UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE: Liverpool (0) v Braga (1): ANDY CARROLL is due to start his first game for Liverpool. He has not begun a serious match for two and a half months; he has a €40 million price tag to justify, Liverpool need a goal and he is nursing a sense of grievance. The combination is nothing if not combustible.

His manager, Kenny Dalglish, said the elbow delivered late in the first leg by Braga’s Brazilian defender Kaka was “meant to hurt” and wondered aloud why Uefa had taken no action.

“If it were one of our players or a British player there would have been mayhem. For something as deliberate as that they must surely have some form of retrospective retribution,” said Dalglish.

Given that Carroll troubled Braga throughout his 34 minutes on the pitch, it would be a surprise if he did not start his first match for his new club.

Dalglish’s side will seek to overcome a 1-0 deficit from last week’s match in Portugal without the services of captain Steven Gerrard, who has been sidelined for a month after a groin operation. Defender Daniel Agger may also only be fit for a place among the substitutes after missing the last three matches with a knee injury.

Guardian Service