Liverpool vs Barcelona Preview Champions League Semi-finals 2nd Leg: Tough Task for Reds to overturn Barca defecit Updated for September 2024

Updated: 15th September 2024

UEFA Champions League preview – Semi-finals – 2nd leg: Liverpool (0) vs Barcelona (3) – Tuesday, May 7, 2019 – Anfield – 20:00 hrs GMT

Liverpool vs Barcelona Correct Score Tip

Liverpool 3-1 Barcelona @ 16/1 with Bet365

Odds correct as of 06/05/2019 subject to change.

Liverpool in their quest to overturn the 0-3 first leg deficit they are staring at against Barcelona, have suffered a couple of major injury scares going into the crucial return game at Anfield on Tuesday night. Mohamed Salah, the Merseyside's and Premier League's top scorer this season had to be carried out on a stretcher after an aerial collision with Newcastle keeper Martin Dubravka during the 3-2 win on Saturday. But the Reds are optimistic that the mercurial Egyptian will be able to play on the evening of 7th. But he will be without fellow forward Roberto Firmino who will have to give the crucial match a pass thanks to a muscle injury.

Last week's 0-3 result at Nou Camp does not exactly reflect the score line in the sense that Liverpool were surprisingly able to dominate for better part of the game and attempted 15 shots on the goal, 3 more than their rivals. Mohammed Salah was brilliant cutting through the Barca defense repeatedly but missed two absolute sitters, one hitting the post. Sadio Mane and James Milner missed golden opportunities to add to the scoresheet.

All in all, it's a shame that the Reds couldn't come away with at least 2 goals that would have changed the complexion of the tie altogether. Liverpool can be expected to step up their attacking even more at Anfield and a Barca side deprived of possession can be a very different one as evinced from previous second leg thrashings of 4-0 by Bayern Munich in 2013 and 0-3 against Roma in the previous season. But the fluidity of the Catalan's front trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho will definitely throw up opportunities to attack on the breaks and that is where they are at their best and most dangerous. Even a single goal at Anfield is likely to take them through to the finals.

A lot will depend on the prowess of the incredible Virgil van Dijk and the likes of Joel Matip, Joe Gomez and Robertson at the Liverpool back, all of whom can stop Messi & co. on their day. Divock Origi, the 24-year old Belgian striker who scored the late and very vital winner against Newcastle on Saturday will in all probability come in for Firmino.

Ernesto Valverde's Barcelona are a well-rested unit ahead of the Anfield clash having already bagged the La Liga for the season. The 55-year old coach rested almost all his major players – Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Gerard Pique, Ivan Rakitic, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, Sergi Roberto and Marc-Andre ter Stegen for the away game against Celta Vigo on Saturday.

Jurgen Klopp could afford no such luxury even against a bottom-half side like Newcastle given the one-point gap between the Reds and Manchester City for the Premier league title race.

Odds are on Liverpool to get the better of Barcelona at Anfield but overturning the first leg deficit would be a massive task for which they would require to win by margins of 4-0 or 5-1. Expect the Spanish giants to sail through on aggregate. Predicted score line for May 7 – Liverpool 3 Barcelona 1.

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