SIR Bobby Robson has warned former club Barcelona of the threat posed by Liverpool, who the Champions League holders host on Wednesday in the first leg of their last-16 tie.
Robson, who was manager at Barca back in 1996-97, believes it would be a mistake for the European champions to highlight any single Liverpool player to keep a close eye on, insisting the Barclays Premiership side are strong all over the pitch.
"To be a good team, you have to be good in all parts of the team," Robson said in an interview with Barca TV.
"If you don't have a good midfield, or have a weak defence or a mediocre attack, you don't have a good team. The good teams have collective quality
"Liverpool have a very strong defence, [Sami] Hyypia may or may not play. They have [Steve] Finnan, [Daniel] Agger, [Jamie] Carragher, [John Arne] Riise - good defenders.
"In the middle of the pitch, we find [Steven] Gerrard, a magnificent player of the highest level.
"They have a Spanish player who is excellent - [Xabi] Alonso. He is among the best. He knows how to control the play and has a great pass on him.
"They have the striker [Peter] Crouch, who is English. I won't forget [Craig] Bellamy, who I signed when I was with Newcastle. He is very very fast, and very dangerous.
"There is also the Dutchman, [Dirk] Kuyt, who is a good player with a lot of quality.
"They are not one player, they are a team."
The former England manager also gave the Spanish giants a hint of what they might expect in the second leg at Anfield.
"I think that playing at Liverpool's stadium is one of the most memorable experiences you can have as a footballer," said Robson, who turned 73 yesterday.
"The fans are incredible. It is different. The team belongs to the supporters, it is the team of the city. Because of this, they create a very special atmosphere.
"They sing, scream, are noisy and they generate an infernal atmosphere but, at the same time, it is very sporting.
"Barca can expect to have a bad time in Liverpool. If they go there and do not lose, they will have done well for themselves.
"The atmosphere that the players will encounter is one of the most stimulating that they could see right now in a stadium."
Robson, who was manager at Barca back in 1996-97, believes it would be a mistake for the European champions to highlight any single Liverpool player to keep a close eye on, insisting the Barclays Premiership side are strong all over the pitch.
"To be a good team, you have to be good in all parts of the team," Robson said in an interview with Barca TV.
"If you don't have a good midfield, or have a weak defence or a mediocre attack, you don't have a good team. The good teams have collective quality
"Liverpool have a very strong defence, [Sami] Hyypia may or may not play. They have [Steve] Finnan, [Daniel] Agger, [Jamie] Carragher, [John Arne] Riise - good defenders.
"In the middle of the pitch, we find [Steven] Gerrard, a magnificent player of the highest level.
"They have a Spanish player who is excellent - [Xabi] Alonso. He is among the best. He knows how to control the play and has a great pass on him.
"They have the striker [Peter] Crouch, who is English. I won't forget [Craig] Bellamy, who I signed when I was with Newcastle. He is very very fast, and very dangerous.
"There is also the Dutchman, [Dirk] Kuyt, who is a good player with a lot of quality.
"They are not one player, they are a team."
The former England manager also gave the Spanish giants a hint of what they might expect in the second leg at Anfield.
"I think that playing at Liverpool's stadium is one of the most memorable experiences you can have as a footballer," said Robson, who turned 73 yesterday.
"The fans are incredible. It is different. The team belongs to the supporters, it is the team of the city. Because of this, they create a very special atmosphere.
"They sing, scream, are noisy and they generate an infernal atmosphere but, at the same time, it is very sporting.
"Barca can expect to have a bad time in Liverpool. If they go there and do not lose, they will have done well for themselves.
"The atmosphere that the players will encounter is one of the most stimulating that they could see right now in a stadium."
as if. He always hoofs the ball out of play instead of finding a red shirt & his tackling is Sunday pub league calibre. 
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