez 6, Silvio 7; Salino 6, Hugo Viana 8; Alan 7, Mossoro 7 (Paulao 69min 6), Paulo Caesar 6 (Barbosa 90); Lima 5 (Meyong 77). Subs not used: Cristiano, Dani, Peterson, Capela.Booked: Kaka.[LNB]LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Reina 6; Carragher 6, Skrtel 6, Kyrgiakos 5, Johnson 6; Lucas 5, Poulsen 5 (Carroll 56 7), Spearing 6; Meireles 6, Kuyt 6, Cole 6.Subs not used: Gulacsi, Pacheco, Rodriguez, Wilson, Ngog, Flanagan.Booked: Poulsen.[LNB]Man of the match: Hugo Viana.Referee: Serge Gumienny (Bel) 6.[LNB]Then again, it was not hard to predict that the game would be so dull. Liverpool's travels throughout Europe this year have failed dismally to capture the imagination.[LNB]Milan Jovanovic is the only Liverpoolplayer to have scored away from Anfield in the Europa League proper and draws in Utrecht, Naples, Bucharest and Prague were all games for which the phrase 'instantly forgettable' was conjured up. [LNB]What's more, with three midfielders whose natural game is to be destructive, it was no surprise Liverpool were toothless. Joe Cole tried hard to add some wit to proceedings but, not for the first in his Anfield career, could not findthe actions to back up his enthusiasm.[LNB]It came as no surprise, then, when Dalglish decided to freshen things up by introducing Carroll on 56 minutes and, almost immediately, there was a difference in Liverpool's play; his hulking frame instantly caused problems for Braga's central defenders Kaka and Alberto Rodriguez.[LNB]He might still be some way short of peakcondition but his presence is enough to unsettle opponents and when Liverpool started hurling balls into Braga's penalty area, Carroll kept getting his pony-tailed head on the end and opening up avenues which hadhitherto been closed.[LNB] [LNB] Head to head: Alberto Rodriguez and Sotirios Kyrgyiakos do battle[LNB] [LNB]Cole and Dirk Kuyt so nearly profited in his first few minutes on the pitch, while the 22-year-old himself went close with a spin and leftfooted shot that looped off Rodriguez but went away for a corner.[LNB]Much to Dalglish's relief Braga were being tested at long last.[LNB]Ultimately, however, the belated huff and puff failed to yield an away goal as Braga stood firm, their obduracy eventually causing Liverpool to slip back to the sluggish standards they had initially set. Glen Johnson's abysmal, 86th-minute free-kick proved that point.[LNB]Yet, as Dalglish will know, this is not a disastrous result. Liverpool are adept at retrieving European deficits and they will be hot favourites to repeat the trick. It is just going to require a significantly better performance than this. [LNB] Kenny Dalglish blasts 'terrible' Liverpool but backs Reds to overturn Braga deficitSimply Reds: Dalglish insists Europa League quest is all about Liverpool, not personal glory Liverpool and England face anxious wait over Gerrard's groin injury EUROPA LEAGUE LIVE: Braga v Liverpool 0 - all the action as it happenedAll the latest Liverpool news, features and opinion[LNB] Explore more:People: Andy Carroll, Kenny Dalglish, Dirk Kuyt, Steven Gerrard, Pepe Reina, Glen Johnson, Maxi Rodriguez, Martin Skrtel, Joe Cole Places: Liverpool, Prague, Portugal, Macedonia, United Kingdom, Europe
