Liverpool eliminate Barca

SOCCER Liverpool 0 Barcelona 1 (Agg 2-2)/Liverpool win on away goals rule:This was a fixture of such stature that it was perhaps natural that nerves should have shrieked all around Anfield.

The Champions League winners of 2005 deservedly eliminated the holders on the away goals rule, but only after a first-half ascendancy had been eroded drastically. Barcelona, never at their most fluent, persisted and got an unexpected opener.

It came from Eidur Gudjohnsen, whose movement left Jermaine Pennant in the role of spectator. Having recently come onto the pitch, Gudjohnsen received a pass from Xavi in the 75th minute and rounded Pepe Reina to score.

Liverpool were in torment thereafter but profited from a largely admirable display. By stoppage time they were composed enough to verge on an equaliser as Peter Crouch volleyed over from his fellow substitute Pennant.

Liverpool began in a manner that made it look as if Rafael Benitez is as good at controlling brain patterns as he is at setting formations. Rather than falling between two stools, Liverpool were intent on hurling the furniture at the visitors.

Barcelona's formation was an incitement to mount a barrage. Their back three did not get sufficient aid from the midfield and could not cover the yawning width of the field. John Arne Riise revelled in the space offered to him on the left and got past a static Oleguer to hit the bar with a drive in the 11th minute.

The same piece of woodwork was shuddering again after 32 minutes when goalkeeper Victor Valdes shanked a clearance to Mohamed Sissoko. The Malian, seeking the first goal of his Liverpool career, smashed it back first-time and failed by the narrowest of margins.

Barcelona got a little more possession as the half wore on, but could not retrieve their trademark poise in this formation. While Jamie Carragher did make his classic tackles on Deco, Lionel Messi and Samuel Eto'o, there was no desperation and Reina had not been called upon for a save by half-time.

The interval was in sight before Ronaldinho embarked on one of his weaving yet forceful runs. Liverpool's single regret at that juncture was the caution for Sissoko, following a foul on Deco, that meant he would be banned from the first leg of the quarter-final were his team to take their place there. They had been in such command that the destination appeared certain.

An inability to open the scoring was the one matter that could have furrowed their brows. With 26 minutes gone, Craig Bellamy's hook shot was fended away by Valdes and the goalkeeper parried a follow-up from Dirk Kuyt before the subsequent header from Riise was kicked off the line by Carles Puyol.

With Crouch on the bench, the mobility of Bellamy and Kuyt was perfect against a defensive trio who dreaded being dragged around.

The Champions League holders were stuck with the responsibility of changing the entire tenor of the match. The fabled front three was an irrelevance when the remainder of the line-up could not set the necessary tempo. While Carragher was geared to discouraging Barcelona when they did advance this had, by and large, been an unexpectedly comfortable evening for Liverpool.

After 53 minutes Ronaldinho wheeled across the Liverpool defence, got round Alvaro Arbeloa and fired against a post.

The onus was on Frank Rijkaard's team and Reina at last needed to deal with a shot when Messi set up Ronaldinho and Eto'o. The latter, whose lack of match fitness was apparent, soon went off as Barcelona introduced Ludovic Giuly.

Liverpool were not of a mind to budge. Bellamy was removed, but the winger Pennant came on and, with Gerrard free to link with the attack, there was merely a nuance of conservatism. The Anfield side could still feel that the night was bowing to their wishes. It was a comfort that was stripped from them by Gudjohnsen's goal.

LIVERPOOL:Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Agger, Arbeloa, Gerrard, Sissoko, Alonso, Riise (Aurelio 77), Kuyt (Crouch 89), Bellamy (Pennant 67). Subs not used:Dudek, Hyypia, Mascherano, Zenden. Booked:Arbeloa, Sissoko, Pennant, Reina.

BARCELONA:Valdes, Thuram (Gudjohnsen 71), Marquez, Puyol, Oleguer, Xavi, Iniesta, Deco, Messi, Eto'o (Giuly 61), Ronaldinho. Subs not used:Jorquera, Zambrotta, Edmilson, Sylvinho, Saviola. Booked:Thuram.

Referee: Herbert Fandel(Germany)