Clubbable Bellamy holes out

Given the context, it was almost inevitable the Welshman would place himself in the spotlight, writes Richard Williams.

There is reverse psychology, and then there is the eternal mystery of the mind of Rafael Benitez. Last night, less than a week after Craig Bellamy allegedly threatened John Arne Riise with a golf club at the end of a squad-bonding session in Portugal, the Liverpool manager rewarded the Welshman not with the reported fine of two weeks' wages or an immediate suspension from all playing activity, to be followed by a transfer out of the club at the end of the season, but with a place in his starting line-up against Barcelona.

With a place in the last eight of the European Cup at stake, pragmatism rules. And Benitez, having watched Valencia, his old club, take Barcelona apart last Sunday with rapid counterattacks, felt Bellamy's speed could make the difference.

But it was Bellamy's head rather than his innate ability to put fear into the heart of the opposing defence which secured Liverpool a valuable away goal two minutes before half-time. Five minutes earlier he had spurned the chance to put his team level when, unattended at the far post, he met Riise's long free-kick from the left with a poor header into the side-netting. And there was more than an element of luck when Steve Finnan's long diagonal cross from the right cleared the Barcelona defence, Bellamy's header somehow squirming off Victor Valdes and spinning across the line before the goalkeeper could scoop it away.

Given the events of the past few days, the identity of the scorer was probably as inevitable as the nature of his celebration, which involved a swing with an invisible golf club. Just over half an hour's playing time later it was Bellamy's quick thinking which produced the square ball across the face of the Barcelona area to which Riise applied his left foot with a two-iron of a shot which flew under Valdes's crossbar and gave Liverpool a remarkable lead.

On the eve of the match a smiling Benitez insisted the kerfuffle in Portugal had not been as serious as reports suggested, and that his players had apologised, accepted their fines and put the matter to rest. He would not be drawn on the specifics of Bellamy's punishment, and we will probably never know to what extent, if at all, the player's contribution last night affected the final resolution of the affair.

As Bellamy took his position for the kick-off, just ahead of Riise, the pair were being closely watched to see if they would make a better duo on the pitch than they did at the karaoke microphone on the Algarve. No words appeared to be exchanged, but within a couple of minutes of the start the two of them were combining down the flank for the first time as Liverpool attempted to give their hosts an early surprise. The Norwegian, running free down the left on to Steven Gerrard's pass, drove in his cross too hard for the onrushing Bellamy.

Benitez came into the match with an unbeaten record on his visits with Valencia to the Camp Nou, and once his players had ridden out the initial wave of attacks from the home team they struck back with a goal that seemed to unsettle their opponents. On the resumption after half-time Liverpool's defence concentrated on keeping Barcelona's array of gifted South American forwards at bay, ensuring there were always two defenders on hand any time Ronaldinho, Lionel Messi or Javier Saviola turned to face them.

Patrolling in front of the back four, the rangy Mohammed Sissoko did so much to frustrate the efforts of Deco and Xavi that Frank Rijkaard was forced to make changes in an effort to find more penetration.

There was no mistaking the effect on Barcelona of the absence of the attacking threat posed by Samuel Eto'o, watching the match from the president's box in a white suit that might have been designed to highlight his absence.

When Liverpool's second goal went in, his head went into his hands.

Ten minutes from time Bellamy was replaced by Jermaine Pennant, sharing a brief handshake with Benitez as he made his way to the bench. Only they know exactly what place, after the strangest of weeks, they occupy in each other's thoughts. Guardian Service