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By Jonathan Stevenson

Europa League Macca: "Leverkusen are on top at present in Germany and have the ball in the net through Sam, but the lively forward strays offside and it's chalked off."

1828: Bit more space now as Liverpool press, and after Raul Meireles fails to pick out Dirk Kuyt inside the Braga box the hosts counter with pace, and only a solid interception from Martin Skrtel denies Paulo Cesar a shooting chance.

1826: ... Eurgh. Low, into the wall. Horrible waste of time.

1825: Much better from Liverpool, Joe Cole showing great feet to get away from Kaka and the Brazilian defending bringing the midfielder down. Free-kick to the Reds, playing in black, about 30 yards out...

From rohit_united on Twitter: "Have to say, Kyrgiakos's defending is as complicated as his name."

1821: Great noise in Portugal, the home fans buoyed by their side taking the lead. Liverpool's influence on the game is slowly starting to grow, but they couldn't half do with an away goal now to take back to Anfield next week.

1819: Couple of hairy moments for Rangers in the Netherlands as recalled keeper Neil Alexander first races from goal to deny Marcus Berg and then flaps at a corner which duly sails behind for a goalkick. Lucky boy.

Braga goal: Really soft way to go behind, but Liverpool can have few complaints - they haven't got going at all yet. The ever dangerous Mossoro gets into the Reds box and Sotirios Kyrgiakos gets his tackle all wrong, bringing the midfielder down. It's a definite penalty and Alan steps up to coolly slot into the bottom right-hand corner of Pepe Reina's net.

1817: GOAL Braga 1-0 Liverpool (Alan)

1816: PENALTY TO BRAGA
Might have one now, to be fair...

1815: Neat exchange of passes in the Liverpool half from Braga, with Mossoro at the heart of it, but some strong defending on the edge of the Reds box from Sotirios Kyrgiakos means the hosts still cannot get a shot in. My kingdom for a shot. Anywhere.

1813: PSV are still looking more dangerous in Holland, but aside from a couple of balls into the box from Balszs Dzsudzsak, Rangers are quite comfortably keeping them at bay at present.

From Luke, happy Hammer, on text: "Sorry Stevo, but there is absolutely no way Liverpool will score tonight. The same goes for Braga. Got the rest of your predictions spot on though."

1809: Braga are keeping the ball pretty comfortably at the moment, it has to be said, and when Liverpool get it they keep gifting it straight back to the hosts. Look, I'm not saying it's Barcelona v Arsenal all over again, but just an early note to make.

1807: There are about 800 Liverpool fans inside the Estadio Municipal, all of whom are seeing Jamie Carragher overtake Ryan Giggs as the highest-appearance maker in European competition for a Brit with his 138th game tonight. Until Giggs plays for United next week in the Champions League, that is. Probably.

From djdobbo on Twitter: "Bold predo there, Stevo. Don't see Liverpool scoring three, but a Carroll hat-trick from the bench would be lovely, ta."

1803: PSV and Braga have had most of the early play, but neither team has created a chance yet. Steady stuff from Rangers and Liverpool so far, having a look at their opponents.

1800: Portuguese outfit Braga are the first to kick off as they take on Liverpool, and a few seconds later we're under way in the Netherlands too as PSV take on Rangers.

1800: Stevo's Predos:
SC Braga 1-3 Liverpool
PSV Eindhoven 2-1 Rangers
Dynamo Kiev 1-1 Man City

Europa League Macca: "Aside from Liverpool and Rangers, there are two other games kicking off at the rather unsociable hour of 1800 GMT. They're not half bad mind: Leverkusen - presently second in the Bundesliga - host Villarreal, who are currently sinking in Spain, while Porto, winners of this competition (of sorts) in 2003, travel to 2005 champs CSKA Moscow."

From Bert, London, on text: "Estadio Municipal, overshadowed by a vast quarry, is the perfect stage for one of King Kenny's unforgettable European nights."

Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish: "Braga started off in the Champions League and they've had some excellent results at home, but they've not played us yet so hopefully we can put a stop to it. We'll always respect the opposition and they are a good side, but we have to get our house in order and I'm sure the result at the weekend [beating Man Utd 3-1] improved the mood in the dressing-room. It's a big game for us."

From Dinnyboy09 on Twitter: "Liverpool need to come out of the blocks all guns blazing. Let's bring something back to Anfield. YNWA."

PSV Eindhoven v Rangers team news:
Andy Campbell reports: "PSV dangermen Jeremain Lens and Ola Toivonen both start in Eindhoven. "Rangers have changed goalkeeper with Neil Alexander starting and Allan McGregor dropping to the bench. Elsewhere, Kyle Hutton earns a rare start in midfield and Kyle Lafferty returns from injury, John Fleck and David Healy dropping to the bench."

Braga v Liverpool team news:
Mandeep Sanghera reports: "Liverpool striker Andy Carroll may be fit again from a thigh injury but he is on the bench against Braga. Dirk Kuyt spearheads the Reds attack and playmaker Joe Cole, along with midfielders Christian Poulsen and Jay Spearing, makes the starting line-up. Steven Gerrard is missing with a groin injury and forward Luis Suarez is ineligible. Braga beat Benfica to end the national record 18-match winning streak of their rivals on Sunday and, although midfielder Alan picked up a stomach injury in the victory, he plays."

1745: Lots to pack in, as always, but your A-game chat is very much top of my wish list, so get bantering. You can text to 81111, you can tweet me directly @Stevo_football and you can tweet with the hashtag #BBCFootball to boot. Like shelling peas, only easier.

PSV Eindhoven v Rangers scene-setter:
Andy Campbell reports: "This is the first time in four years Rangers have faced a first leg away from home in knock-out European competition and they be will looking to take something back to Glasgow for next week's return leg. But Walter Smith's men are up against the team riding high at the top of the Dutch league and the Rangers manager has admitted toppling PSV will be a tougher task than overcoming Sporting in the previous round. These sides last met in season 1999-2000's Champions League group stages, Rangers winning home and away."

Braga v Liverpool scene-setter
Mandeep Sanghera reports: "If Liverpool need any idea of the danger Braga pose they should look at Arsenal and Celtic. A defeat at the home of the Portuguese side played a huge part in the Gunners not finishing top of their Champions League group and drawing a Barcelona side who knocked them out in the last 16, while Celtic have also lost at the Estadio Municipal de Braga this season. Liverpool are unbeaten in 12 outings in Europe this season but have not won in their last six visits to Portugal - the last time being a victory over Benfica on the way to winning the 1984 European Cup."

1740: Braga v Liverpool line-ups:
Braga: Artur Moraes, Miguel Garcia, Kaka, Rodriguez, Silvio, Leandro Salino, Hugo Viana, Alan, Mossoro, Paulo Cesar, Lima.
Subs: Cristiano, Paulao, Helder Barbosa, Meyong, Dani, Peterson, Anibal.
Liverpool: Reina, Carragher, Skrtel, Kyrgiakos, Johnson, Poulsen, Lucas, Spearing, Meireles, Cole, Kuyt.
Subs: Gulacsi, Pacheco, Maxi, Wilson, Ngog, Carroll, Flanagan.
Referee: Serge Gumienny (Belgium)

1738: PSV v Rangers line-ups:
PSV: Isaksson, Manolev, Marcelo, Bouma, Pieters, Hutchinson, Engelaar, Dzsudzsak, Toivonen, Berg, Lens.
Subs: Cassio, Rodriguez, Vukovic, Koevermans, Wuytens, Bakkal, Zeefuik.
Rangers: Alexander, Foster, Weir, Bartley, Bougherra, Whittaker, Lafferty, Edu, Davis, Hutton, Diouf.
Subs: McGregor, Fleck, Healy, Weiss, Wylde, Cole, Hemmings.
Referee: Martin Hansson (Sweden)

From tomwfootball on Twitter: "You misspelled Mickey. Other than that, a magnificent start."
Haha. I did too. Ooh look, my taxi's here.

1735: Three games involving British teams tonight, so the BBC will be concentrating on this sequence of events:
1800 GMT: SC Braga v Liverpool
1800 GMT: PSV Eindhoven v Rangers
2005 GMT: Dynamo Kiev v Man City
Don't think Europa League Macca won't be getting his big frame involved to tell us what's going on elsewhere on the continent, though. Don't you dare.

1733: No, this isn't the "big sell". I'd have thought the fact that the likes of Carlos Tevez, Andriy Shevchenko, Nene, Fabio Coentrao, Christian Eriksen, Jeremain Lens, Radamel Falcao, Keisuke Honda, Andy Carroll and Nilmar are all involved would mean it doesn't even need selling. I'm Jonathan Stevenson, welcome to the last 16 of the Europa League - the tournament that some are still steadfastly calling the Uefa Cup. The heathens.

1730: Sixteen big clubs, who between them have a trophy haul that almost beggars belief. Check out this cheeky little booty:
League titles: 242
FA Cup (or equivalent): 165
European titles: 41
Try telling them they're only playing for the Mickey Mouse Cup - somehow I'm not sure they'd agree with you.

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Feed: BBC News - Home
Posted on: Thursday, March 10, 2011 10:59 PM
Author: BBC News - Home
Subject: Live - Europa League

Liverpool travel to Braga and Rangers visit PSV Eindhoven as the last 16 of the Europa League gets under way, with Dynamo Kiev taking on Manchester City later.

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Friday, March 11, 2011

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