Zenden knows Barca pressure

BOUDEWIJN Zenden believes the pressure is all on Barcelona, when Liverpool step out at the Nou Camp for the first leg of their Champions League tie today.

Having spent three years at Barcelona, the Dutchman knows the unique demands of playing for the Catalan giants, reported the Liverpool Daily Post.

He is one of three current Liverpool players to have plied their trade at Barcelona. The other two are goalkeeper Jose Reina and midfielder Luis Garcia.

Barcelona will be given fervent backing today by the majority of the expected 98,000 capacity crowd.

'I was at Barcelona for three years, and it's a club where the only thing that counts is a result. And a result to them is always a win,' said Zenden.

'Sometimes even that is not enough, because you need to play good football as well.'

Barcelona defender Lilian Thuram has also stressed the importance of Barcelona winning, reported Soccernet.

He believes the Catalan club need a good lead to take into the second leg, because of Liverpool's impressive home record.

He said: 'They are a strong team, and we have to return to their stadium, where it is very difficult to win.'

Thuram is fighting to be fit for today's game. He stayed behind after the regular training session on Monday for an extra workout.