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PARIS.
Liverpool and Manchester City are counting on the comforts of home to secure their passage into the Europa League soccer quarter-finals tonight.
Liverpool host Sparta Prague at Anfield with Danish international Daniel Agger predicting a more attacking display after his side’s drab 0-0 draw in the round of 32 first leg in Prague last week. City’s tie with Aris Salonika is identically poised ahead of the Greek outfit’s visit to Eastlands, with Roberto Mancini’s men approaching the game in high spirits after their 5-0 FA Cup drubbing of Notts County. Elsewhere Serie A highflyers Napoli travel to Villarreal after another goalless stalemate in the first leg, while former European kings Ajax are in the driving seat for their trip to Anderlecht after winning last week’s first bout 3-0.
Agger believes home advantage can see Liverpool through to a last 16 match-up with either Portugal’s Sporting Braga or Lech Poznan of Poland. “We will approach Thursday like we do every home game,” he told liverpoolfc.tv. “Try to get forward and keep the ball, playing attacking football, and at Anfield if we play well, it will be difficult for every team.” – AFP.