Xavi to vent fury at Anfield

FC Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernández insists his side will be back on form at Liverpool FC in midweek despite a morale-sapping league defeat at Sevilla FC.

Sevilla recovery
The Spanish and European champions looked well set leading 1-0 at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán Stadium and with a man advantage following the 28th-minute dismissal of Aito Ocio. But after Ronaldinho missed a 29th-minute penalty, Sevilla recovered, with goals from Aleksandr Kerzhakov and Daniel Alves putting them ahead. Barça's misery was complete as they then saw both Ludovic Giuly and Gianluca Zambrotta sent off in the second half.

More aggression
With Barcelona trailing Liverpool 2-1 after the home leg of their UEFA Champions League first qualifying round tie, Xavi remained confident that his side's Primera División exertions would not take any attacking sting out of their performance in England. "Things will be different in Anfield," he insisted. "We're going there to win and will be more aggressive in attack."

Missed opportunity
Defeat at Sevilla saw the home side move one point ahead of Barcelona at the top of the table. "The feeling after this defeat is negative because we didn't make the most of our chances," said the 27-year-old Xavi. "Victory was in our grasp and we've gone from looking set to take a five-point lead at the top of the table to being one behind."