Liverpool face mission impossible ahead of second leg tie with Barcelona

Liverpool must produce a world class performance to overturn Barcelona’s three-goal lead in the Champions League semi-finals.

If Barcelona score once, then Liverpool will need five goals to progress to the Champions League final.

Jurgen Klopp is likely to make reference to Istanbul 2005, as the Reds were 3-0 down at half-time to AC Milan. After a remarkable second half it went to penalties and the rest, as they say, is history.

While the situation is very different for the English side it is sink or swim time in terms of testing their belief. After the Lionel Messi masterclass which included a double, along with Luis Suarez scoring against his former employers.

Messi proved why he is the best player in world by scoring his 600th goal for Barca in the first leg at the Nou Camp.

In the Premier League it was a nervous finish for the Reds as Divock Origi rescued his sides title bid by scoring to beat Newcastle 3-2. Since however, Manchester City beat Leicester City which means its all lies on the final league game of the season.

A shocking twist to this weekend’s games in Spain saw Barcelona lose 2-0 to Celta Vigo, in a game which could have saved them from relegation. The Barcelona team that lost was heavily rotated however with Messi, Suarez and Gerard Pique among others missing as they rested for this tie.

From the two camps:

Klopp issued a battle cry for his side saying:

“We want to celebrate the Champions League campaign, either with a proper finish or another goal. That is the plan: just try. If we can do it, wonderful. If not, then fail in the most beautiful way. I had these games quite a few times. In my experience, it’s not that before the game you think: ‘Yes, I believe we will do it.’ But I’m completely fine with the chance. Less than them, but we have at least a chance.”

Ernesto Valverde doesn’t expect another Roma game:

“It’s an experience to learn from, but the good thing about football is you always get another chance.

“Nothing in football is written, you have to go out there and do it. PSG [in the last 16 in 2017]– people said if they scored it was over but we went out there and scored six.

“Looking at this full press conference and all the tickets that have been sold, I don’t think there is any danger of that [complacency]happening. But Liverpool are a good team, so who knows what could happen.”

Team news:

Liverpool face a huge challenge with two of their main attacking trio out. Both Mohamed Salah (concussion) and Roberto Firmino (muscle) will be missed.

This means that hero against Newcastle Origi will start and Rhian Brewster will make his Champions League debut in some sort of capacity.

Nothing has changed with midfielders Adam Lallana (muscle) and Naby Keita (groin) as they will both be out rest of the season

Barcelona’s team selection will be relatively easy after the majority of the first team were rested.

In that same game however Ousmane Dembele was subbed off with an injury. He was replaced by Alex Collado, though it is likely that Malcom could play.

Rafinha is the only other first team player missing as he will be out for the rest of the season.

With Kop’s top scorer Salah missing Sadio Mane will deputise the role. The Senegalese winger has scored 24 which is two off of the Egyptian.

Both two players that scored against Liverpool are the top two goal scorers for the La Liga. Those are Messi and Suarez with both scoring 48 and 25 respectively.