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Big Game Focus: Liverpool v Barcelona

Soccer Football - Champions League Semi Final First Leg - FC Barcelona v Liverpool - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - May 1, 2019 Barcelona's Luis Suarez in action with Liverpool's Andrew Robertson REUTERS/Albert Gea

 

After that heavy 3-0 defeat in the first leg at the Camp Nou, Liverpool have a mountain to climb in their second-leg meeting with La Liga champions Barcelona this week. The Reds will look to emulate last season’s AS Roma heroics, who overturned a three-goal deficit against Barca. Can the Reds do it? Here is the Big Game Focus with some betting tips and teams news. Bet on the game here.

Lionel Messi inspired Barcelona to an emphatic 3-0 win over Liverpool in the Champions League semi-final first leg and will look to finish the job on Tuesday at Anfield in a huge clash. Barcelona are also looking to book their place in the final for the first time since 2015.

Jurgen Klopp’s men have it all to do in their Champions League semi-final second leg clash with Barcelona on Tuesday. Their hopes of qualifying for the second straight Champions League final are hanging by the slimmest of margins. The Reds must now find inspiration to score four unanswered goals to go through.

Betting preview

Liverpool are unbeaten in 19 home matches since they lost 2-1 to Chelsea in the Carabao Cup back in September. Barcelona have won just five of their last 18 away Champions League knockout ties. Therefore you can back a Home Double Chance at odds of 1.35.

Messi has 12 Champions League goals for Barcelona this season, just two shy of his best ever tally in a single season, which was 14 in the 2011/2012 season. He’s also netted more goals against English teams than any other player in the competition’s history, with 26, including six this season. Furthermore, the Argentine has scored 15 goals in his last 12 matches. Therefore you can back Messi as Anytime Goalscorer at odds of 2.05.

Three of Liverpool’s last five home matches in the competition has seen Under 3.5 Goals scored. On the other hand, four of Barca’s last five away matches in the Champions League have seen three or fewer goals scored. The Reds will also be missing key attacking players in Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah. Therefore, odds of 1.60 for Under 3.5 Goals are attractive.

Team news

Liverpool are suffering somewhat of an injury crisis, with keys players Salah and Firmino out for this clash. Naby Keita and Adam Lallana will also miss out.

Ousmane Dembele sustained a hamstring injury at Celta Vigo and misses out for Barcelona. Rafinha is the only other injury concern for the La Liga side.

Possible line-ups

Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson, Henderson, Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Shaqiri, Origi, Mane

Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Roberto, Pique, Lenglet, Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, Arthur, Messi, Suarez, Coutinho

 

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