Barcelona are set to host Liverpool at the Camp Nou in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final clash on Wednesday. Barca last won the tournament in 2016 and will be looking to reclaim the top European honour this year, after securing their 26th La Liga title on Saturday. Liverpool, meanwhile, are in a dogfight with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table and reached the final of Europe's biggest club competition just last season, only to fall at the hands of Real Madrid.
This semi-final fixture features two of the world's most high-octane offences at the top of their game, so it should produce a classic to remember for ages. There are plenty of stars all around the pitch for either side, so a moment of magic could come at any time.
TEAM NEWS:
BARCELONA
Barcelona will welcome their talisman Messi back into the starting lineup after he was only a half-time introduction at the weekend, when Sergio Busquets was also rested. Suarez, who scored 69 goals in 11 league games for Liverpool, will lead the line for the hosts, but the position of another former Merseyside favourite is less certain with Philippe Coutinho competing for a place with Ousmane Dembele.
Valverde must also decide whether to start the combative Arturo Vidal or more creative Ivan Rakitic, while Sergi Roberto could come in for Nelson Semedo at right-back. Rafinha, who has been sidelined since November with a knee ligament injury, is the only guaranteed absentee for Barcelona.
LIVERPOOL
Liverpool are sweating over the fitness of Roberto Firmino, who missed the win over Huddersfield on Friday night due to a small groin tear - although Klopp played down the severity of the problem and the Brazilian could recover in time for Wednesday. Fabinho was also absent last time out after suffering a blow to the head during a very brief substitute appearance against Cardiff City, but that was a precaution and he is expected to be available.
Adam Lallana is the only other injury doubt for the visitors, but Klopp has decisions to make elsewhere with Joe Gomez, Joel Matip and James Milner among the players pushing for recalls.
POSSIBLE LINEUPS
Barcelona possible starting lineup: Andre Marc Ter Stegen; Sergi Roberto, Gerard Pique, Clement Lenglet, Jordi Alba; Ivan Rakitic, Sergi Busquets, Arthur Melo; Lionel Messi, Suarez, Philippe Coutinho.
Liverpool possible starting lineup: Alisson Becker; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Matip, Virgil Van Dijk, Andrew Robertson; Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Gini Wijnaldum; Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane.
RECENT FORM
Barca have been in fantastic form since the turn of the year, losing only three times in 2019. The Blaugrana are coming off a win against Levante which saw the squad lift the La Liga trophy for the fourth time in five years. Liverpool on the other hand have been battling for the top spot in the Premier League with Manchester City for months now and their performances have kept up with the demand.
The Reds have won each of their last ten games in all competitions by a combined score of 29-7, an incredible stat considering they've played the likes of Bayern Munich, Tottenham and Chelsea over this stretch of matches. The Reds will also have some extra momentum after Virgil van Dijk was awarded the PFA Player of the Year Award on Sunday night and five Liverpool players made the PFA Team of the Year.
Here's how each side have fared in their previous five matches in all competitions.
Barcelona Liverpool
Barcelona 1-0 Levante (27/04) Liverpool 5-0 Huddersfield (26/04)
Alaves 2-0 Barcelona (23/04) Cardiff City 0-2 Liverpool (21/04)
Barcelona 2-1 Real Sociedad (20/04) Porto 1-4 Liverpool (17/04)
Barcelona 3-0 Manchester United (16/04) Liverpool 2-0 Chelsea (14/04)
Huesca 0-0 Barcelona (13/04) Liverpool 2-0 Porto (09/04)
HEAD TO HEAD
Barcelona and Liverpool have faced off just a total of eight times throughout their long histories. The Reds hold the current lead between the sides, winning three and drawing two of the matches played.
Barcelona have taken the other two matches by a combined score of 4-1, but the Blaugrana have never knocked Liverpool out of a European competition.
The previous fixture between the sides came back in the 2007 Champions League round of 16, with Liverpool advancing on away goals following an aggregate score of 2-2. This tie sparked the Reds to the final of the tournament but the squad would eventually lose to Milan 2-1 at the Olympic Stadium in Athens.
PREDICTION
Both sides have been in electric form all season, with top scorers Messi and Mohamed Salah leading their respective leagues in goals scored. There will be no shortage of attacking talent on display but it may end up being the defence that will decide this match. If the Reds can figure out a way to slow down Messi in the final third of the pitch, they will have a good chance of taking home at least a draw from the Camp Nou.
Obviously this is easier said than done, but if any squad left in the tournament is equipped with the right set of defenders to achieve the feat it would be the Reds. In the end, Barca will get the best of Liverpool in this match but the Reds will find a way to come away with at least an away goal and give themselves a chance to advance to the final in the second leg at Anfield.
predicted Scoreline: Barcelona 3-1 Liverpool
MESSI'S TARGET AGAINST THE REDS
Barcelona talisman, Lionel Messi has been a thorn in the flesh for all the English teams he has faced, but Liverpool standout as the only English team he's yet to score against despite facing them twice in the Champions League.
Liverpool got the better of Blaugranas in 2007 at the Camp Nou, with the Argentine playing across both legs in the round of 16 but failed to find the back of the net.
Messi will be hoping to put an end to this when both teams face each other on Wednesday as he hope to increase his goal tally against the English Premier League top six sides.
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