Liverpool caught a Catalan cold last night after Michael Owen's 19th goal in as many matches had appeared to set them up for a valuable win.
By half-time, Patrick Kluivert had equalised for Barcelona, in the 65th minute a substitute Fabio Rochemback put them ahead and, with six minutes left, Marc Overmars ensured Liverpool opened the second phase with home defeat.
The fact that Kluivert was marginally offside when he scored and Overmars blatantly so did nothing to ease Anfield's frustration. All the same, the better team won.
Liverpool went into this tightest of second-round groups fortified by the knowledge that they had beaten last night's opponents only seven months before and that similar results this time, a draw and a win, would bring them a satisfactory four points this time.
For Barcelona, however, cautious containment is not the way and last night they came on in much the same old way, with Kluivert on the prowl through the middle while Rivaldo and Luis Enrique sought opportunities to make attacking runs on either side of him.
Not that Luis Enrique did so for long before a sharp encounter with Jamie Carragher saw him give way to Overmars just past the quarter-hour.
Within four minutes, Liverpool found themselves facing a free-kick from Rivaldo with much the same trepidation that they might greet one from David Beckham. Jerzy Dudek leapt to his left to stop the Brazilian's shot curling inside the near post but Liverpool had been warned all the same.
With Dietmar Hamann suspended, Liverpool were short of a strong defensive influence in midfield. Steven Gerrard tended to shadow Kluivert but Philip Cocu often roamed free.
Early on, Emile Heskey might have scored had he been a fraction quicker in meeting Vladimir Smicer's dipping cross from the right. Midway through the first half Heskey was about to break clear when held back by Francesco Coco to bring Barcelona their third caution but nothing for Liverpool from the free-kick. Not that Anfield worried too much, knowing sooner or later a chance would fall to the man more or less guaranteed to put them in front.
The moment arrived in the 27th minute. Gerrard found Smicer, the Czech found Owen and the rest was practically preordained. Owen left his marker choking in his dust before beating the advancing Bonano with a cool chip.
Liverpool's step acquired an extra spring and, but for Cocu clearing off the line after 41 minutes, would have scored again. But barely had the crowd's roar died than Barcelona were level.
The goal was slickly improvised, with Rivaldo lobbing back Overmars' ball from the left as Liverpool failed to pick up Kluivert, who shot through a gap to beat Dudek. Kluivert might have been a fraction offside but he still should not have been unattended.
Four minutes after half-time Kluivert gave Liverpool a further reminder. Having fed the ball to Overmars he again surprised the defence with a late run, only this time Dudek managed to save the shot feet first.
With Owen, nevertheless, there was always a chance of salvation and just before the hour his arrival almost from nowhere to meet Smicer's a centre almost regained Liverpool the lead. But now, even with Bonano stranded, Owen was unable to force the ball in.
This was followed by another goal for Barcelona, this one completely out of the blue. Rochemback fed the ball in from the left and then ran on to accept it back from Kluivert before beating Dudek with a wonderful shot.
LIVERPOOL: Dudek, Carragher, Henchoz, Hyypia, Riise, Gerrard, Murphy, McAllister (Berger 69), Smicer (Litmanen 80), Owen, Heskey (Fowler 65). Subs not used: Kirkland, Diomede, Biscan, Wright. Goal: Owen 27.
BARCELONA: Bonano, Christanval, Andersson, de Boer, Coco, Luis Enrique (Overmars 17), Gabri (Rochemback 57), Xavi, Cocu, Rivaldo, Kluivert (Reiziger 89). Subs not used: Reina, Saviola, Gerard, Geovanni. Booked: Luis Enrique, Gabri, de Boer. Goals: Kluivert 41, Rochemback 65, Overmars 84.
Referee: H Krug (Germany)
