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Liverpool looking to shine

Liverpool FC versus Celtic FC catches Tipster's eye as the UEFA Cup quarter-finals approach.

British heavyweights
The 2001 UEFA Cup winners Liverpool FC will travel to Glasgow, where they meet the Scottish champions Celtic FC, without central defender Stéphane Henchoz (calf) and striker Emile Heskey, who strained a hamstring in the English League Cup final. Both will also miss the return at Anfield. Manager Gérard Houllier, however, is likely to play current Dream Team players Sami Hyypiä and Danny Murphy - the leading scorers with 30 points each in the competition thus far.

Larsson returns
With the backing of a vociferous home support, Celtic players could be worth investing in - particularly as they have already overcome English opposition in the shape of Blackburn Rovers FC earlier in the competition. Missing for the Bhoys is French midfield player Didier Agathe, ruled out for up to six weeks with a hamstring tear, but Henrik Larsson has declared himself fit to face Liverpool and is likely to make a comeback. The Swede definitely has goals in him.

Even match
Another even match sees Panathinaikos FC travel to FC Porto. Both sides have performed well in the competition so far, and will fancy their chances of progressing. In goalkeeper Antonios Nikopolidis, defender Panagiotis Fyssas, midfield player Angelos Basinas and forward Emmanuel Olisadebe, Panathinaikos boast quality in each line. Deco, superb this season, remains the man to watch for Porto.

Besiktas in Rome
After eliminating Deportivo Alavés, FC Dynamo Kyiv and SK Slavia Praha, Besiktas JK now face the top seeds, S.S. Lazio. The Romanian coach of Besiktas, Mircea Lucescu, will need to call on all his wits to plot a way past the Roman giants, for whom Enrico Chiesa is in fine fettle in the UEFA Cup. The striker scored in each leg against Wisla Krákow and looks certain to partner Argentinian Claudio López, another predator, in attack.

Iberian battle
Finally, an 85th-minute Ávalos header at the Bessa stadium two weeks ago earned Boavista FC a 1-0 victory over Hertha BSC Berlin and a place in the last eight on the away-goals rule. Defenders who score are well worth taking a chance on, as Hyypiä's tally proves. The Portuguese challengers are involved in an all-Iberian affair against Málaga CF. The Spanish side's goalkeeper, Pedro Contreras, leads the Fantasy Football standings in his position, though Málaga need goals at home in the first leg. Gerardo García will not play for them as he is recovering from a sprained ankle.

Suspended players
The following players will miss the first leg of the UEFA Cup quarter finals through suspension: Zago of Besiktas, Boavista duo Filipe Anunciação and Silva of Boavista; Miguel Ángel of Málaga; and Panathinaikos duo Pantelis Konstantinidis and Leonidas Vokolo.

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