LIVERPOOL hero Craig Bellamy admitted he was "gob-smacked" after the Reds overcame a turbulent week to defeat champions Barcelona in their Champions League last-16 first leg at the Nou Camp.
Deco had given Barca a 14th-minute lead when he headed home Gianluca Zambrotta's cross, but Liverpool hit back to stun the champions.
Bellamy headed in Liverpool's equaliser just before the break before the Welshman set up John Arne Riise to power home the Reds' winner 16 minutes from time.
Reports suggested last weekend that Bellamy and Riise fell out at a training camp, but Bellamy said, "It doesn't bother me, I just try to get on with things.
"It was a great result but it's only half-time and at Anfield, it will be a different game.
"As good as the result is, there is still a long way to go.
"I'm still gob-smacked. Just coming to the Nou Camp today was unreal. It's my boy's 10th birthday today so it's special.
"You can't make my career up. This could only happen to me.
"There has been no problem (in the squad), we've trained all week. We all know how strict the gaffer is; if there was a big problem, I wouldn't be here."
Riise confirmed that there was no ill-feeling between himself and the Wales striker.
He said, "It was destiny for both of us I think.
"The team is happy. We're going to enjoy this. We put this (training camp incident) behind us very early and we worked hard for the team and we'll move forward."
The Norwegian full-back also praised manager Rafael Benitez for masterminding a famous win for the Reds.
"The boss, tactically, is one of the best around.
"It's a big lead to take to Anfield, but we know they can score away from home. But we won this game and if we don't lose at home we are through."
In the battle between the last two winners of the competition, 2005 champions Liverpool became only the second English team to beat Barcelona at the Nou Camp.
The only previous side to win here was the 1975-76 Liverpool team, which downed Barca 1-0 in the UEFA Cup semi-finals before going on to win the final.
Liverpool, who had not lost in three previous visits to the Nou Camp, made a confident start, and they should possibly have taken the lead after creating the first incisive move of the match in the fourth minute.
However, Riise, having broken the offside trap to latch onto Steven Gerrard's pass, could not find Bellamy in the middle, when a decent pass would surely have led to the Welshman putting Liverpool ahead.
After a quiet start, the home side and their fans were finally woken up when Ronaldinho went sprawling in the box, only for the referee to wave play on.
Deco then tried his luck before Juliano Belletti blazed high and wide, before Barca took the lead in the 14th minute when Gianluca Zambrotta crossed to the far post where the diminutive Deco headed into the corner of the net.
Saviola had a chance to make it 2-0 just minutes later after skipping past Jamie Carragher, but the Argentinian's left-footed shot went wide.
Barca were rampant at this stage, and Reina was forced to deny Deco following a neat pass from Lionel Messi.
With Rafael Benitez's side clearly shell-shocked, Barca continued to push forward and only some desperate Liverpool defending kept the Spanish champions from increasing their lead.
Liverpool managed to regroup - and they had a chance to draw level seven minutes before the break after earning a free-kick out wide on the left. However, the unmarked Bellamy could only head Gerrard's cross into the side-netting.
Bellamy made amends for that miss in the 43rd minute though as Liverpool drew level.
Steve Finnan dinked a ball into the box and Bellamy powered in a header which Victor Valdes was unable to keep hold of, with Dirk Kuyt pouncing to slot the ball home.
Bellamy's header had already crossed the line before Valdes pushed it back out though, and the striker celebrated his goal by imitating a golf-swing.
Barca coach Frank Rijkaard then opted to make a change at the start of the second half, with Thiago Motta replaced by Spain international Andres Iniesta.
But even with the highly-rated Iniesta on the pitch, Barca were still struggling to re-establish their early dominance.
And Liverpool scored their second goal in the 74th minute, after Gerrard picked out Kuyt with a brilliant pass.
Although the Dutchman was denied by Reina, Bellamy played the ball across goal for the unmarked Riise to blast it into the roof of the net.
Western Mail