Unity is the key for Liverpool

DEFINITIONS of opposition have tended to focus on teams in different colours.

But, when Barcelona and Liverpool meet tonight, some participants will harbour stronger, and hardly friendly, feelings towards their colleagues.

Teamwork and friendship can be very different things. After recent events at both clubs, they have to be.

The disturbances at Liverpool were more unexpected, even if there was a predictability about Craig Bellamy's name coming to the fore.

The combustible striker reportedly attacked left-back John Arne Riise with a golf club for refusing to join in a karaoke session, a claim surely too implausible to have been invented. It happened on a supposed team-bonding trip to Portugal.

However, it has been suggested that Bellamy has been made a scapegoat, with others behaving worse. The police apparently had to calm down Robbie Fowler, Jermaine Pennant and Jerzy Dudek.

Manager Rafael Benitez, a noted disciplinarian, has promised: 'We will take disciplinary action and fine any of them who are found to have breached the club's rules.'

And yet, at Barcelona, the rivalries are more long-standing and, potentially, more destructive.

For the 2006 Champions League winners, it pits the double World Player of the Year, Ronaldinho, against the triple African Footballer of the Year, Samuel Eto'o.

With their creative inspiration on one side and their clinical goal-scorer on the other, talk surrounds the club that both will depart.

Eto'o, his season disrupted by a knee injury, is unlikely to start at the Nou Camp tonight. Controversy has followed him to the bench, with manager Frank Rijkaard revealing that he refused to come on as a replacement against Racing Santander.

A rebuke from Ronaldinho was in turn interpreted as hypocrisy, for the Brazilian is granted more leeway than his teammates in his behaviour.

Indeed, Eto'o has said: 'If I was called Eto'odinho, I might be a bit more appreciated.'

Without the sulking Cameroonian, Ronaldinho - whose 16 Primera Liga goals make him Spain's second-highest scorer - is likely to be joined by Eidur Gudjohnsen and Lionel Messi in the Barcelona attack.

It could be an opportune time for Liverpool to face them.

Barcelona, after appearing unstoppable for the best part of two years, have won only one of their last four games. They were insipid in the defeat by Benitez's former side, Valencia, on Sunday, when Deco was dismissed.

But they remain Europe's most talented team, overflowing with playmakers.

It means the return to fitness of Liverpool's Mohamed Sissoko, who made his comeback 11 days ago at Newcastle, is well-timed.

The Reds require their premier defensive midfielder to be at his best if they are to emulate the team of 2001, who drew 0-0 at the Nou Camp.

Steven Gerrard, one of the three survivors, feels he has a point to prove at the Nou Camp.

'The last time we went there, I was just excited to be playing a great side like Barcelona,' he said. 'I was a bit overawed, and I never got involved in the game.'

His preference is for a central role as it enables him to be more involved. But, with Sissoko's availability alongside Xabi Alonso, it could mean a return to the right flank for the Liverpool captain.

Riise is the only one of the alleged miscreants in the probable team. Yet, there are other reasons why Benitez is likely to bench Bellamy.

The combination of Dirk Kuyt and Peter Crouch is usually preferred against shorter teams. And much of the Barcelona side appear more suited to facing Lilliput than Liverpool.

The strike duo also received a resounding endorsement from Johan Cruyff, arguably Barcelona's greatest player and most successful manager.

'They form an enormously good partnership,' he said. 'Crouch is technically better than people think, and Kuyt is good in positional play. And, in the air, nobody wins anything against them.'

Such is Barcelona's mastery of passing football that it suggests a direct route would be most profitable for Liverpool.

But, even if it becomes a damage-limitation exercise, their record at Anfield means defeat in Catalonia need not be a fatal blow to their hopes of a second Champions League title in three years.

The one certainty is that Liverpool will need to be, as they were not in Portugal and Barcelona have not been for several months, united. It will be tough enough for Benitez's team if their only opponents are in red and blue.

stsports@sph.com.sg

Barcelona v Liverpool
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