LIVERPOOL (AFP) - Liverpool must turn to unlikely heroes to overturn a 3-0 Champions League semi-final, first leg deficit against Barcelona on Tuesday (May 7) according to defender Trent Alexander-Arnold after top scorer Mohamed Salah was ruled out with concussion.
Roberto Firmino will also be absent against the Spanish champions leaving Jurgen Klopp without two of his most potent weapons for an already massive challenge.
"Obviously we've got two of our main goalscorers out, but it also presents an opportunity for some of the other lads to come in, make a name for themselves and make themselves heroes," said Alexander-Arnold.
"If we do overturn the deficit tomorrow then whoever scores, their name will always be remembered because I am sure it will be one of those really special nights."
Salah was stretchered off during Liverpool's tense 3-2 win at Newcastle on Saturday that kept alive their chances of a first Premier League title in 29 years after colliding with Magpies' goalkeeper Martin Dubravka for a high ball.
"It's a concussion so that means he would not even be allowed to play," said Klopp at his pre-match press conference on Monday.
"He feels OK but it is not good enough from a medical point of view that is all. He's desperate (to play) but we cannot do it."
Klopp was realistic at his side's chances of progressing to a second consecutive Champions League final, but refused to give up hope with Liverpool's history of European comebacks.
"Together with our supporters it was a long season and there is at least a little chance to make it even longer," added Klopp.
"Two of the world's best strikers are not available tomorrow night and we have to score four goals against Barcelona to go through after 90 minutes.
"It doesn't make life easier, but as long as we have 11 players on the pitch, we will try it." - Anfield an extra man - Luis Suarez scored the opening goal against his former club in last week's first leg at the Camp Nou, but ahead of his return to Anfield, the Uruguayan warned his current teammates of the lift playing on home soil will give Liverpool.
"To play at Anfield is like playing with an extra man for what the fans transmit to the Liverpool players," said Suarez.
And Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde believes attack will be the best form of defence as if the Catalans get an away goal, Liverpool will need to score five.
"What we have to do is score," said Valverde.
Suarez will be joined by Lionel Messi and Philippe Coutinho on his return to Anfield after a £142 million (S$254 million) move to Barca from Liverpool last year.
But Ousmane Dembele is absent for the visitors due to a hamstring injury and Valverde believes the Frenchman's absence will be felt just as much as Salah and Firmino.
"We don't want any player to be injured. It would have been extraordinary to see them all on the field. They are all important," he added.
"Dembele's absence is a problem. Against a team that concedes space (in behind) it is always important to have player like Ousmane."
4:49 PM ET MADRID, Feb 3 (Reuters) - Karim Benzema scored his sixth goal in four games as Real Madrid beat Alaves 3-0 on Sunday for a fourth successive La Liga victory which took the European champions to within eight points of leaders Barcelona.
Confident Real Madrid stroll to fourth straight win — Newsverge
Memphis Depay dazzled for the Netherlands with a brace and two assists as they cruised past Belarus 4-0 in their opening Euro 2020 qualifier on Thursday despite having to play the final 20 minutes with 10 men.
Depay fires Dutch past Belarus in Euro 2020 qualifying opener
"We have exceptional young players who weren't given the licence to express themselves, and being able to express yourself is something that is often associated with United," Yorke, who has scored
Determined Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was 'rare breed' at Man Utd
Handsome payouts for Mourinho - three sacks full Jose Mourinho leaves Old Trafford with his reputation as one of football's most divisive characters even more pronounced. PHOTO: EPA-EFE
Handsome payouts for Mourinho - three sacks full | All My
allmysportsnews.com/soccer/handsome-payouts-for-mourinho-three-sacks-full/
Handsome payouts for Mourinho - three sacks full Posted on 12/24/2018 LONDON • Another three-year cycle has ended with yet another Jose Mourinho sacking and a handsome payout.
Football: Jose Mourinho says he lacked help in Manchester
Jurgen Klopp believes his Liverpool squad could not have done more to take their first ever Premier League title after falling just short to Manchester City on the last day of the season.
Arsenal star Aaron Ramsey set to cash in with Juventus move: Reports Description: Aaron Ramsey is already free to sign a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs and had been courted by a number of big names with Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, PSG and Inter Milan also reportedly interested.
Ramsey set to cash in with Juventus move | The Guardian
Having missed Tottenham's dramatic semi-final victory over Ajax due to injury, a fit-again Harry Kane will be determined to make an impact when he returns to the side in Saturday's Champions
Football: Tottenham to make late call on Kane for Champions
Shape up or ship out: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer warns his Manchester United squad they must be fit before pre-season or they will not go on tour. dailymail.co.uk - Joe Bernstein. Manchester United players have been given strict training programmes for their summer holidays — and been told to reach peak fitness before they …
Step Up or Ship Out - YouTube
History made as women to referee men's AFC Cup team will take charge of a men's continental club cup clash. Cup match between Myanmar's Yangon United and Cambodia's Naga World at the
History made as women to referee men's AFC Cup clash | Free
Real, the only top-three side in La Liga to win this weekend, moved on to 42 points, two behind second-placed Atletico Madrid, who lost 1-0 at Real Betis, and eight adrift of Barca who drew 2-2 at
Valencia. Football: Valencia chairman Murthy says King's Cup victory 'icing on the cake' to a fine season. straitstimes.com - DAVID LEE. SINGAPORE - Their title drought has ended after more than a decade, and in just five seasons after taking over in 2014, Peter Lim's Valencia are …
Kerber crashes to Russian teen at Roland Garros as Federer
Feb 26 (Reuters) - Gylfi Sigurdsson deepened Cardiff City's Premier League relegation fears with two well-taken goals in Everton's 3-0 victory in the Welsh capital on Tuesday. A first half low on
Sigurdsson double helps Everton sink Cardiff
en.banglatribune.com/sports/news/31201/Sigurdsson-double-helps-Everton-sink-Cardiff
CARDIFF CITY 0 EVERTON 3. Gylfi Sigurdsson deepened Cardiff City's Premier League relegation fears with two well-taken goals in Everton's 3-0 victory in the Welsh capital on Tuesday. Sigurdsson is now the leading Icelandic goalscorer in the Premier League, moving two clear of the 55 scored by former Chelsea player Eidur Gudjohnsen.
Cardiff City vs. Everton - Football Match Report - February
Apr 03, 2019 · Jürgen Klopp believes Mohamed Salah has adapted brilliantly to the extra attention he has attracted this season and is unconcerned by the longest goalscoring drought of the striker's Liverpool
Official Liverpool FC Store | Liverpool FC Ball
AD
store.liverpoolfc.com/ball
Report Ad
Browse Our Wide Range Of Exclusive Liverpool FC Souvenirs. Shop Online Now.
Football: Chelsea boss Sarri baffled by 6-0 humbling at Man
Juventus deny Pep link for manager TURIN • Juventus have poured cold water over rumours that they were planning a dramatic pounce for Pep Guardiola, saying that they had never even spoken to the Manchester City boss.
Juventus deny Pep link for manager - Virginia Bus
virginiabus.info/sports/juventus-deny-pep-link-for-manager/
TURIN • Juventus have poured cold water over rumours that they were planning a dramatic pounce for Pep Guardiola, saying that they had never even spoken to the Manchester City boss. "It's a strange world, we've not had any contact with Guardiola nor have we ever thought about it given that he's under contract," Juve's […]
Juventus deny making an approach for Guardiola
0 comments:
Post a Comment