Possible starting line-ups for Liverpool vs Barcelona in the UCL second leg

It is a do or die match between Liverpool and Barcelona but the former will have more pressure as they try to overturn a win that Barcelona are enjoying from the first leg.

Liverpool welcomes Barcelona to Anfield for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final with the visitors having three goals to nil in their basket.

The Reds find themselves three goals behind after some magic from Lionel Messi put Barca in control of the tie a week ago.

Jurgen Klopp’s side has it all to do and will have to do it without Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino who both miss out through injury.

They will give it their all, however, with a remarkable turnaround not completely out of the question against a side who gave up a three-goal lead in the quarter-finals a year ago.

Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino will be missing through injury with youngster Rhian Brewster likely to deputise from the bench.

The Player of the year award winner Virgil van Dijk trained separately in the run-up to the game but is expected to be fit to startup although it was not explained why he was separated.

Manager Ernesto Valverde rested his entire starting XI for the La Liga game with Celta Vigo at the weekend in preparation for this game. Barcelona lost the game to the hosts 2-0 although they have already lifted the League.

However, Ousmane Dembele picked up a hamstring injury and did not travel to Merseyside and may now be out for the remainder of the season.

Possible starting XI

Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Henderson, Milner, Wijnaldum, Mane, Sturridge.

Barcelona: Ter Stegen, Roberto, Pique, Lenglet, Alba, busquets, Rakitic, Vidal, Messi, Suarez, Coutinho​.

Liverpool has it all to do but regardless of how it ends a fast start is a must. They could’ve done without the absences of Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino though with Sadio Mane the only one of the trio available to Jurgen Klopp tonight.

The Reds did all they could before being undone by Lionel Messi a week ago so won’t be overawed by the task at hand here. Expect them to get on the ball early and try and push Barca back as they did for long periods at the Nou Camp.

The Gini Wijnaldum false nine experiment didn’t go as planned in the first leg but Klopp should still pack his midfield to try and get a foothold this time around. Get that early goal and you never know, Barca could be rattled.

That said, this Barca team does seem different from the one that fell apart in Rome a year ago and is to a man fully focused on regaining this title.

If they get a goal it’s tie over and with Messi, Luis Suarez and more in their ranks it’d be a surprise if they didn’t get one. 2-1, home win. Barca progress on aggregate.


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