Can Liverpool Go All The Way And Lift The Europa League Trophy In Dublin?

Reds have won nothing since 2006 but are second
favorites to win Europe's second string competition.
By Patrick Reilly
Mar 10, 2011 5:00:00 AM
Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson didn't get much right during
his short tenure at Anfield, or at least he wasn't given the time to
do so, but Reds fans will be hoping his belief that his old club can
win the Europa League rings true.
"I can see Liverpool going all the way in Europe - and I sincerely
hope they do," Hodgson told English newspaper the Daily Mirror.
Hodgson was crucified by Liverpool supporters for his mistakes
before he was replaced by Kop idol Kenny Dalglish, but one thing
they couldn't fault him for was his record in Europe as he ensured
the club remained unbeaten and helped secure their passage to
the knock-out stages.
Now in the last 16, the Europa League represents Liverpool's only
chance of a trophy, and while there are many mentions of
Arsenal's failure to win anything since 2005, lest we forget that
their Premier League rivals haven't lifted silverware since 2006.
Kenny Dalgish inherited the reins from Hodgson and steered his
beloved club past Sparta Prague in the previous round. Those
games were the first time Dalglish had managed Liverpool in
Europe, with his previous stint in charge between 1985 - 1991
coinciding with the ban on English clubs from European
competition following the Heysel disaster.
In the betting markets Liverpool are joint second favourites (6.50)
behind northern rivals Manchester City (4.50) to lift the trophy.
Porto (6.50) and Zenit St. Petersburg (8.0) are also in the mix.
City, who face Dynamo Kiev in the last 16, are likely to prioritise
finishing in the top four over the Europa League and are still in
with a shout in the FA Cup.
Porto, under their highly regarded manager Andre Villas Boas,
have been flawless domestically this season. When they last
played in this competition in 2003 under Boa's mentor Jose
Mourinho they won the old UEFA Cup, however they first need to
get past 2005 winners CSKA Moscow which will be no easy task.
Fellow Russians Zenit St. Petersburg look a decent outside bet at
8.0 and with the domestic season getting back underway will be a
difficult side to eliminate. Mind you they have a job on their hands
to get past Dutch champions FC Twente.
All of which leaves Liverpool in a very promising position.
Sporting Braga showed against Arsenal earlier this season they
can beat English sides and their unique stadium will be rocking for
the visit of the Reds.
Liverpool should have enough about them to get a result in
Portugal. They have lost just once in their previous ten games and
shipped only four goals in their 12 European matches this season.
In short, they have saved their best form for the European stage
which augers well for a Merseyside invasion of Dublin for the
showpiece final on May 18th. Dalgish's former teammate Ronnie
Whelan is the final ambassador and as many Scousers will tell
you, Liverpool is the unofficial capital of Ireland. The decisive
second-leg against Braga will take place on St. Patrick's Day, of all
occasions.
In a character-building season for England's most successful club,
an end to their trophy drought in Dublin could be just the tonic for
Dalglish's second reign to begin with some silverware.

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