Carragher finds encouragement in away goal

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher believes they can turn around their Europa League quarter-final tie against Benfica as they have the advantage of a valuable away goal.

Daniel Agger fired the Reds into an early lead but two penalties from Oscar Cardozo, following Ryan Babel's first-half dismissal, handed Benfica a first-leg victory. However, Carragher is confident his side can overcome the obstacle of a one-goal deficit.

"It's disappointing but it's still all to play for and only half-time," said the Reds' vice-captain, who in playing his 621st match moved up to eighth in the all-time list of Liverpool appearance-makers.

"The plan was to keep it tight and nick a goal, which we got early on," he added. "Obviously the sending-off had a big part to play.

"To play an hour with 10 men is always difficult and although it's still disappointing the result is not too bad.

"It's good to get the away goal but we have to capitalise on that in the second leg to make it count.

"At the moment we're behind but a 1-0 victory at home will be enough to see us through and if we can get that, that's when the away goal will prove crucial."