Rijkaard looking for positive response

Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard has warned his side that Liverpool will make life as tough for them tomorrow night as Sevilla did at the weekend.

Sevilla knocked Barca off top spot in the Primera Liga on Saturday after fighting back from a goal down to claim a 2-1 home win.

That was a blow to the Catalan giants ahead of their crucial Champions League last-16 second leg against Liverpool, where Barca have to overturn a 2-1 deficit, and Rijkaard admits they can expect a similarly testing evening at Anfield.

"I hope it is a lesson we can all learn from going into Tuesday's game as Liverpool will fight like Sevilla," he said. "There's no time to think too much. We know what to expect against Liverpool. It's the best time to face up to the Champions League game."

Barca missed a great chance to establish a five-point lead at the Primera Liga summit in the match against closest challengers Sevilla.

Ronaldinho had put the reigning Spanish and European champions 1-0 up early on and the Brazilian then had the chance to make it 2-0 from the penalty spot in the 27th minute.

But the former Fifa World Player of the Year saw his spot-kick saved and Sevilla, despite having a player sent off in conceding the penalty, managed to draw level just before the break.

The home side then took a 2-1 lead in the second period when Daniel Alves, reportedly a transfer target for Liverpool last summer, scored from a free-kick.

Barca could find no way back after that, and also finished the match with nine men following the dismissals of Ludovic Giuly and Gianluca Zambrotta.

Rijkaard refused to single out any individual for the loss though, insisting the team must share collective responsibility as much when things go right as when they go wrong.

"I don't like to blame one player," the Dutchman said. "The goals conceded are a consequence of errors of the team regarding aggressiveness or not being attentive. We win together and lose together.

"The defeat can be a lesson. I'm not going to cry about the defeat, I've already said that it will not decide the Liga," Rijkaard said.

Liverpool were also left reeling at the weekend when an injury time John O'Shea goal denied them a point at Anfield.