Manchester City and Liverpool both fall in Europa League play

Liverpool could not continue their fine form of EPL play as they dropped a 1-0 decision at Sporting Braga on Thursday as they try to advance to the quarterfinals of the Europa League.  Liverpool, rejuvenated under interim coach Kenny Dalglish and 3-1 victors over arch-rivals Manchester United on Sunday, will have to turn their tie around in the March 17 return leg.

Liverpool was under pressure early on as Sporting Braga were spurred on by the home crowd.  They took the lead in the 18th minute in Portugal, with Alan guiding an emphatic penalty into the bottom-left corner after Mossoro had been sent sprawling by Sotiris Kyrgiakos.  Defender Silvio came within inches of doubling the hosts' advantage 20 minutes later but his magnificent left-foot half-volley from 25 yards crashed back into play off the crossbar.

"The way we started the game, the first 35 minutes, we were terrible," said Dalglish. "To the boys' credit, they picked themselves up a bit in the second half. I think at 1-0 you have got a chance."

The EPL side had chances in the second half, but were unable to find the tying goal as Andy Carroll and Dirk Kuyt both narrowly missed.

Manchester City suffered a similiar fate as they travelled onto the continent to face a freezing trip to Dynamo Kiev.  Former AC Milan and Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko gave the hosts a 25th minute lead when he diverted Andriy Yarmolenko's left-wing cross past Joe Hart to claim his 67th goal in European competition. City introduced Carlos Tevez from the bench in the second half but to no avail, as Oleh Gusev doubled Dynamo's advantage by controlling a clearance on his chest and volleying home. 

"The match was good, we played well, but we made two mistakes for the goals and you can't make mistakes in games like this," said City coach Roberto Mancini.