UEFA Cup Thursday March 13th

Celtic 1

Liverpool 0

1:0 Larsson (2) ; 1:1 Heskey (17)

Att: 59,756

ref: Hauge (Nor)

Celtic: Douglas; Mjallby, Balde, Valgaeren; Smith, Petrov, Sutton, Lennon, Thompson (Guppy 26); Hartson, Larsson (Lambert 76)

Part 2 of the four game 'make or break' show.

Isn't it funny how the media line changes. Previously we read from the likes of Stuart McCall about how the games couldn't come quick enough when the huns were rampaging through Europe. The more the merrier was the message, more games will simply make us stronger. However, now that Celtic are making progress in Europe more games is a bad thing. It'll sap our strength leaving Rangers with the League. Even when we win we lose, really. Odd that.

To be honest you would hardly know we were even playing the huns in three days. That game, that competition, seem so irrelevant compared to this match tonight. Larsson was back, but we've lost Agathe, and that could be a big loss. There is a fair case to say that our exit at the hands of Valencia last year was due in no small way to his absence. Apart from his attacking ability his defensive work, especially in Europe this season, has been a revelation.

But the return of Henrik was the main item. The man was back and let everyone know it as soon as the third minute. 1:0 to Celtic. In fact our start was incredible; Hartson hit the bar in 15 seconds. Liverpool looked bewildered, and Celtic were threatening to demolish them. Hartson swept past Hyppia and sent another shot just over. It was looking very good indeed... and then we let them back in to it.

One of the criticisms levelled at Martin O'Neill has been his apparent reluctance to give the young guys a chance. Whether or not you can put Jamie Smith in that category is debatable - he's only a year younger than Michael Owen. And for at least the first 30 minutes here he floundered. He let Riise get away from him far too easily, Murphy got the ball, played in Heskey and it was 1:1. The first goal conceded in the UEFA Cup at Parkhead, and basically if Agathe is on the pitch we don't lose that goal, because he doesn't allow his man to get away that easily.

After that the game developed into a cat and mouse routine. Liverpool felt they had done their job, they'd scored, and we were in no raging panic to go racing up the pitch leaving big gaps at back. For all the chat about Owen Mjallby kept him quiet throughout.

The only real chance we had was in the second half when Larsson was through on Dudek, but he hesitated a second and the shot was saved. So we go to Anfield knowing we have to score. But then again, we said that about Stuttgart, Vigo and the rest, and Vigo is the only away ground we've failed to net more than once away in the UEFA cup this season.