Barcelona 1, Liverpool 2 (D,Post)

Feb 22 2007 by Ian Doyle at the Nou Camp

Benitez made two changes from the team that lost in their last outing at Newcastle United 11 days earlier, welcoming back Xabi Alonso from suspension with the midfielder one of four of the starting line-up to have previously played in Spain.

Javier Mascherano, whose protracted move to Anfield was only finally ratified the previous day, began on the bench while Alvaro Arbeloa was handed his first start since arriving from Deportivo La Coruna in the transfer window, although in an unaccustomed left-back slot.

Carragher made his 86th European appearance for Liverpool with only Ian Callaghan now ahead of the defender in the club’s all-time list on 89.

And the centre-back will have posted few Champions League performances as heroic and vital as the one that frustrated Frank Rijkaard’s side.

Rijkaard had rotated his resources following his team’s 2-1 defeat at Valencia on Sunday night, with Lionel Messi and Javier Saviola returning to add spark to a forward line that misfired at the Mestalla.

And the pair helped wreak havoc as Barcelona oozed class in the first 20 minutes.

Liverpool had actually started the game with intent and purpose and Riise snuck in behind the Barcelona backl-ine only to overclub his cross to a loitering Bellamy inside the box. But Barcelona soon assumed control. Saviola solicited a smart save from Reina – although the Argentine was incorrectly flagged offside – Carragher deflected a Deco drive wide and Ronaldinho made an ambitious claim for a penalty after tangling with Steve Finnan.

When the dam was broken on 14 minutes, it was from a goal that was entirely avoidable. Steven Gerrard, employed on the right flank, missed his tackle on Gianluca Zambrotta who had broken forward from left-back. The Italian then whipped over an instant cross that Arbeloa failed to cut out and the unmarked Deco nodded in at the far post.

It was the first goal Liverpool had conceded at the Nou Camp after clean sheets on all three previous visits.

Cue a Barca barrage but, through a combination of good fortune and desperate defending, Liverpool held on. Saviola lost Carragher but fired across the face of goal, Deco’s effort was blocked by Reina before the Portuguese hit the rebound into the side-netting and Thiago Motta’s shot was turned behind.