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UEFA Champions League 2019 semi-final: Liverpool vs Barcelona. Who will win?

UEFA Champions League 2019 semi-final: Liverpool vs Barcelona. Who will win?

  • Total voters
    13
I fancy Liverpool to win a narrow tie. Reason is that our defence is better and the second tie will be at fortress Anfield. That is when we'll bring the house down with all that noise, flags and banners. With their front three made up of two former Liverpool stars and our front three it can be a classic.
 
Yasir shah is playing too well to let Liverpool win.
Easy barca win.
 
Ronaldo7 said:
Yasir shah is playing too well to let Liverpool win.
Easy barca win.
Click to expand...

Yasir Shah has not done anything of any worth for 3 years in the champions League knockouts.
He needs to stand up.
This Man U team is bang average and West ham game them a bloody run around on Saturday
Messi needs to stand up in this tie and take his team through
 
Abdullah said:
Yasir Shah has not done anything of any worth for 3 years in the champions League knockouts.
He needs to stand up.
This Man U team is bang average and West ham game them a bloody run around on Saturday
Messi needs to stand up in this tie and take his team through
Click to expand...

Currently it's looking like Barca will go through easily but you never know.
 
It'll be our biggest mistake if we try to contain Barca. With due respect to VVD, Barca has one unique piece, who no matter what, if standing on feet, will find his way to take couple of shots at AB's post. If not, still he'll keep possession around the box until Matip trips him for a free kick from 23-25 yards range.

Containing is not Klopp's game, and containing is not suggested against Barca either. It has to be a wild West style shoot out - bring it on. 2nd leg is at Anfield - what we need is one score at Nu Camp, even 1-2 is probably alterable at Anfield night, but Barca will score at Anfield, so we'll have to get a goal at Camp Nu.

I like more compact & tactical 4-2-3-1 at Camp Nu -

AB
Milner (TAA is too loose to contain Messi at left flank), Lovren (should be fit by then), VVD, Rob
Henderson, Fabinho
Mane, Wijnldum, Mo
Bobby

At Anfiled, we must go for more attacking 4-3-3

AB

TAA, Lovren, VVD, Rob

Henderson, Fabinho, Kieta/Shakiri

Mane, Bobby, Mo
 
The greatest of all time will demolish yet another Premier League side, perhaps Spurs in the final as well and secure a well-deserved Ballon d’Or #6. However, a week or so later, we will have some Premier League hipsters claim over the Internet that he is not going to succeed in the Premier League.

Liverpool will have to outscore Barcelona. Messi is not Ronaldo who can be taken out of the game if you stop the other players from crossing the ball into the box. Messi grabs the game by the scruff of its neck and controls the tempo, and that is why he has no competition.

Nevertheless, if Liverpool can score 5 goals over 180 mins, they can take care of Barcelona. For me, apart from Messi, the biggest hurdle for Liverpool is Klopp himself. He has a documented history of bottling in Europe when his team has one hand on the trophy.

I am sticking with Barcelona going all the way, but I would like them to face Ajax in the final.
 
Barca fan here but I am not feeling too confident.

Valverde is a very negative coach, The GOAT has been nursing a groin industry, Suarez hasn't scored in the CL for ages and Coutinho is more or less useless.

Liverpool on the other hand have a better functioning front three, are more athletic and press better and Klopp is better manager.

Messi and Ter Stegen will have to pull off some magic to get us through. Then again they are perfectly capable of doing it.
 
It's gonna be a great match up.


Salah, Mane and Firmino vs the Barca defence
Messi and Suarez vs Liverpool defence and namely, the beast that is VVD
And not to mention the return of Suarez and Coutinho to Anfield.

I'm gonna vote for Barcelona, but I expect both ties to be very close.
 
Having the second leg at Anfield is a huge positive for LFC. If we can score at least one goal away and not concede more than 2, I am confident we will progress through to the final.

Barca are not the force they once were but can still score plenty of goals. The question for them is can they contain Liverpool? I think if our 3 up front are in any kind of decent form they will destroy the Barca defence to a point of no come back for the Spaniards.
 
Mamoon said:
The greatest of all time will demolish yet another Premier League side, perhaps Spurs in the final as well and secure a well-deserved Ballon d’Or #6. However, a week or so later, we will have some Premier League hipsters claim over the Internet that he is not going to succeed in the Premier League.

Liverpool will have to outscore Barcelona. Messi is not Ronaldo who can be taken out of the game if you stop the other players from crossing the ball into the box. Messi grabs the game by the scruff of its neck and controls the tempo, and that is why he has no competition.

Nevertheless, if Liverpool can score 5 goals over 180 mins, they can take care of Barcelona. For me, apart from Messi, the biggest hurdle for Liverpool is Klopp himself. He has a documented history of bottling in Europe when his team has one hand on the trophy.

I am sticking with Barcelona going all the way, but I would like them to face Ajax in the final.
Click to expand...

There is nobody more desperate than me for a Barca win here, but I have my doubts about Messi grabbing this by the ***** and getting it done.
I will be thrilled if he does it, but he hasn't done it in the CL against a big club for 3 years.
 
Messi is surprisingly as great as ever but this Liverpool team has the players to outscore Barcelona over two legs. Hoping to see Salah set the Camp Nou on fire where he'll find a lot of space to run and probably go one-on-one with the opposing full-back. Additionally, unlike United, Liverpool have enough quality at the back to make things tough for Messi and co. and that may well prove to be the deciding factor.

Camp Nou:

Liverpool - 2
Barcelona - 2

Anfield:

Liverpool - 3
Barcelona - 2
 
The key will be to keep Messi quiet. Although Barca have other top players as well they tend to struggle when Messi doesn't perform. Our defence I feel is much better then theirs with VVD marshalling the troops at the back. I am certain that Liverpool will score a couple in the two legs, the only question is if we can concede fewer at our end. I fancy a close Barca win in the first keg followed by another classic second leg at Anfield with Liverpool coming out on top after extra time. Ajax I feel will defeat Spurs in the second semi.
 
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Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp will wait until the day of the game to assess whether Roberto Firmino is fit to play in Wednesday's Champions League semi-final first leg in Barcelona.

The Brazilian forward, 27, missed the Premier League win over Huddersfield on Friday with a muscle tear.

"If Bobby is 100% ready to play, then he will maybe play," said Klopp.

"He's here. He trained today. Tomorrow we have another session and maybe I have to make a decision."

Midfielder Fabinho is available again after sustaining a head injury at Cardiff on 21 April.

Both players were included in the 23-man squad for the Nou Camp showdown (20:00 BST).

Klopp added that Firmino's recovery "looks good so far" and he has until lunchtime on Wednesday to prove his fitness.

"We all knew from the beginning it would be a race," said the Anfield boss, whose team are vying with Manchester City for the Premier League title.

"We don't have to make a decision today because there's no game today, we can wait.

"I have to make that decision after lunchtime tomorrow."

Barcelona sealed their 26th La Liga title with a 1-0 win over Levante on Saturday.

Ivan Rakitic says captain Lionel Messi's desire to win the Champions League is proving an inspiration for Barcelona.

Argentine forward Messi stood on the pitch at the start of the season and told supporters he would help to bring "that beautiful cup back to Nou Camp" after three consecutive years of quarter-final defeats.

And Rakitic says the players follow "whenever our captain says something".

"Leo has been a La Liga champion 10 times in 15 years and, of course, after seeing him lift the cup [La Liga's trophy on Saturday] with such happiness, that motivates everyone," said the Croatian midfielder.

"If Leo is happy to win every title, it makes us even more eager too. We know we're Barca, we have to give everything and following the best player in history gives us more confidence to do that."

Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde says Liverpool are a "powerful team" and his side must play "two good matches" to qualify for their first final since 2015.

"Liverpool play with a great level of pressure and rhythm. They'll be a very difficult opponent to beat," said Valverde.

"Our intention is to win, but we know the value of stopping them from scoring."

Can Liverpool keep their Barcelona run going? - the best of the stats

Liverpool have not lost in four previous away meetings with Barcelona in all competitions (W2 D2).
Liverpool are the only English side to win away at Barcelona in European competition, beating them 1-0 in the 1975-76 UEFA Cup and 2-1 in the 2006-07 Champions League.
Barcelona have won more Champions League games against English sides (27) than any side has won against clubs from a particular nation in the competition's history.
This is Liverpool's 11th appearance in the European Cup/Champions League semi-finals - they've progressed from eight of their previous 10, failing only in 1964-65 (vs Inter) and 2007-08 (vs Chelsea).
Barcelona have only progressed from one of their four European Cup/Champions League semi-finals against English opposition, having been knocked out in 1974-75 by Leeds United, in 2007-08 by Manchester United and in 2011-12 by Chelsea. Their only such progression came in 2008-09 against Chelsea, before beating Manchester United in the final in Rome.
Barcelona are unbeaten in 31 Champions League home games (W28 D3), the best such run in the competition. The Catalan giants have conceded just 15 goals in those 31 games, and never more than once in a match.
Lionel Messi has scored 24 goals in just 32 Champions League matches against English opposition, however the Argentine has failed to net in his two previous such appearances versus Liverpool.
Only Steven Gerrard (21) has scored more European Cup/Champions League goals for Liverpool than their current trio of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino (14 each).


'Barcelona are the favourites'

Liverpool's chance of winning the Champions League has gradually increased as the favourites have fallen by the wayside. The Reds are the fourth best team in Europe according to the Euro Club Index but must now play the only higher-ranked team left in the competition.

Barcelona are the favourites to reach the final with around twice as much chance as Liverpool of doing so. Liverpool have 32% chance of reaching the Champions League final for the second year in succession.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/48112154
 
Hopefully the refs will stay neutral they have a habit of favouring Barca at crucial moments in big games

Liverpool will score an away goal Barca 2-1 Liv
 
1-0 would be a somewhat satisfactory score for Liverpool to take back to Anfield.
 
I must admit Messi has wiped the floor with Ronaldo this season.

And this is coming from a Ronaldo fan.
 
:))

What was that about Messi not showing up in big games?

Stunning free kick.
 
Messi with another one!

And this was out of the world, damn...

Messi has a new fan today.
 
There was never much of a doubt. Klopp is just hot air. Congratulations on another trophy-less season with the most expensive GK, CB, Salah and Mane.
 
As far as Messi is concerned, mere words do him no justice.

The greatest player the game has ever seen, but of course he will “fail” in the Premier League.
 
Messi has another Ballon d’Or in his bag.

Mark my words.
 
Abdullah said:
There is nobody more desperate than me for a Barca win here, but I have my doubts about Messi grabbing this by the ***** and getting it done.
I will be thrilled if he does it, but he hasn't done it in the CL against a big club for 3 years.
Click to expand...

Never doubt the GOAT. This game was invented for Messi. The Prince that was Promised.
 
Messi - destroyed Man United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Man City, Spurs and now Liverpool, but he doesn’t have what it takes to dominate the Premier League because he will have no answer to the likes of Cardiff, Newcastle, Leicester and Crystal Palace.
 
Loved Messi’s free kick, reminded me of good old days when fotball was art, what a great player he is.

Liverpool deserved better but they are not taking their chances, will be almost impossible at Anfield for them now.
 
Mamoon said:
Messi - destroyed Man United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Man City, Spurs and now Liverpool, but he doesn’t have what it takes to dominate the Premier League because he will have no answer to the likes of Cardiff, Newcastle, Leicester and Crystal Palace.
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Lol, why do you even feel the need to reply people on this? Even kids know that CL is way bigger and tougher than EPL.
 
Goals vs PL Top 6 this season:

Firmino - 5
Kane - 4
Mane - 3
Hazard - 3
Aubameyang - 3
Lacazette - 3
Salah - 2
Messi - 6 (SIX)
 
Someone on here said United's defense is weak, watch when Messi has to go up against Liverpool.

PersonalCrispArrowworm-max-1mb.gif
 
That was a stinker for Liverpool. At least we should have got one goal giving us a chance next week. Liverpool dominated possession that is a rare thing at the Camp Nou yet produced few clear cut chances. Salah should have put his chance and Mane as well even if it was more difficult. So much for not celebrating against your former club, eh Luis? May be being a Liverpool fan I am blinkered but I do feel our forwards miss more chances then other top sides. Lost to Real Madrid in the final last year and most likely to Barcelona this year shows we need more class to compete with the big two.
 
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Definitely Barcelona now. poor Liverpool no Champions Leage, and the Premier League is most likely gone as well now.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">this is art. <a href="https://t.co/WRlvS5faSH">pic.twitter.com/WRlvS5faSH</a></p>— amadí (@amadoit__) <a href="https://twitter.com/amadoit__/status/1123726603039727618?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 1, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
You just knew Messi would make the difference. Don’t see Liverpool coming back in the 2nd leg.
 
Videos showing Messi punched Fabinho and tricked to get a free kick also moved the ball before free kick :)) #worldno1
 
Kianig89 said:
Videos showing Messi punched Fabinho and tricked to get a free kick also moved the ball before free kick :)) #worldno1
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Pretty sure the ref was looking at Messi when he moved the ball, so was the whole Liverpool team. They didn't care because Messi didn't even move the ball closer to the net. Also, Liverpool didn't lose because of luck they lost because they weren't good enough to finish whatever chances they created-which weren't much. Also Barcelona defended brilliantly.
 
Messi getting it done. Even though we were pretty poor by our standards we still destroyed liverpool.
 
Quite a flattering scoreline. Liverpool played well and in fact were the better team for majority of the game. They just couldn't take their chances and need a miracle at anfield if they are to make the final.
 
Having Messi is a disadvantage to the opposition. If we remove Messi's brilliance. Liverpool were as good as Barcelona.

Liverpool needed Messi to have one good game in order for them to get a chance for the Final. But now it seems all done and dusted for Liverpool and their fans.
 
I think we played really well and dominated Barca on many occasions. They took their chances , we didn't.

Its not over, Liverpool isn't a team to give up. It's not impossible to score 3/4 at home but conceding is a big possiblty too against such great attacking players.

If we can score 2 quick goals(first 20 mins), Barca will be rocked and we will have a great chance.
 
Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino miss Liverpool's Champions League tie with Barcelona

Liverpool forwards Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino will miss Tuesday's Champions League semi-final second leg with Barcelona through injury.

Salah left the pitch on a stretcher after an aerial collision with Newcastle keeper Martin Dubravka during Saturday's 3-2 win.

Manager Jurgen Klopp says concussion will keep Salah out, as Liverpool look to overhaul a 3-0 deficit at Anfield.

Firmino missed the win over Newcastle with a muscle injury.

"Two of the world's best strikers are not available tomorrow night and we have to score four goals," said Klopp.

"It doesn't make life easier but we will try for 90 minutes to celebrate the Champions League campaign to give it a proper finish.

"That's the plan. If we can do it, wonderful. If we can't do it, let's fail in the most beautiful way."

Salah appeared to be in tears when he was carried from the pitch at St James' Park but Klopp says the Egypt international now feels "OK".

"It's not good enough from a medical point of view," Klopp added. "He is desperate to play but we cannot do it.

"It's a concussion. That means he would not even be allowed to play."

Klopp is confident Salah will be able to play in Liverpool's final Premier League game of the season against Wolves at Anfield on Sunday, where the Reds could win the title for the first time since 1990.

Firmino was introduced as a substitute on 79 minutes in the away leg at Barcelona, shortly after Lionel Messi had extended the advantage to 2-0.

The Brazilian - who was left out of the win over Huddersfield prior to the Barca trip - then did not feature against Newcastle.

Firmino has 16 goals for the Reds this season, with Salah contributing 26.

Klopp also lost midfielder Naby Keita to injury against Newcastle, the club's fourth game in 14 days.

"We have to make a lot of decisions. Tomorrow night is the third game in six days," Klopp added.

"Barcelona changed 11 positions at the weekend. We will see what the outcome is."

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/48165344
 
Don't think the above news re Salah and Firmino makes a difference. Even with them, absolutely no chance of Liverpool overturning a 3-0 deficit. Just too much
 
Liverpool plagued with injuries no chance

Liverpool 1-2 Barcelona

Barcelona through 5-1 on aggregate
 
With Bobby and Salah's absence we've next to no chance in this one. The tie was lost in the first leg where we missed some sitters despite having more of the match. Like we learnt just can't afford that against a team like Barcelona who'll make any side pay for that. Jurgen Klopp must strengthen the bench during the summer which although better now struggles when a few injuries take place. With the Anfield crowd behind the boys if any team can pull it out of the fire It's Liverpool. As he is likely to start it's time for Rhian Brewster to write his name in Anfield folklore. I am walking on with hope in my heart:ht
 
PakLFC said:
With Bobby and Salah's absence we've next to no chance in this one. The tie was lost in the first leg where we missed some sitters despite having more of the match. Like we learnt just can't afford that against a team like Barcelona who'll make any side pay for that. Jurgen Klopp must strengthen the bench during the summer which although better now struggles when a few injuries take place. With the Anfield crowd behind the boys if any team can pull it out of the fire It's Liverpool. As he is likely to start it's time for Rhian Brewster to write his name in Anfield folklore. I am walking on with hope in my heart:ht
Click to expand...

Well time for new heroes to step up!
 
Teenage Liverpool striker Rhian Brewster is "ready" to play in their Champions League tie with Barcelona, according to manager Jurgen Klopp.

Liverpool must overturn a 3-0 deficit from last week's first leg defeat to reach a ninth European Cup final.

The Reds are without injured forwards Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino, which may mean Brewster starts.

"He's ready. There is a big chance. It's nearly sure. It's guaranteed," said Klopp of Brewster's involvement.

"The situations are always like this. In an ideal world, in a season you always have much more players than you can involve in a squad.

"When you're on the bench, you are an option to play."

Brewster will be named in the matchday squad for only the second time, having been an unused substitute against Crystal Palace in April 2017.

The highly-rated youngster has struggled with injuries this season but Klopp claims he has regained his sharpness.

He added: "Rhian has been in just outstanding shape for the last three or four weeks, but the other players were there as well.

"It's just good so now it's really nice in a difficult situation that we can give him that spot in the squad and have him there to bring on as a striker."

Despite a 3-0 deficit Klopp retains hope of Liverpool progressing to back-to-back Champions League finals, and if they do lose they will "fail in the most beautiful way".

"We are far away from giving up," said Klopp. "There is hope.

"If there is an opportunity to go to the next round, we have to try."

The German added: "We want to celebrate the Champions League campaign, either with a proper finish or another goal.

"If we can do it, wonderful, and if not then fail in the most beautiful way, if you want, with a close result."

Two goals from Lionel Messi and another from former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez saw Barca home in last week's first leg at the Nou Camp.

Barcelona threw away a three-goal lead to lose at Roma in last season's quarter-finals - but at the weekend the already-crowned Spanish champions had the luxury of resting all 11 players who played last Wednesday for the defeat to Celta Vigo on Saturday.

Liverpool are looking to become only the third team in the history of the European Cup or Champions League to come from three goals down after the first leg of a semi-final and progress to the final, after Panathinaikos in 1970-71 and Barcelona themselves in 1985-86.

"Tuesday night will be the third game in six days and Barcelona changed 11 positions on Saturday, so that is a massive difference as well, of course," Klopp said.

"Together with our supporters it was a long season and there is at least a little chance to make it even longer.

"If not, these are the last two home games of an incredible season.

"I think we should celebrate that with a good performance on the pitch and a very good performance in the stands. That would be really nice."

'Liverpool's chances of reaching final under 4%'
Simon Gleave, head of sports analysis, Gracenote

"Last week's 3-0 defeat at Euro Club Index number one team FC Barcelona has reduced Liverpool's chance of reaching this year's Champions League final to under 4%.

"Liverpool's chance of winning the 2019 Champions League has therefore also dropped significantly, from around 23% before the first leg of the semi-final to 3%.

"One small ray of hope for Liverpool fans is that if they were to pull off a huge shock and make it to the final, the Reds would be big favourites to win the competition."

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/48179167
 
As a neutral I am enjoying this freaking match!

Beautiful play by Liverpool!
 
Cornered tigers mode by Liverpool today. Barca don't know what hit them! [MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION], Liverpool is not Manchester City, they know how to not bottle UCL knockouts.
 
One of the greatest European games on English soil. The effort, dedication and the hunger shown by Liverpool today was incredible.

After pretty much giving up on the league, they gave everything they had today. Barcelona didn’t get a sniff apart from a couple of half-decent chances.

The absence of Salah seemed to have spurred them on further. Wijnaldum and Origi played the games of their lives.
 
Muhammad10 said:
Cornered tigers mode by Liverpool today. Barca don't know what hit them! [MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION], Liverpool is not Manchester City, they know how to not bottle UCL knockouts.
Click to expand...

City were very unlucky against Spurs, but this is incredible. Can’t take anything away from Liverpool and Klopp today.
 
Van Dijk - rock solid.

Easily the best defender in the world at the moment.
 
Truly one of the greatest comebacks of all time.

Unbelievable and incredibly entertaining!
 
What a game! Unbelievable! Liverpool are the second greatest Champions League team ever behind Madrid. The win against Milan in 2005 and now this win without two of their top players. They really deserve the trophy now. Would be such a shame if Liverpool end this season without either the PL or the CL. Klopp has proven that he is the best in the world.
 
Dios said:
What a game! Unbelievable! Liverpool are the second greatest Champions League team ever behind Madrid. The win against Milan in 2005 and now this win without two of their top players. They really deserve the trophy now. Would be such a shame if Liverpool end this season without either the PL or the CL. Klopp has proven that he is the best in the world.
Click to expand...

No, he is a Cup dodger :)
 
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I had this feeling after Barcelonas 3-0 victory last weeks which was a very lucky one and only due to one man; Messi. Had Messi not played that match Liverpool would have made it to Finals quite easily. Barca is only a one-man team whereas Liverpool is a complete team not depending on individuals. What a wonderdul win, loved it!
 
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