FC Barcelona striker Javier Saviola admits that losing 2-1 at home against Liverpool FC was a "serious blow" to their chances of reaching the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals. The former Sevilla FC star now accepts that the Spanish side will have to force the issue when they visit Anfield for the return leg.

Ultra offensive
Speaking after the 2-1 defeat at Camp Nou, the Argentinian international said: "It was a serious blow tonight. To lose at home given the way we were playing in the first half makes it possibly even more painful. The return leg means we have to come out to win - there's no other choice. We have to accept that, attack them and think that we have to be ultra offensive to be able to bring them down."

Many chances
Barcelona had been in irrepressible form at Camp Nou prior to the game with their unbeaten run standing at 13 games, but they failed to take their chances in the first half and were made to pay when John Arne Riise scored a 74th-minute winner. "Today we had three or four very clear chances but we didn't manage to finish them off," said Saviola. "When you lose everything worries you, not only whether you scored or not, but also why we conceded two goals. I don't think the team should be sorry about anything. We played good football but we lost."