Eto'o boost for Barca

[Shaggy]

Damn.


Cameroon's Samuel Eto'o is recovering from his right knee injury quicker than expected and should be back in training in mid-January.

The Barcelona striker wasn't expected to return until February after tearing and displacing the meniscus during a Champions League game at Werder Bremen on 27 September.

"Eto'o is improving faster than predicted. He is a great athlete," Barcelona doctor Ramon Cugat said on Saturday.

However, Cugat also urged caution.

"We shouldn't celebrate too early. The meniscus requires great respect," he added.

The Cameroon international, who hopes to play against Liverpool on 21 February and 6 March in the second round of the Champions League, has missed 19 of the European and Spanish champion's games.

Without him, Barcelona struggled in the Champions League and has dropped to second place behind Sevilla in the Spanish league.

Eto'o, who has been Africa's top player in the last three seasons and was nominated for this year's award, has scored 68 goals for Barcelona since arriving from Mallorca in 2004.

He had 26 last season to be the Spanish league's top scorer.

Barcelona has other injury concerns.

Forward Lionel Messi and defender Lilian Thuram are not expected back until February, while defender Gianluca Zambrotta should be playing again in late January.

[Jan-Erik]

I hope Barca can play the theire best 11 against us. It will make our victory moore sweet.

[Mattshark]

I hope Barca can play the theire best 11 against us. It will make our victory moore sweet.

[DeeGame]

[Speedy]

I know. It's a shame to see a top player come back from a horrific injury. We cant scab our way to the final by team's best players being injured.

Bring on the best i say.

[sambirken]

"The meniscus requires great respect"

[Craig_H]

I hope Barca can play the theire best 11 against us. It will make our victory moore sweet.

[Mattshark]

why is that funny they are very much beatable side, they are defensively weak, especially in the air and have a tendacy to over elaborate there play. Great attacking side, not a good defensive side.

[willa1975]

It won't be easy, that's for sure. I'm not sure there's a side out there who can cope with Eto'o, Ronaldinho and Messi when they're on song.

I rather like Eto'o, but if he's fit and raring to go, it's going to make our lives that much more difficult come February. On the basis of his last two seasons with Barca, I'd rate him alongside any striker on the planet.

We've got our work cut out for us.

[Craig_H]

why is that funny they are very much beatable side, they are defensively weak, especially in the air and have a tendacy to over elaborate there play. Great attacking side, not a good defensive side.

Our chances of winning the tie are increased if Barcelona arent at full strength. I want us to win the tie. Therefore, i'd be quite delighted if they're missing some top players.

Any Liverpool fan who WANTS them to be at full strength for the tie, is acting in a very bizarre manner.

Go ahead and call me pessimistic, as is usually the response.

The fact is Barcelona at full strength will be a VERY tough prospect.

I'd rather we had an easier task, than the most difficult one.

[AFII]

We are better tactical than them.

We have the better goalkeeper and better defence than them.

We are at least as good as them in the midfield if we get Kewell and Sissoko back. They are much better attacking than us.

I can't say that they are hugh favourites, they are favourites but we have the players and the manager to knock them out.

The key will be the midfield. Xavi, Ronaldinho, Messi, Deco and Edmilson for Barca. Xabi, Sissoko, Gerrard, Garcia and Kewell for us, if Sissoko and Kewell is fit enough. I can't see Rafa play just four in the midfield against Barca.

We have Finnan on the right against Ronaldinho and Riise against Messi on the left. They will have Zambrotta against Kewell and Belletti against Gerrard.

The key for them will be Messi against Riise and for us Gerrard against Belletti.

Gerrard will have to do much more defencive work to help Finnan and he is good doing that. Belletti won't get much help from Ronaldinho and that is key for us to win the game.

[The Glove]

Mom will just go round stomping on them. They'll **** themselves.

[Pepe]

We will scare the living daylights out of them at Anfield.

Remember Juve at Anfield.

[Jan-Erik]

We will scare the living daylights out of them at Anfield.

Remember Juve at Anfield.

[tomasjj]

Well, they are used to playing at Nou Camp...its not exactly a graveyard, and their team is very experienced. I would pipe down a bit regarding them being scared of Anfield.