All still to play for but daunting task for Barca

Liverpool will start favourites to end Barcelona's precarious hold on Europe's glittering club prize when the sides meet at Anfield today in the pick of this week's Champions League first KO round, second leg ties.

Liverpool's Spanish coach Rafael Benitez won the tactical battle over Dutch Barca counterpart Frank Rijkaard last month when his side triumphed 2-1 in the first leg in the Nou Camp despite going a goal behind.

Since then, Barca have lost the leadership of the Primera Liga and they arrived at Anfield with the odds stacked against them maintaining their quest to become the first club to win the Champions League in successive seasons.

Should they fail on Merseyside there will be a stack of thoroughbred clubs salivating at the thought of replacing them as European top dogs in Athens in May.

All 16 still involved in the tournament will harbour hopes of reaching the quarter-finals after the first legs produced only one-goal victories and draws.

English champions Chelsea host 2004 winners Porto today after drawing 1-1 in Portugal, while Inter travel to Spain to play Valencia after sharing a 2-2 home draw.

The outcome between French champions Olympique Lyon and Roma, who meet in today's other tie, is also evenly balanced after a 0-0 draw in Rome.

Manchester United are probably best placed to progress after their 1-0 away victory against Lille in a game marred by crowd incidents and late controversy.

They meet at Old Trafford tomorrow when Arsenal attempt to overturn a 1-0 deficit against PSV Eindhoven at their Emirates fortress, Real Madrid protect a 3-2 lead against Bayern Munich in Germany and Milan host Celtic after a first-leg stalemate.

For atmosphere and tradition, however, Anfield will take some beating today.

Special occasion

Nothing stirs the passions in the red half of Liverpool more than a big night of floodlit European football and the visit of Barca is likely to make it a special occasion at the famous old ground.

Barcelona must win, and score at least two goals at Anfield, if they are to become the first side for 11 years to overturn a first-leg home defeat in the Champions League.

They have only won one of their previous seven meetings with Liverpool, although with Ronaldinho, Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi offering attacking options, Rijkaard still believes his side can get through.

"The situation is difficult but we mustn't give up hope," Rijkaard said after the first leg defeat. "We have to have a great night where everything goes perfectly."

Liverpool will be wary, however, having been dumped out of both domestic cup competitions on home turf this season.

A hat-trick of Anfield cup exits would leave their season in severe danger of petering out with a whimper.

A 1-0 home defeat by Manchester United on Saturday was hardly ideal preparation for what is the club's only chance of silverware this season.

"We've got to be positive and maybe we will have better luck," Benitez said after the United defeat.

Elsewhere Lyon, many people's dark horses to lift the trophy this year, will be confident of turning over a Roma side at the Stade de Gerland where they are on an 18-match unbeaten run in the Champions League.

Chelsea are also lurking dangerously, especially as their hopes of a hat-trick of Premier League titles look like being frustrated by Manchester United.

They have a League Cup trophy under their belts and an FA Cup quarter-final against Tottenham to look forward to, but the real priority for Jose Mourinho will be European glory.

The same applies to Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, both of whom fell at the first knockout stage last season.

Mark van Bommel's late goal for Bayern at the Bernabeu has left their tie delicately poised and an enthralling night is in store at the Olympic Stadium.