Liverpool Targets Greatest Comeback against Solid Barca Tonight

Although Liverpool emerged victorious from a bruising battle against Newcastle to remain in the hunt for the Premier League title, the Reds sustained too many wounds to summon a Champions League semifinal comeback against Barcelona tonight.

Coming from a late double from Lionel Messi last week in Camp Nou, that defeat has left Jurgen Klopp’s men with a mountain to climb to overturn a 3-0 first leg crushing if they are to reach a second consecutive Champions League final.

Liverpool have overcome such deficits before in the Champions League, most famously in the 2005 final against AC Milan.

But hopes of another famous European comeback at fortress Anfield were dealt a blow when Mohamed Salah was stretchered off with a head knock as Liverpool edged out Newcastle 3-2 on Saturday to move two points ahead of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League. That was before Man city’s clash with Leicester City last night.

Salah watched a thrilling end to the match at St. James’ Park in the dressing room as his replacement Divock Origi headed home fellow substitute Xherdan Shaqiri’s free-kick four minutes from time.

However, with Roberto Firmino already ruled out due to a groin injury, few would give Liverpool any hope of overhauling a three-goal deficit without two of their prolific front three should Salah not start.

Despite a sensational season, Liverpool’s chances of winning either trophy are fading.

Barcelona will also not be complacent heading to Anfield a year on from letting a 4-1 first leg lead against Roma slip away in the quarterfinals.

Messi made it clear from before the season began that the Champions League was his and Barca’s primary target in his first campaign as club captain.

Moreover, while Liverpool toiled on Tyneside on Saturday night, Barca coach Ernesto Valverde had the luxury of making 11 changes for an inconsequential 2-0 defeat to Celta Vigo having already wrapped up the Spanish title.

Meanwhile, Luis Suarez insisted yesterday he ‘won’t celebrate in the same way’ if the Barcelona striker finds the back at the net against Liverpool at Anfield tonight.

The Uruguayan striker opened the scoring for Barcelona at the Nou Camp last week in the first-leg and raced off behind the goal before finishing with a knee-slide celebration.

When quizzed on his celebration and if he would hesitate to do it again back at Anfield, Suarez accepted he would do things differently from that first leg.

‘Celebrating the goal? Everyone in football knows the importance of the goal I scored last week,’ he said.

‘I have all the respect in the world for Liverpool’s fans. I’m very thankful to them. If I score a goal here, I won’t celebrate it in the same way.’

Suarez, who spent four-and-ahalf years with the Reds, further antagonised the Liverpool supporters after he clashed with Andy Robertson and Virgil van Dijk during a thrilling first leg.

Reflecting on his ‘fond memories’ on Merseyside, Suarez said he is prepared for a potentially hostile reception after his first-leg exploits but is hopeful for ‘more applause than whistles’ when he takes to the pitch.

He said: ‘All the work I did here and the way I’m thankful for Liverpool.

‘The team had four or five years without being in the Champions League, the people here know the work I did here. I think there will be more applause than whistles for me.

‘Being at Liverpool helped me in some many ways, it made me more professional, it helped me mature. Having players here with great experience allowed me to be better even more.

‘Being captain of Liverpool was one of the proudest moments of my career. I won’t forget it.’