Reds and Celtic top the bill in Uefa Cup
By Mitch Phillips
London - Liverpool's clash with Celtic is the eye-catching tie of the Uefa Cup quarterfinals but there will also be plenty of quality on display in the other three first-leg games of Europe's "second competition" on Thursday.
Lazio, eager to return Italy to the fore in a competition the country dominated in the 1990s, take on Turkish league leaders Besiktas in Rome.
Portugal are the only country with two teams remaining and have runaway league leaders Porto at home to Panathinaikos and Boavista making the short trip to Spanish Uefa Cup debutants Malaga.
Liverpool, Uefa Cup winners two years ago, have been lifted since the last round by winning the English League Cup and with Michael Owen in record-breaking form, confidence is returning after a dire league run.
The England striker equalled Ian Rush's club record of 20 European goals with the winner against Auxerre in the last round and has scored in his last four matches in all competitions.
He could be partnered by Emile Heskey, who picked up a hamstring injury in the League Cup win over Manchester United 10 days ago.
The only absentee is injured centre back Stephane Henchoz and Celtic will hope to take advantage with the possible return of Henrik Larsson.
BROKEN JAW
The Swedish striker, with 34 goals from 35 starts this season, has recovered from a broken jaw and wants to play.
Celtic, enjoying a rare outing in the latter stages of a European competition, will be without in-form French winger Didier Agathe, out for a month with a torn hamstring.
Lazio came through the hard way in the fourth round, winning their delayed match at Wisla Krakow 2-1 last week after being held to a 3-3 home draw by the Poles.
The Italians warmed up with a good performance in a 1-1 derby draw with AS Roma on Saturday and are boosted by the return of striker Simone Inzaghi.
Inzaghi, who has scored three goals in five appearances in this season's Uefa Cup, fractured his wrist a month ago, but will probably return via the bench.
Besiktas travel to Rome without several key players. Defender Carlos Zago is suspended after being sent off against Slavia Prague in the last round and midfielders Tumer Metin and Ibrahim Uzulmez are both injured.
Coach Mircea Lucescu has been playing some of his forwards in midfield to fill the gaps and though Romanian Daniel Pancu has performed particularly well, Besiktas do not look the force they were earlier in the season.
CUP DRUBBING
Porto received another boost at the weekend with a 7-0 drubbing of local rivals Varzim in the Portuguese Cup quarterfinals.
Greek league leaders Panathinaikos travel with an injury-free squad, although defender Leonidas Vokolos and midfielder Pantelis Konstantinidis are both suspended.
Finnish winger Joonas Kolkka looks set to recover from a slight knock picked up in their goalless draw against Panionios on Sunday - a result that ended a sequence of 10 consecutive league wins.
Malaga have renewed optimism after claiming their first win in five league matches at the weekend with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao.
They will also be boosted by the return of a number of key players, including striker Dario Silva. The Uruguayan returns after missing his side's 1-0 second leg victory over AEK Athens in the last round because of suspension and will renew his prolific partnership with Panamanian international Dely Valdes.
Boavista, who have never won in Spain, will be without Brazilian striker Elpidio Silva and defender Filipe Anunciacao, who are both suspended, while Venezuelan midfielder Pedro Santos is out injured.
Portuguese league champions in 2001 and runners-up last year, Boavista now lie eighth in the table, 33 points behind Porto.