pre-Barca v Liverpool observations

• If Spanish defenders want to stop trying to assassinate Leo Messi anytime soon, that'd be lovely. Deco is responsible for his own twice- a-season scheduled meltdowns, and Albelda has always played on the edge, but this is getting ridiculous.
• Oh, Liverpool. If you know me, you know my affection for Liverpool, so this reaction is born out of that, but bless them for having their own internal ruckus just a few days before the game. Maybe they wanted to match us:

The dispute involving Bellamy and Riise seemingly started with a karaoke competition in the early hours of Friday morning, when Bellamy took offence at the Norwegian left-back's refusal to sing.

Increasingly irritated by the Welshman's jibes, Riise reportedly became incandescent and, surrounded by fellow players, the pair squared up to each other, trading expletives. Although things calmed down as the group dispersed and headed for their rooms, Bellamy apparently felt he had lost face in front of his team-mates and, having armed himself with a golf club, tracked down Riise before allegedly swinging it at his legs.

Benítez, who had spent the earlier part of the evening at the nearby resort of Vilamoura, was contacted and he separated the clearly inebriated pair.