Liverpool vs Barcelona
Uefa Champions League 2018-19 | Semi-final, second leg
Venue: Anfield, Liverpool
Date: Tuesday, May 7, 2019
Kick-off: 8pm BST, tonight
Depleted Liverpool face a truly formidable uphill task to qualify for their second successive Champions League final as they prepare to host Barcelona in the second leg of their semi-final tonight.
Last year's runners-up were certainly more than competitive at Camp Nou last Wednesday evening in what Jurgen Klopp described as their best European away performance for two years, but lost 3-0 thanks to an early Luis Suarez effort and sumptuous Lionel Messi brace that included an extraordinary free-kick to bring up the Argentine's 600th goal for the Blaugrana.
Liverpool's confidence for such a difficult job was boosted on Saturday, when they ensured that the Premier League title race will go down to the final day after Divock Origi's late header secured a thrilling 3-2 win over Newcastle on Tyneside.
Treble-chasing Barcelona, by contrast, fell to a 2-0 defeat to Celta Vigo. However, Ernesto Valverde was able to rest most of his key stars at Balaidos with his team having already wrapped up their 26th LaLiga title and eighth in 11 years with three matches to spare.
Liverpool vs Barcelona team news and line-ups
Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Milner, Henderson, Mane, Shaqiri, Origi
Subs: Mignolet, Wijnaldum, Lovren, Gomez, Sturridge, Brewster, Woodburn
Barcelona XI: Ter Stegen, Sergi Roberto, Pique, Lenglet, Alba, Busquets, Rakitic, Vidal, Messi, Suarez, Coutinho
Subs: Cillessen, Semedo, Umtiti, Vermaelen, Arthur, Alena, Malcom
Score prediction: Liverpool 2-2 Barcelona
Liverpool's lack of an away goal at Camp Nou coupled with the respective absences of Salah and Firmino means they are left needing a near-miracle to overturn such a significant deficit on Merseyside.
AS Roma were handily beaten by the Catalans in last year's quarter-final first leg, but finding the net in that away drubbing meant they were able to complete a sensational turnaround on home soil.
That second leg was the only game prolific Barcelona have lost in their last 22 in the Champions League and it is very difficult to see them being kept off the score-sheet at Anfield.
Liverpool will give it their all on Tuesday, but the task just appears too great - especially without two of their leading marksmen.
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