Gerrard knows Liverpool's job is not done yet

BARCELONA - STEVEN Gerrard will not underestimate Barcelona ahead of their Champions League second-leg match at Anfield on March 6.

The Reds claimed the upper hand in the last-16 tie with a 2-1 win at the Nou Camp on Wednesday.

Liverpool are in a strong position to qualify, but Gerrard told Sky Sports: 'We've got an awful lot of respect for Barcelona, they're a fantastic side.

'We'll show them the same respect.

'We need to put in the same shift in two weeks' time and, hopefully, we'll qualify.'

However, overturning the deficit is maybe more than Barcelona are capable of.

They have never recovered from a first-leg loss at home in the Champions League.

In fact, they have only once overturned a first-leg deficit at home - beating Zaragoza 4-2 in the 1966 Fairs' Cup final after a 0-1 loss.

'It will be hard to go through, but we still have a great chance. Just as they won here, we can win there,' goalkeeper Victor Valdes said.

Coach Frank Rijkaard said: 'We have to keep on working, keep training, and trying to improve. That's what I'm most concerned about.

'We have to get through this suffering together and look forward.'

Barcelona have had a tough time in big games this season. They lost 0-3 to Uefa Cup champions Sevilla in the Super Cup in August. Then, they were beaten 0-1 by Chelsea in the Champions League group stage.

Real Madrid added to their woes with a 2-0 win in the league. Copa Libertadores champions Internacional downed Barcelona 1-0 in the final of the Club World Cup in December.

Wednesday's loss came only three days after Valencia beat them 2-1 in La Liga.

'Right now, the situation is complicated but we have hope,' Rijkaard said.

'We are Barca and we can always score goals. The situation is very difficult, but we mustn't give up hope.'

Barcelona started well on Wednesday, getting a 14th-minute goal from Deco.

But Craig Bellamy responded with a header in the 43rd minute, which was mishandled by Valdes.

The Welshman then set up teammate John Arne Riise in the 74th minute for the winning goal.

Incidentally, Bellamy's golf-swing celebration after his goal cost bookmakers William Hill more than £50,000 (S$150,000).

He had allegedly threatened Riise with a golf club.

After offering odds of 100-1 that the striker would make light of the recent fracas, William Hill were hit with a flood of bets.

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