Barcelona vs Liverpool
Uefa Champions League 2018-19 | Semi-final, first leg
Venue: Camp Nou, Barcelona
Date: Wednesday, May 1, 2019
Kick-off: 8pm BST, tonight
Liverpool and Barcelona are targeting memorable seasons as the European heavyweights meet in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final tonight.
Ernesto Valverde's Blaugrana have won LaLiga with three games to spare, meaning that the Spanish champions can fully focus on a mammoth tie against Liverpool.
As for Jurgen Klopp's Reds, they are chasing down champions Manchester City in a nail-biting Premier League title race, while also having to work out how to stop Lionel Messi.
The Barca legend has made Champions League glory his main aim this season, and it will take something special from Jurgen Klopp's men to set up a final against either Tottenham or Ajax.
Barcelona vs Liverpool team news and line-ups
Liverpool were dealt a blow when Roberto Firmino was deemed only fit enough for the bench.
The Brazil international missed Friday's win over Huddersfield with a thigh muscle tear but it was decided he had recovered enough for a place among the substitutes.
Manager Jurgen Klopp made four changes from the comfortable win over the Terriers with Joe Gomez, James Milner, Fabinho and Joel Matip replacing Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jordan Henderson, Dejan Lovren and Daniel Sturridge.
Barcelona XI: Ter Stegen, Sergi Roberto, Pique, Lenglet, Alba, Busquets, Rakitic, Vidal, Messi, Suarez, Coutinho
Subs: Cillessen, Semedo, Arthur, Dembele, Malcom, Umtiti, Alena
Liverpool XI: Alisson, Gomez, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Milner, Wijnaldum, Keita, Mane, Salah
Subs: Mignolet, Lovren, Firmino, Henderson, Shaqiri, Origi, Alexander-Arnold
Score prediction: Barcelona 2-1 Liverpool
While two of Europe's most feared attacks will go head to head on Wednesday, it could be a cagey affair in Barcelona.
The Spanish giants remain favourites for the tie, but have shown their back line can be exploited this season. If Messi is on form, the hosts will expect to win - but Liverpool are more than capable of setting themselves up for the second leg with an away goal or two.
