Liverpool: Can Anfield Lift Dalglish and Club Over Braga?

The Reds head into Thursday's second-leg contest against Braga at Anfield already trailing 0-1 on aggregate.

Liverpool made a mess of their chance to take an away goals lead in Portugal last week, as a penalty given away by Greek Defender Sotirios Krygiakos' mistimed tackle was the difference in poor display.

Liverpool never looked comfortable during the game, as Christian Poulsen never got into the game and young Jay Spearing looked lost and out of place on the right-hand side of midfield. Joe Cole continued to be an Anfield flop, and I truly cannot see him surviving the summer with the terrible form he has shown this season.

With all that said, Lucas, Raul Meireles and Dirk Kuyt could not do it by themselves.

The back line looked shaky even before the penalty to Osorio Costa Silva Alan was given up, and they failed to look any better for much of the remainder of the match.

The halftime introduction of Andy Carroll added some life to the squad, but not for long, as the Reds looked a shadow of the team that trounced Manchester United the Sunday before and more like the side that slumped to a 3-1 defeat at West Ham United the weekend before.

Things are going to have to change for the Reds to overturn their deficit at home. The Anfield crowd is sure to give them a boost, but the players will have to step up as well.

Daniel Agger is set to make his return, and it will be crucial to see Andy Carroll get his first full match for the club, as his presence will need to be felt for the Merseysiders to secure a last eight birth in the UEFA Europa League quarterfinals.

This is Liverpool's only shot at silverware this season, and at the moment, it is disappearing fast.

Manager Kenny Dalglish will need to make changes to his side if they are to produce. Poulsen, Cole and Spearing should make the bench, not the first team, as their efforts last week merit barely that much, but Cole or Poulsen will still most likely see action thanks to the club's injury woes.

Look for Maxi Rodriguez to replace Cole on the left, Meireles to move more to the right side as his role against Manchester United and for Dirk Kuyt to slot in with Andy Carroll in central attack.

It will have to be an all-out effort, as the Reds will have to produce a 2-0 scoreline at the minimum to go straight through, otherwise they will be looking down the barrel of another trophy-less season.