Simply put, the 3-0 scoreline at full-time in Spain a week ago didn't tell the whole story. The Reds had matched if not better Barca but failure to take any of the clear cut chances they created and Barca being ruthlessly clinical on the other end meant a somewhat lopsided result. But that's football, a game can be won or lost by the finest of margins.
If Liverpool had gone into the first leg tie with a 50-50 or thereabout chance of winning that particular game and the tie in general, they head into the second leg on their own patch with the odds stacked steeply against them. Why?
1. Injuries.
Two of the attacking trident of Salah, Firmino and Mane will be unavailable for selection at Anfield. Firmino is battling a muscle injury while Salah suffered a concussion against Newcastle in the weekend leaving Mane as the only available attacker. At the Camp Nou with Firmino unable to start, Liverpool had to start midfielder Gini Wijnaldum in an unfamiliar false 9 role. The Netherlands international gave his all in his new role but it was clear that he lacked the anticipation of a striker in the Barca box, The number 5 failed to put a shot away for the entirety of the game. Without Salah as well, Liverpool will be calling on fringe players on the biggest of occasion whoever of Struridge, Origi or Shaqiri starts will have their job cut out for them.
2. Barcelona are the fresher of the two sides.
While Liverpool were involved in an energy sapping 2-3 win against Newcastle in the league at the weekend, the already crowned LaLiga champions had the luxury of field a weakened reserve side against Celta Vigo. The Catalans eventually lost that game 2-0 but that won't matter in the grand scheme of things with the real chance of proceeding to the Champions League Finals in Madrid. Barca's only concern ahead of this game will be Ousmane Dembele's injury, with the speedy winger ruled out of this game after injurying his hamstring 5mins into that Celta Vigo game.
3. Pressure to deliver.
Barcelona hold a 3-0 cushion and an away goal will even make the already hard job in front of Liverpool even harder. City scrapped a 1-0 yesternight meaning that Liverpool head into the final round of the Premier League season with the title destiny not in their own hands. They'll need to win against an ever dangerous Wolves side and hope that al already safe Brighton can nick points off City at the Amex Stadium. Otherwise, after such a thrilling season, Jurgen Klopp's side are staring at the very possibility if ending the season empty handed.
4. The balancing act.
Ideally, Liverpool have to score three goals without reply to take the tie to extra time or four outright goals to proceed to the finals. This means the Reds have to play a balancing act, attack while ensuring you don't leave spaces behind for Barca to utilize on the counter as was the case in the dying minutes of the first leg where Barca could easily have gone 4 or 5-0 up. That is a tough ask for an threadbare squad. The final training session yesterday had just 14 players with Virgil van Dijk, Alex Oxlade Chamberlain and Adam Lallana doing their sessions away for the lot.
All said, Liverpool will be counting on the Anfield atmosphere and hope to their memorable victories in Europe on their home turf which include wins against Man United, Borussia Dortmund, Villarreal, Man City, Roma, Paris Saint-Germain and Napoli.
It's never over until its truly over. If we gonna go out, let's go out fighting and i Barca are to proceed let them go through a round trip to hell first.
COYR! YNWA!
Prediction:
I think this game will produce over 2.5 goals and I am backing that on Bet Scorum.
Giveaway
Predict the game's correct score in the comments section below and win SCR 20!
Format:
Liverpool vs Barcelona
Score: *-*
Tiebreaker: First team to Score. (Liverpool, Barcelona or No Goal)
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