KENNY DALGLISH probably felt like banging his head against the quarry wall in Braga.

At the unique beauty of the Estadio Municipal de Braga last night, Liverpool offered up a frustratingly drab performance.

Second-half improvements, brought about with the introduction of Andy Carroll, were certainly encouraging but insufficient to prevent a first defeat in the Europa League this season.

Liverpool are by no means left with a task beyond them at Anfield next week but will certainly require the unrivaled tonic of a night of European competition on their home soil to ensure progression into the last eight.

The Reds' demise was brought about not by the design of a decent SC Braga side but by their own fault; first in the gifting of Alan's decisive penalty and then by the blunt nature of the opening period's forward play.

Dalglish will, of course, hope for more comforting news from the Melwood treatment table this week because with Steven Gerrard patched up and able to offer his services, the captain's ability to invigorate those around him could prove priceless.

Carroll's impact from the bench will be the basis for much hope carried home on the flights back home, and though Dalglish does not want to rush him, the direction he offers to the attack could help drag Liverpool out of this hole.

On a night when the pressure created by an Anfield surge holds the key, the former Newcastle United man already appears to have unnerved Braga and surely comes into the reckoning to start in a much more attacking formation.

Liverpool made four changes from the team which swept Manchester United aside on Sunday, choosing personnel and a formation more familiar with away games, particularly in Europe this season.

Injury to Gerrard saw Christian Poulsen recalled while the ineligibility in Europa League football of new Kop favourite Luis Suarez meant Joe Cole was handed a chance to support central frontman Dirk Kuyt.

Maxi Rodriguez was replaced by Jay Spearing, while the hamstring injury Fabio Aurelio sustained against United, meant Sotirios Kyrgiakos started his third successive match in the competition, pushing Jamie Carragher out to right-back.

After Dalglish made a personal milestone in managing the club for the first time on the continent in the last round against Sparta Prague, he took Liverpool into a first-ever meeting in European competition with the Portuguese side – it would prove an achievement marked with disappointment.

Attempting to protect an unbeaten run in this season's Europa League, stretching to 12 matches, the Reds had consistently shown pragmatism rather than being pleasing on the eye when on their travels.

Indeed, the foundations of Liverpool's progression in this season's competition – started under Roy Hodgson and continued with Dalglish – has been stubborn work away from Anfield.

With that in mind, Liverpool were committed to keeping shape in front of Pepe Reina's goal, attempting to stifle and squeeze the game early on.

However, just before the midway point of the half was reached, the Reds went behind to a momentary lapse in that discipline as Kyrgiakos put in a daft challenge on Brazilian midfielder Mossoro, conceding a penalty.

The tried and tested approach away from home was quickly becoming a hindrance.

Reina guessed correctly, but Alan's spot-kick was struck with too much power and accuracy for even the Spanish keeper to prevent the opening goal.

The strike forced Liverpool – behind in a European match for the first time since November – to look forward with greater purpose, but with Lucas and Christian Poulsen not the most effective ball carriers, passes were hit towards the front with too much haste placing greater pressure on the workload of an already-burdened Kuyt.

Defined in the early exchanges as measured, Liverpool's approach going forward was now lacking urgency and with attacks starting from ever deeper areas, Dalglish required a rethink at half-time to help his side make an impression.

It was so nearly a team talk about overturning a 2-0 deficit when full-back Silvio hammered a volley from the edge of the box, only to watch it cannon back of Reina's crossbar on 38 minutes.

After giving the formation a chance in the early minutes of the second period, Dalglish made a first change just before the hour mark bringing on Carroll for Poulsen.

Curiously, the striker entered the fray in the number 29 shirt due to a UEFA rule meaning he could not wear the number nine previously worn by the departed Fernando Torres in European competitions this season.

Carroll's introduction almost brought immediate rewards as he won an aerial challenge to bundle the ball in the direction of Kuyt whose progression in the box was smothered by Braga keeper Artur.

The presence of the £35m man gave Liverpool direction and far greater purpose up front; Carroll was something Braga's Kaka and Alberto Rodriguez were straining to contain.

Importantly it helped bring Joe Cole and Meireles into the game and though the former had appeals for a penalty waved away, a rare foray into the area was encouraging.

Kuyt's half-volley on the turn brought a smart stop from Artur before Kyrgiakos headed the corner marginally over the bar.

It would be the sum of their collective efforts attacking Braga's goal all evening as the game petered out.

Liverpool, so often rock solid away from home in Europe, have left themselves a challenge, but the outcome of this tie is in no way set in stone.