Eto’o to miss Liverpool clash

THREE-TIME African Player of the Year Samuel Eto’o has been left out of the Barcelona squad to face Liverpool in their Champions League last 16 first leg match tonight.

Catalan coach Frank Rijkaard confirmed that last season’s Spanish first division top scorer would miss the clash between the last two Champions League winners but no spokesperson would immediately explain why Eto’o had been axed.

Rijkaard had earlier suggested that Eto’o would at least be part of the Catalan club’s 18-man squad to face the men from Merseyside.

“Psychologically he’s fine and physically he’s getting better all the time,” commented Rijkaard at a press conference before Barcelona’s final training session in preparation for game.

A rift has emerged between Eto’o and Rijkaard since the Cameroon striker’s refusal to take the field for the Spanish league leaders against Racing Santander 10 days ago.

Eto’o himself requested not be part of the Barca squad that lost 2-1 at Valencia on Sunday.

The player has only played 10 minutes of competitive football since suffering an injury to his right knee in the Champions League group stages against Werder Breman in September that kept him on the sidelines for four months.

Two other players to be left out of the Barca squad are the Brazilian internationals Sylvinho and Edmilson.

Meanwhile Liverpool coach Rafa Benitez revealed that new signing Javier Mascherano could make his debut for the Reds tonight.

“FIFA and now the Premiership have accepted his registration.

‘‘If the FA also accept it in the next day, then he could play,” said Benitez.

He added that he was not worried about throwing the Argentine midfielder in at the deep end against the reigning European champions.

“He’s a very, very good player. He’s 22 and already has got around 22 caps for Argentina. He’s ready to play,” added Benitez.

Benitez looks set to name Craig Bellamy and Peter Crouch on the bench for the visit to the Nou Camp with Dirk Kuyt starting as a lone striker and captain Steven Gerrard just behind.

Despite last week’s training incident in Portugal, Norwegian defender Jon Arne Riise should start at the back in the Champions League last 16 match with Jamie Carragher, Alvaro Arbeloa and Daniel Agger.

A four-man midfield in a 4-4-1-1 line-up sees Steve Finnan on the right and Bolo Zenden on the left with Mohamed Sissoko providing the steel in the centre next to the more creative Xabi Alonso.

Benitez yesterday played down last week’s training incident in Portugal and claimed his players are “ready to go and fully concentrated” on tomorrow’s Champions League game against Barcelona.

The Spaniard gave little away about the reported training ground fracas allegedly involving Craig Bellamy and John Arne Riise, claiming it had been blown out of all proportion by the press.

Benitez said: “I am not going to tell you what happened.

“The problem is not as big as reported in the press, so there really haven’t been many players fined – not nearly as many as has been reported.

“After the problem, some were fined and they have been really good.”