The second leg of he 2018/19 UEFA Champions League semi-finals are this week and on Tuesday night Barcelona travel to England to play Liverpool at Anfield.
Barcelona will be feeling confident ahead of this game having sealed a big 3-0 win at the Camp Nou and know they need to avoid a loss by a 4 goal margin. Liverpool on the other hand have little choice but to try and attack from the first whistle and give it everything they have to overturn the deficit.
Following the 3-0 defeat at Barcelona, Liverpool travelled to St James’ Park to play Newcastle United in the Premier League. Despite twice taking the lead in the match, Newcastle pegged them back but a late own goal following the award of a dubious free-kick sealed the points for Liverpool.
The win took them back to the top of the Premier League and ensured they will take the title race down to the final day of the season.
Home form has been excellent for Liverpool and they have won sixteen and drawn two of their last eighteen at Anfield in all competitions. Champions League form shows thirteen games unbeaten at home, winning nine of those matches.
Liverpool have won two of their last nine home Champions League games by a margin which would be good enough to see them go through but the quality of the opposition was nothing like what they will face on Tuesday.
Barcelona have already sealed the La Liga title and they rested their first choice XI on the weekend at Celta Vigo. Barcelona lost the match but it has no consequence to their season and all their efforts are focused on the Champions League.
Ernesto Valverde’s team rode their luck at times in the first leg but struck when it mattered most to come out on top 3-0. It is a healthy lead to take to a difficult place for away teams.
Barcelona’s defeat to Celta Vigo was their first away loss in twelve games in all competitions. They had won seven and drawn four prior to the defeat and are unbeaten in their last five away matches in the Champions League.
The Catalan giants have not had everything all their own way on the road in the Champions League this season and have been held at Inter Milan and Lyon. They also lost 3-0 at Roma last season and will be keen to avoid a repeat of that disaster.
Team news and Liverpool could be without Mohamed Salah who suffered a head injury on the weekend. With Roberto Firmino and Naby Keita ruled out, the fitness of Salah will be key but with a head injury, he surely cannot be risked?
Barcelona are without injured midfielder Rafinha and Ousmane Dembele is a doubt having picked up a hamstring injury. Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets and Gerard Pique will return to the team having been rested on the weekend.
If Liverpool are without Firmino and Salah, their task is going to be very difficult. They must attack and with Barcelona’s quality on the break, this could end up being a win for the away team with both teams scoring.