You would have thought that Craig Bellamy would be benched - and that John Arne Riise would be "rested." You'd also have presumed Liverpool's competitive spirit would be dampened. In all these cases, you'd be dead wrong.

Liverpool started brightly enough in Barcelona, but it was the Catalan Giants who seemed more determined to score first, and their perseverence paid off. A trademark Gianluca Zambrotta run resulted in a trademark Zambrotta cross, which found the head of the vertically-challenged Deco (who hardly ever scores with his head) - and the ball was in the net.

What followed was a barrage of of attacks from Barcelona, who looked to sustain the pressure, and it seemed it was going to be one-way traffic for the duration of the game. But Liverpool reminded their fans and the world why they can never be underestimated.

A well-worked free kick saw Steven Gerrard's perfectly-weighted cross find the head of Bellamy, whose diving header was saved with both hands by Victor Valdez, with just one tiny problem - it was behind the line ! The keeper tried desperately to push the ball out, but Dirk Kuyt was on hand to net it, just in case it was ruled out.

The goal has been awarded to Bellamy, who celebrated with a golf swing - probably dedicated to the media reports of his practice session on Riise in Portugal last week.

This match was going to be decided in the middle of the park, and Liverpool went in fully armed, with combative Momo Sissoko's performance described perfectly in one word - immense. He won countless balls for the Reds, and the dainty Barca players were understandably reluctant to go into full-blooded tackles with the big man. By all accounts, Sissoko was put into the team to provide the bite, and turned in a match-winning performance along with Gerrard, who diligently did the graft work in the middle and had a hand in both goals.

Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi were hardly as effective as they were hyped up to be. Messi was fed on scraps and Ronaldinho was basically played out of the match, hugely inneffective for most of the second half. He was not allowed to weave his magic, and ironically it was Liverpool who pulled the rabbit out of the hat, leaving 93,000 Barca supporters in total disbelief with the arrival of the second goal.

Gerrard’s perfectly-threaded pass found Kuyt, whose attempted shot was blocked by Valdez, but the ball fell to Bellamy who ‘teed up’ Riise, and the Norwegian duly placed the ball into the net with his unfavoured right foot. The pair, in the headlines for all the wrong reasons, had turned the tables on a forgettable week. The duo's performance was (excuse the pun), far above par!

The genius of Rafa Benitez deserves a mention. Not only did he catch Frank Rijkaard offside by not starting with Peter Crouch, who Barcelona had anticipated would pose the most dangerous threat to them with his height. He also played Steve Finnan and Alvaro Arbeloa to counter Ronaldinho, the latter having enjoyed success against the Brazilian when playing for Deportivo La Coruna.

Liverpool take the 2-1 lead back to Anfield, where it will be the Kop’s turn to show Ronaldinho what they are so famous for. Maybe his heart will turn and we could see him in the red of Liverpool next season. A dream? Yes, but as likely as Barcelona pulling out a win at the fortress that is Anfield in a fortnight.

The Reds started of in the bunker, but sit comfortably on greener pastures now. I wonder if Riise and Bellamy will play a round together today as they unwind and soak up the reality of their achievements at the Nou Camp.

Can Barcelona still turn the tie around - or are Liverpool as good as in the last eight? Let Sportingo have your views.