Anfield: Home of Liverpool(credit:
Wikipedia)
Liverpool crashed out of the Europa League after being held to a goalless draw in the second leg of their last-16 tie with Braga.
Having slipped to a 1-0 defeat in the first leg, the Reds started brightly at Anfield with Joe Cole and Andy Carroll, making his first start, looking sharp.
Cole raced onto a Carroll flick-on and tested Braga goalkeeper Artur early on, and the latter pounced on the rebound only to see his shot deflected wide.
The former Newcastle United man then headed agonisingly wide at the back post from the resulting corner, and Liverpool were fortunate not to concede a penalty at the other end when Alan’s shot appeared to strike the arm of Danny Wilson.
Raul Meireles headed over as the hosts’ frustration grew, and Braga should have wrapped up the victory only for Alan to stab the ball wide after the ball fell to him in front of goal.
But Liverpool were struggling to create openings, and when Carroll’s goalbound header hit team-mate Cole it summed up a disappointing night for the Merseyside giants.