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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Ben Hayward

Barcelona injury, suspension list: Team news and predicted line-up vs Liverpool

Philippe Coutinho is expected to be preferred to Ousmane Dembele as Barcelona face Liverpool in the Champions League semi-final first leg at Camp Nou on Wednesday night.

The Brazilian played just 45 minutes of Barca’s LaLiga win at home to Levante on Saturday, when he was replaced by Lionel Messi for the second half.

That was an indication that he has a significant role to play against his former club and with Dembele still finding his way back to form and fitness after injury, Coutinho should start Wednesday's game.

Messi, who scored the winner against Levante as Barca secured a 1-0 victory and also sealed the title at Camp Nou, will be back in the line-up and coach Ernesto Valverde said on Tuesday that the Argentine is in good shape after resting in recent weeks to ease his bilateral pubic pain.

Luis Suarez will also feature against his former club as he seeks a first goal in the Champions League this season, with Valverde set to choose Sergi Roberto at right-back over Nelson Semedo.

Arthur should join Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitic in midfield and if confirmed, the XI will be the same as the one which started in the 3-0 win over Manchester United at Camp Nou in the teams' quarter-final second leg on April 16.

Rafinha is Barca’s only injured player, the Brazilian midfielder sidelined for the rest of the season after tearing his cruciate ligament in November.

With everyone else available for the Catalans, there is no place for Thomas Vermaelen, Jean-Clair Todibo, Jeison Murillo or Kevin-Prince Boateng in a strong squad for Wednesday's game.

Predicted XI: Ter Stegen; Sergi Roberto, Pique, Lenglet, Alba; Busquets, Arthur, Rakitic; Messi, Suarez, Coutinho

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