Liverpool vs Barcelona| Live® Stream™ Online TV

Mohamed Salah could make Liverpool v Barcelona; Firmino out


Mohamed Salah injured
Mohamed Salah is the Premier League's top scorer with 22 goals this season
Liverpool are optimistic Mohamed Salah will be fit to face Barcelona on Tuesday after suffering a head injury against Newcastle, but fellow forward Roberto Firmino will miss the game.
Salah left on a stretcher after an aerial collision with Magpies keeper Martin Dubravka during the 3-2 win.
The Reds need to overturn a 3-0 Champions League semi-final first-leg deficit against Barca at Anfield to reach the final.
"He was OK," Klopp said of Salah.
The Premier League's top scorer was able to watch some of the game in the dressing room after his 73rd-minute departure for Divock Origi, who scored the winner to send the Reds top of the table.
"Mo got the hip of the goalie in his head and then was on the ground," said the Reds boss.
"The doctor had to make a decision - on the pitch or off the pitch - and the decision was off the pitch and we accept that of course.
"When we came in, he was sitting in the dressing room and had watched the game. He was then fine but of course we have to wait. He got a proper knock in that situation. We'll have to see."
Firmino will miss Tuesday's semi-final second leg against Barcelona with a muscle injury. He was a late substitute in the first leg and missed the entire game against the Magpies.
"He will not be ready for Tuesday and the rest [of the season] we will see," said Klopp, whose side face Wolves on the final day next Sunday.
Liverpool's win means the title race will definitely go to the wire. Liverpool are two points clear of rivals Manchester City, who play their game in hand against Leicester on Monday.


Lionel Messi scored twice to put Barcelona in control of their Champions League semi-final against Liverpool, winning 3-0 in the first leg at the Nou Camp.
It was former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez who put the hosts ahead in the 26th minute, flicking a lovely Jordi Alba cross home home over Alisson and the 32-year-old did not hide his celebrations.
Barcelona rode the wave of Liverpool pressure at the start of the second half and Messi (75) was in the right place at the right time as he slotted home after Suarez had hit the bar.
But his real moment of magic came seven minutes later as he swept a sensational free-kick around the Liverpool wall and into the top corner, scoring his 600th goal for the club and putting Barcelona in pole position to reach their first Champions League final since 2015.
Luis Suarez opens the scoring against former team Liverpool at the Nou Camp
Luis Suarez opens the scoring against former team Liverpool at the Nou Camp

How Messi stunned the Nou Camp

Liverpool's team selection was perplexing, with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Roberto Firmino on the bench while James Milner, Georgino Wijnaldum, Naby Keita and Fabinho all started. When the game began, Wijnaldum took up the false nine role left vacant by Firmino with a flat midfield three as Jurgen Klopp maintained an eye on Saturday's crunch Premier League game against Newcastle, live on Sky Sports.

Player ratings

Barcelona: Ter Stegen (8), Roberto (6), Pique (7), Lenglet (7), Alba (8), Rakitic (7), Busquets (8), Vidal (6), Messi (9), Suarez (9), Coutinho (6). 

Subs used: Semedo (6), Dembele (n/a), Alena (n/a).

Liverpool: Alisson (6), Gomez (6), Matip (6), Van Dijk (6), Robertson (7), Fabinho (6), Wijnaldum (6), Milner (6), Keita (6), Salah (7), Mane (7). 

Subs used: Henderson (7), Firmino (n/a), Origi (n/a).

Man of the match: Lionel Messi.
It was an entertaining first half, with Philippe Coutinho attempting to strike an early blow to his former side, but his 16th minute strike - which was offside - went whistling past Alisson's far post.
For all the pre-match questions on Liverpool's formation, it was thrown slightly into disarray as Keita picked up a groin issue following a clash with Ivan Rakitic. He was replaced after 24 minutes by Jordan Henderson, and two minutes later, a familiar face came back to haunt Liverpool.
Naby Keita was substituted midway through the first half
Naby Keita was substituted midway through the first half
A sensational cross from Jordi Alba on the left picked out the run of Suarez through the middle of the two centre-backs. He then flicked the ball over the top of Alisson with a delightful finish before celebrating his first Champions League goal of the season with a knee slide in front of the Nou Camp crowd.

Team news

Barcelona made three changes with Sergi Roberto, Sergio Buquets and Lionel Messi coming in for Nelson Semedo, Arthur Melo and Osumane Dembele. In terms of Liverpool team changes , Jurgen Klopp made four from the weekend's win against Huddersfield. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dejan Lovren, Jordan Henderson and Daniel Sturridge being replaced by Joe Gomez, Joel Matip, Fabinho and James Milner.
Liverpool should have equalised in the 35th minute when Henderson slotted a ball in behind Pique, picking out the advancing Mane. He only had the goalkeeper to beat from 15 yards, but could only send his effort flying over the crossbar.
Liverpool started the second half on the front foot as they searched for the all-important away goal and Marc-Andre Ter Stegen was called into action. He denied Milner twice - once with a curling effort and the second a fierce drive into his hands - and got down low to keep out a Mohamed Salah effort in between.
But for all of Liverpool's possession and pressure in the second period, it was Barcelona who doubled their lead in the 75th minute. Suarez's initial effort hammered against the crossbar but Messi was waiting to roll the rebounded ball home with Alisson well off his line.
It was a moment of sheer class from Messi in the 82nd minute as he netted Barcelona's third and bought up his 600th goal for the club. He lined up a free-kick from 25 yards out after a foul from Fabinho on the Argentine and he got the delivery inch-perfect as he curled the ball around the Liverpool wall and into the top corner.

Liverpool gave their hosts a scare not long after, though, as Firmino raced down the field, getting a pass around Ter Stegen, but his shot was cleared off the line by Gerard Pique. Salah was waiting with a tap-in from eight yards, but he could only find the post as Barcelona saw out their victory.

Opta stats

  • Liverpool suffered their joint-heaviest Champions League defeat, also losing 0-3 to Real Madrid in October 2014.
  • Barcelona's Luis Suárez scored his first Champions League goal of the season, with his 36th shot of the campaign; his previous goal in the competition was in April 2018 against Roma, whose goalkeeper that day was Alisson.
  • Liverpool have now lost more matches in the Champions League this season (4 in 11 matches) than in all other competitions combined (3 in 38 matches).
  • In the top five European leagues in all competitions, Barcelona's Lionel Messi has scored eight direct free-kick goals this season - twice as many as any other player.

Man of the match - Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi scored a sensational free kick against Liverpool
Could it be anyone else? Once again, Messi pulls his team towards glory and his free-kick was nothing short of masterful. It was his 600th for Barcelona - 14 years to the day since his first senior goal - and they Catalan side look unstoppable with him on the field.
Our man in Spain, Michael Hincks, adds: "He looked in the mood from the get go, at times dribbling past Liverpool players for fun, and as the visitors pressed in the second half, it was Messi who delivered the double blow, reacting quickest when Suarez's effort hit the bar before scoring a vintage free-kick."
Lionel Messi's 600 Barcelona goals split by competition

Manager reaction

Jurgen Klopp: "It's OK to lose away in the Champions League as long as you score a goal, we didn't and that's a problem. That makes our life not easy. My boys gained a lot of respect again for the way they played and how they've developed. I had so much fun watching that game but we lost it. That's not fun. But I've been in this business for a long time and I have learned to accept."



Comments

Post a Comment