Liverpool high on Owen’s form for Celtic clash

Liverpool’s clash with Celticis the eye-catching tie of the UEFA Cup quarter-finals but there will also be plenty of quality on display...

Liverpool’s clash with Celticis the eye-catching tie of the UEFA Cup quarter-finals 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.

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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.

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. (Reuters)

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