London, March 5:

It looks like the brilliant strikeforce that helped FC Barcelona win the Champions League last season must keep it alive this week.

Although Samuel Eto’o is nowhere near full-match sharpness after five months out through a knee injury, he looks set to team up with Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi for an attack-minded Barca needing to overturn a 2-1 first-leg deficit at Liverpool.

Without giving his lineup or tactics away, coach Frank Rijkaard knows he has to gamble after losing the first leg at home. “The lesson we need to learn for Anfield is that we can’t relax or stop being forceful. In other words, we have to fight like never before,” Rijkaard said. Of the 16 teams trying to make it to the quarter-finals, defending champion Barcelona is in the worst position after its home defeat. Even a 1-0 victory isn’t enough on Tuesday.

A glance at the first-leg results suggests Liverpool and Manchester United have a great chance to reach the last eight having won their away legs. United won 1-0 at Lille.

Real Madrid goes to Bayern Munich leading 3-2, PSV Eindhoven visits Arsenal 1-0 ahead, Serie A leader Inter Milan goes into its game at Valencia tied 2-2, and AC Milan is 0-0 at home to Celtic. Lyon is 0-0 at home to AS Roma, and Chelsea has home advantage against FC Porto with the teams level at 1-1.

That means any of the 16 are capable of reaching the quarter-finals but Barcelona has a lot to do at Anfield. Liverpool can afford to lose 1-0 again on Tuesday and reach the last eight on away goals.

Despite its slender lead, Real Madrid won’t have David Beckham in Munich on Wednesday after he injured his knee in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Getafe.

Arsenal could be without Thierry Henry as it chases a victory at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday while PSV will be without Patrick Kluivert and Michael Reiziger.

Manchester United is waiting for the results of a scan on the leg injury that forced Wayne Rooney to limp out of the win over Liverpool. Henrik Larsson is set to play his final Champions League game for the Red Devils.

Chelsea will be without captain John Terry who was kicked in the face during the 2-1 League Cup final victory over Arsenal a week ago.

Inter Milan hopes that striker Adriano and midfielder Esteban Cambiasso recover from leg injuries for Tuesday’s game at Valencia.

AC Milan’s captain Paolo Maldini should start in the Rossoneri’s defense on Wednesday against Celtic. Lyon welcomes back Sylvain Wiltord, who was suspended for the first leg in Rome.