Evans likely to approach with caution

Coming less than a week after the great Scottish devolution debate was resolved, the meeting of Celtic and Liverpool at Parkhead tonight provides an appropriate footnote. In what has been billed as the Battle of Britain, Celtic will be keen to show that Scottish football is not the shambles those south of the border believe it to be. The only previous meeting between the two sides in European competition was 31 years ago, Liverpool winning a Cup Winners' Cup semi-final after two rather bruising games.

A more reliable pointer to the clubs' current pedigree came two years ago when Celtic shipped six goals in what was a competitive testimonial for Ian Rush.

The Liverpool manager, Roy Evans, is inclined towards caution and will feel no need to offer apologies if the shutters go up tonight.

Against Paris Saint-Germain in the European Cup Winners' Cup semi-final first leg in France last year, Evans chose to use both Robbie Fowler and Stan Collymore in attack. He should have stuck to his natural instincts and concentrated on defending.

PSG won by three goals and no manner of second-leg heroics could rescue the tie.

"I didn't start with the right team; I hope I have learned from my mistake," said Evans after that match.

As Evans still uses a five-man defence for home games against pedestrian opposition - Sheffield Wednesday last weekend, for example - Celtic can expect a lot of frustration.

"We have several exceptionally strong attackers more than capable of exploiting their dodgy defence," said the Danish centre back Mark Rieper on Saturday, shortly after joining Celtic from West Ham United, though he will not play tonight.

Evans felt that the two-legged European tie was an altogether different prospect to the ones which his club had mastered in pre-Heysel days. "The need for an away goal is now even more pronounced," he said with the air of a man who would, nevertheless, accept the offer of a goalless draw were it to be made this morning.

At the mercy of one of Europe's most partisan crowds, it may be Liverpool's character and nerve, rather than their ability, that come under scrutiny. "I have never, ever regarded any game as a formality and most certainly not this one," said Evans.

It had seemed that Evans's team would have picked themselves until Robbie Fowler moved unexpectedly back into contention yesterday.

The England forward has not kicked a ball in anger for almost two months because of a knee injury and while he is unlikely to start tonight, a place on the bench could be his. "It would be brave to include him from the start," admitted Evans.

For Celtic head coach Wim Jansen the first Anglo-Scottish tie since the 1992/3 European Cup meeting between Rangers and Leeds cannot come soon enough with no fitness worries reported.

He senses the quality gap, and readily agrees the visitors are favourites, but reckons the unpredictable nature of European football means his team enter the tie on even terms.

He said: "I am encouraged by the way we are starting to play now and if we play as a team we could do well.

"This is a special game so maybe it is not that important whether or not they have greater quality - European games are always different. I can understand Liverpool being favourites but at this stage we have the same chance of going through.

"We must keep our concentration at the back to counter their pace and movement in attack. We cannot give them space or we will have problems and keeping a clean sheet will perhaps be the most important thing for us."

Jansen said that midfielder Paul Ince is the player he holds in highest regard in Roy Evans's team. "Liverpool have a solid defence and a choice of skilful, quick players up front, but Ince is the most important player. He is exceptionally strong and can motivate the whole team which is a vital role for his side," said Jansen.