Spotlight switches to UEFA Cup

Striker absence
Auxerre take on the Merseysiders without striker Djibril Cissé who is suspended. But coach Guy Roux has an able deputy in Benjamin Mwaruwari, and midfield player Teemu Tainio and defender Jean-Alain Boumsong should shake off knocks to play.

Reason to believe
Auxerre are the only Ligue 1 side left in Europe - and Roux is confident they "have a chance" after beating Boavista FC, Arsenal FC, BV Borussia Dortmund and Real Betis Balompié already this term. Liverpool boss Gérard Houllier also has reason to believe. Michael Owen is chasing his 20th European goal to equal Ian Rush's scoring record for the Reds, while Steven Gerrard will feature despite a three-match domestic ban.

Celtic strains
The target for both teams is a quarter-final against Celtic FC or VfB Stuttgart. The Scottish champions go into the game without Henrik Larsson, who has a broken jaw. Striker John Hartson is suspended while goalkeeper Magnus Hedman has twisted his knee and should make way for Rab Douglas. Another worry for the hosts is the good form of Stuttgart, who have won four of the last five matches.

Surprise selection
Germany's other representative, Hertha BSC Berlin, have lost defender Arne Friedrich to a virus ahead of their meeting with Boavista FC. Friedrich joins centre-back Marko Rehmer on the sidelines, leaving coach Huub Stevens to ponder his team selection. There could be "some surprises", with Nene, Eyjölfur Sverrisson and Bartosz Karwan available again, and striker Luizão in line for a recall. Meanwhile, Boavista travel to the Olympiastadion with Yuri a likely substitute for the suspended Luiz Cláudio. The winners will face either Málaga CF or AEK Athens FC.

Silva service
For Málaga, who have home advantage, there is a question mark against Darío Silva, who has a groin strain, while Sandro and Fernando Sanz are suspended. Former Sevilla FC man Vassilios Tsartas could start for the visitors, but wing-back Grigorios Georgatos has 'flu and Mihalis Kasapis, Milen Petkov and Konstantinos Katsouranis are injured.

Wide choice
Greek league leaders Panathinaikos FC are at full-strength for the home match against RSC Anderlecht, as coach Sergio Markarian welcomes back Giourkas Seitaridis, Giorgios Karagounis, Angelos Basinas and Emmanuel Olisadebe from injury and suspension. Anderlecht striker Gilles de Bilde did not travel because of a knee problem, while fit-again goalkeeper Filip de Wilde was omitted from the squad.

Famous scalps
The victors will meet one from FC Porto and Denizlispor, who face off at the Das Antas stadium. The Turkish team are hoping to claim another scalp after knocking out Olympique Lyonnais and AC Sparta Praha in previous rounds. Coach Riza Çalimbay, who has no selection worries, said: "Porto are a good team, but the teams we have eliminated have been just as good." For Porto, Jorge Costa is back in defence while Dmitri Alenichev could come into midfield.

Big favourites
Turkey's other representative, Besiktas JK, must do without suspended striker Ilhan Mansiz away at SK Slavia Praha. Coach Mircea Lucescu misses four other players through injury while Romanian Marius Maldarasuna is ineligible, and Lucescu warned: "Slavia have won all their home matches in the UEFA Cup. They are a young, dynamic side and we have to be careful." Besiktas, though, are unbeaten in domestic competition and Slavia midfielder Patrick Gedeon insisted they "are big favourites".

Prediction time
Finally, it remains to be seen whether former AS Roma player Zbigniew Boniek's prediction of a draw between S.S. Lazio and Wisla Kraków proves correct. Both sides are struggling with injury. Lazio's Dejan Stankovic has succumbed to a twisted ankle, while Stefano Fiore has a foot problem and could join Simone Inzaghi and Bernardo Corradi on the sidelines. Wisla, meanwhile, have a doubt against striker Maciej Zurawski who has a stomach strain.