Full time, Braga 1-0:
Four minutes of added time.
Barbosa on for Cesar.
Even as the final minutes approach, Liverpool seems relatively casual in their attempts to go forward.
After a Reina goal kick, the Reds win a throw, and after a poor touch, Spearing prevents a counter by getting to the ball first.
Carroll is caught by Kaka's arm on an aerial battle, and he stays down after the elbow.
Carroll gets up and is okay, but little time remains left for an equalizer.
Kyrgiakos is called for a foul on Meyong. Cesar comes off for Barbosa.
The set piece off the foul goes for a goal kick. Liverpool rushes forward, but Braga clears, and then clears again before Braga is awarded a free kick in their half.
The free kick is taken and the whistle blows. Liverpool will have to win it at Anfield.
89', Braga 1-0: A longball forward is won by Carroll, but nobody is there to collect the ball.
Shortly thereafter, he is fouled at the edge of the final third in the center.
Meireles and Johnson stand over it, and Meireles taps it to Johnson, who is blocked, and Braga eventually clear.
85', Braga 1-0: Lucas is called for a foul in midfield, but the set piece is sent right to Reina.
Braga has a spell on the attack, with a shot taken from above the area only slightly off target.
Liverpool quickly bring it to the other end, but Braga get back well.
81', Braga 1-0: Joe Cole comes forward with Andy Carroll making a good run, but he can't find him.
After the clearance, Liverpool wins a throw on the left, and they send it back to Skrtel, who sends a good diagonal to the right for Meireles. Eventually, though, Liverpool is cleared again.
Carroll makes a run up the right, but he is cut out by a trio of Braga players.
The match has again grown disjointed, as Carroll is fouled in midfield, which results in a Johnson set piece. He and Spearing 1-2, and then Johnson shoots from the left — right to Artur.
77', Braga 1-0:
Lima off for Meyong.
Liverpool enjoys a spell on the ball, but with little successful forward progress. Eventually, after some disjointed possession, Braga wins a series of throws on their left.
Braga makes another change, taking Lima off.
73', Braga 1-0: Meireles is fouled in midfield, and Liverpool keep possession with the defense until Skrtel sends a through ball from his own half that trickles all the way to Artur.
Braga wins a corner, a low cross deflected off Meireles.
The kick is taken very near to the goal line, and Reina parries it away for another corner.
The second corner is partially cleared by Skrtel, but kept by Braga. The ball is sent back into the area, but Liverpool eventually fully clears.
69', Braga 1-0:
Paulao on for Mossoro.
Liverpool has a chance to counter, but after the holdup, Spearing's attempt to pick out Carroll's run is way too heavy and falls to Artur harmlessly.
Liverpool has another run forward, and Meireles finds Kuyt in the center at the top of the area.
He turns, and puts a shot on target, saved very well by Artur — nice shot by Kuyt.
Liverpool has now gone on the front foot since Carroll has entered.
The corner is struck to the far post, but it can't be converted by Kyrgiakos.
Paulao on for Mossoro.
65', Braga 1-0: Cole has a great chance, running into the area, but he is cut out very well by Kaka.
Liverpool win another corner off a deflection. It is controlled by the Reds in the air, but Carroll is flagged for offside — and isn't particularly pleased about it.
Carroll is called for a foul on Rodriguez in the air in midfield.
61', Braga 1-0: The new formation for Liverpool should open up what has been a slow, boring game.
Carroll wins a ball in the area off a Johnson cross, but nobody can get to the ball.
Thereafter, another is sent in for Carroll, and he flicks it to Kuyt in front of goal, but he can't convert — Carroll has been very influential already.
Braga concedes a soft corner, and Carroll gets his head to it at the far post, but his effort is sent well high and the whistle had blown.
57', Braga 1-0:
Caroll on for Poulsen.
Kuyt is again flagged for offside on a counterattack that could have been somewhat dangerous — numbers were about even.
The goalkeepers send the ball back and forth to one another, before Mossoro nearly picks out Lima in a run down the middle.
Johnson is fouled rather cynically in midfield, and on the stoppage, Andy Carroll comes on for Poulsen, who had been a non-presence all game.
53', Braga 1-0: Liverpool controls at the back, eventually giving it to Reina, who then keeps possession in their half — very slow pace at the moment.
Liverpool have some space to go forward down the left, as Johnson picks out Cole, but he is cut out for a throw. Off the throw, Braga wins a goal kick.
49', Braga 1-0: Lima fouls Spearing in midfield, but the Portugese side controls quickly thereafter.
After a spell in their own side, Kaka boots a longball forward that goes all the way to Reina.
The teams exchange possession casually thereafter — Braga looks content with the way things are thus far.
Salino fouls Cole slightly past midfield.
His free kick is well taken, and it results in a corner for Liverpool. Andy Carroll and David Ngog look to be readyin themselves.
The corner is cleared back to the taker, Meireles, but then fully cleared for a counter. Kyrgiakos, though, gets the challenge right this time, and Cesar stays down after the battle.
Half, Braga 1-0:
Two minutes added.
Lucas receives a warning from the referee for something that he said. Braga has a set piece from midfield, but the effort is taken as a shot, saved by Reina.
Liverpool holds the ball in their own half before a diagonal is sent for Johnson. He combines with Joe Cole, who gets a cross in, but the ball ends up in Artur's hands after a weak header.
Rodriguez commits a foul in midfield, but Liverpool is not allowed to take it quickly. Carragher sends it forward long, and Kaka concedes a corner. The corner is cleared, and the whistle blows.
42', Braga 1-0: Liverpool's set piece from midfield is cleared at the top of the area, and Braga enjoy a spell of possession thereafter.
They hold the ball patiently, only half-heartedly moving into the Liverpool half. Eventually, Liverpool win it back, but Braga pressure forces a longball which gives it back to the Portugese side.
A series of three fouls in midfield then ensues, with Liverpool coming forward thereafter.
38', Braga 1-0:
Yellow Card – Poulsen – Poor tackle.
Poulsen is called for a foul on Mossoro, and then Salino is fouled a moment later, resulting in a yellow card for Poulsen.
The set piece, dead center aboove the area, is deflected by Spearing for a corner, but the corner goes for a goal kick.
A great ball forward by Braga off the goal kick results in Skrtel fouling Lima on the right of the area. The kick is cleverly taken and finds Mossoro right in the area with space to shoot. He scuffs it, and the partial cleaance is struck on the first touch, but the effort hits the crossbar — Reina was beaten.
Rodriguez fouls Lucas.
34', Braga 1-0: Meireles slips in the Liverpool half, giving Braga a chance to make a run in space, but Liverpool cuts it out at the edge of the area.
Braga again possesses, and a diagonal from Kaka finds Lima. Liverpool, though, wins a throw and sends it back to Artur's goal.
Spearing is fouled in his own half, but the ball is merely cleared back to midfield — Liverpool don't seem to have many ideas right now.
30', Braga 1-0: Kaka gives the ball away in his own third to Meireles, but Meireles' cross is cut out and a counter ensues. Mossoro looks for Lima, but Skrtel cuts the through ball out for a throw.
The throw is cleared, but Braga then attack down the other flank, the right, and a cross is sent in before Liverpool again clears.
Liverpool has a chance to counter, but the effort fizzles.
26', Braga 1-0:
Yellow Card – Kaka – Tackle from behind on Joe Cole.
A poor header by Kyrgiakos gives Braga a counterattack, but it is cut out before danger comes.
After a disjointed spell of action, a ball falls to Meireles in midfield, and he touches it brilliantly forward to Joe Cole.
Cole is tackled from behind by Kaka, who earns a yellow card.
The set piece is at the edge of the final third, and Meireles' low strike is blocked by the wall.
Going the other way, Lima is flagged well offside.
22', Braga 1-0: Liverpool will now have to chase the game in hopes of winning an away goal. They win a corner immediately after going down, but Kyrgiakos is called for a foul on the set piece.
Glen Johnson is fouled in the Liverpool half after a goal kick by Reina. Possession is exchanged thereafter, before Liverpool gets back on the ball in midfield and Spearing tries to slip it to Meireles down the right. He goes down, however, and it goes for a Braga throw.
18', Braga 1-0:
Goal – Braga – Alan – Penalty conceded by Kyrgiakos
Spearing is whistled for a foul in midfield, but Liverpool wins the ball directly thereafter and Kuyt is then called for a foul.
Braga goes forward, establishing numbers in the final third, but with just about everybody behind the ball for Liverpool. Eventually, Kyrgiakos cuts out the attack and Liverpool clears back to midfield.
Very patiently, Braga comes back up the pitch, and after a exchange of possession Braga go on a break down the right. The ball is sent for Mossoro on the right of the area, and Kyrgiakos sticks a leg out and fouls him — PENALTY KICK.
Alan steps up to the spot and puts it perfectly in the bottom left — beating Reina even though he guessed right. 1-0 Braga.
12', 0-0: Liverpool briefly wins possession in midfield before Braga again enjoy another long spell on the ball before sending a diagonal too far for a goal kick.
Liverpool are dispossessed in their own half, and Poulsen commits a foul just on the Reds side of midfield.
The set piece from midfield is sent into the box but partially cleared. Braga keeps possession, but Liverpool stands firm and wins a throw before going forward themselves.
Liverpool finally has some possession in the Braga half with Spearing and Kuyt combining well. They win a deep throw on the right, but after it rolls into the box, it is cleared back to midfield.
8', 0-0: Johnson makes a good counterattacking run forward, but Braga get back to cover. Going the other direction Kyrgiakos beats Lima to win a goal kick for Reina.
Kuyt is again flagged offside a spell of Liverpool possession in their own half.
The match, unsurprisingly, has been casual and cautious thus far.
After the flag, Braga holds it in their own half for a lengthy period before being rebuffed on their incursion forward, and then holding it in their own half at length again.
4', 0-0: Braga maintains possession as Meireles is called for a foul in midfield. Braga concedes possession in the Liverpool half, but Spearing gives it right back to Braga. They, though, waste the chance and it goes back to Reina.
Going forward, Kuyt is called offside and Braga builds from midfield. They try down the right, and win a throw in the Liverpool half before crossing to the left.
The cross in takes a deflection off spearing, and the ball sits dangerously in the area before it is cleared.
12:55 p.m. ET: Lineups are posted below. Andy Carroll is on the bench.
8 a.m. ET: Liverpool will be slightly short-handed as the Reds travel to Portugal to face Braga, but in the squad will be a £35 million reinforcement, as Andy Carroll is set to make his European debut for Liverpool.
Carroll played a small part on Sunday against Manchester United, but he'll likely feature considerably longer on Thursday as he continues to recover well from injury.
Still, the Reds will be without Steven Gerrard, who is resting a nagging groin ailment, and a host of defenders, as Fabio Aurelio, Martin Kelly and Daniel Agger are out with injury. Jonjo Shelvey will likewise be unavailable, and Luis Suarez is unfortunately not eligible for inclusion.
Braga, who ended up in the Europa League after finishing third behind Shaktar Donesk and Arsenal in their Champions League group, advanced to the round of sixteen with a 2-1 comeback win over Lech Poznan. They have, however, been struggling domestically, and are just sixth in the Primeira Liga this season.
Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET.
Liverpool:
Pepe Reina (25), goalkeeper
Jamie Carragher (23), defender
Sotirios Kyrgiakos (16), defender
Glen Johnson (2), defender
Martin Skrtel (37), defender
Joe Cole (10), midfielder
Christian Poulsen (28), midfielder
Raul Meireles (4), midfielder
Lucas (21), midfielder
Jay Spearing (26), midfielder
Dirk Kuyt (18), forward
Substitutes:
Peter Gulacsi (42)
John Flanagan (38)
Danny Wilson (22)
Maxi Rodriguez (17)
David Ngog (24)
Andy Carroll (29)
Dani Pacheco (12)
Braga:
Guilherme Moraes Artur (1), goalkeeper
Angelo Moita Miguel Garcia (15), defender
Claudio Bezerra da Silva Kaka (4), defender
Valdelomar Junior Alberto Rodriguez (2), defender
Silvio (28), defender
Miguel Hugo Viana (45), midfielder
Marcio Jose da Costa Mossoro (8), midfielder
do Carmo Leandro Salino (25), midfielder
Osorio Costa Silva Alan (30), forward
Rocha Paulo Cesar (9), forward
Lima (18), forward
Substitutes:
Cristiano Pereira Figueredo (42)
Junior Afonso Santos Paulao (3)
Capela Anibal (48)
Coelho Dani (43)
Peterson Joseph (46)
Albert Ze Meyong (19)
Jorge Leal Rodrigues Helder Barbosa (10)
