Euro dream over for Reds

Liverpool crashed out of the UEFA Europa League at Anfield on Thursday night as they failed to overturn a 1-0 aggregate deficit against Braga.

The Portuguese club had already won the first leg of the last-16 tie the previous week and finished the job on Merseyside, frustrating the Premier League side in a goalless draw.

The Reds' record-signing Andy Carroll made his first start for the club but could not make enough impact to rescue their European dream, posing plenty of problems but providing no goals.

The £35million striking ace enjoyed several chances in the first half, notably when he flicked a header wide from Maxi Rodriguez's left-wing cross a minute before half-time.

Dirk Kuyt then gifted Raul Meireles an opportunity after the break when he crossed to the penalty spot, but the Portugal international looped his header over the woodwork.

Kenny Dalglish's side turned up the heat in the final minutes as they desperately hunted for a goal, but were ultimately unable to break the deadlock as Braga advanced to the quarter-finals.

The Reds have not failed to qualify for Europe since 1999 but having lost the chance of entering as defending Europa League champions, they must now look to their domestic form.

However, they trail fifth-placed Tottenham by six points in the Premier League and have played one match more, and it will take an impressive run of results for them to reel in the Londoners.

With Liverpool low on creativity and even shorter on chances, the watching Reds owner John Henry must have been left wondering just how much it costs to buy a goal at this level as Carroll drew a blank.

The 22-year-old striker had his moments but very few were in areas in which he could utilise his talent.

Liverpool's defence looked for him at every available opportunity - although sometimes he was not necessarily the best option - and his aerial prowess was soon in evidence.

An early flick-on put Joe Cole through on the left of the area and his shot was parried by Artur back into the path of the former Newcastle striker but his shot was deflected behind.

Carroll headed behind Meireles' corner and it was only set-pieces which really presented him with anything approaching a chance.

Too often the England international was asked to win long diagonal balls 30 yards out with his back to goal.

Liverpool's supposed wide players - in truth the Reds have lacked genuine width for a long time - Cole and Maxi Rodriguez never got themselves into what could be described as threatening positions in which to deliver crosses for Carroll to attack.

The big front man soon discovered everything would not go his way, though, as he was penalised when Paulo Cesar pushed him into Miguel Garcia at another Meireles' corner.

Danny Wilson's unfamiliarity at left-back was often exploited by Alan, the goalscorer in Portugal last week, but aside from Rodrigo Lima's drilled 35-yard shot straight at Jose Reina, making his 300th appearancethey were content to soak up the pressure.

However, the methods the Portuguese side used to frustrate their opponents, rolling around on the floor to waste time, required a firm hand and Italian referee Gianluca Rocchi was found desperately wanting as he allowed the game to get away from him before half-time.

Rocchi had no option but to get his cards out soon after the interval when Carroll, frustrated by Paulao's attempts to shepherd the ball out of play, swung a wild tackle at the defender and both players were booked.

Liverpool's first chance of the second half fell to Meireles when Dirk Kuyt crossed to the penalty spot but the midfielder sent his header well over.

Tension was beginning to grow inside Anfield and the impact of Carroll, watched by England manager Fabio Capello who had arrived from watching Manchester City exit the competition earlier in the evening, was starting to wane.

As the match entered its last quarter Glen Johnson finally put in a dangerous cross but Meireles was just short of reaching it.

One late Carroll header appeared destined to find the net from a Meireles' corner only for Kuyt to get in the way in the six-yard area.

That just about summed up his - and Liverpool's - night as they went out of the competition despite not losing a home match in Europe all season.

Source: Sky Sports

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