Is there any hope for Liverpool against Messi-inspired Barcelona?

Liverpool head into Tuesday’s Champions League semifinal against Barcelona chasing a three-goal deficit from the first leg. Do the Reds stand any chance?

Taking to the field against a Lionel Messi-inspired Barcelona side is a challenge at the best of times. Doing so with a three-goal deficit to overturn is near impossible, but that’s the task Liverpool will face when they host their Catalan opponents on Tuesday.

Despite playing what Jurgen Klopp described as the club’s “best Champions League game in two years,” the Reds suffered a disheartening 3-0 loss when the two sides met last week. Luis Suarez opened the scoring in the first half before Messi struck twice, including an incredible free-kick, to consign Liverpool to their joint-heaviest ever defeat in the competition.

With Liverpool chasing three goals against arguably the best team in Europe, you’d be forgiven for believing the tie is done and dusted. After all, only a handful of teams have come back from a deficit of the same margin to win. Liverpool happen to be one of those teams, though, and the Reds are famous for Champions League comebacks, none more notable than the 2005 final where three second-half goals saw the club fight back to complete a stunning victory over AC Milan.

If the miracle of Istanbul doesn’t inspire the Reds to mount a comeback, perhaps Barcelona’s collapse in the last year’s campaign will instill a sense of belief. The Blaugrana took a seemingly unassailable 4-1 lead over Roma in the first leg of the quarterfinals only to crash out of the competition following a 3-0 defeat in the return leg.

Such results are, of course, the exception to the norm and Liverpool will know that they have an enormous task ahead of them if they are to progress to a second consecutive final in the competition.

Klopp is unlikely to deviate from the approach he adopted at the Camp Nou where Liverpool stayed true to their attacking principles. The Reds controlled proceedings for large parts of the match and the theme heading into Tuesday’s clash may well have been different if one or all of Sadio Mane, James Milner or Mohamed Salah had taken their chances. Instead, it was Barcelona who capitalized on their opportunities to leave the Reds ruing their profligacy in front of goal.

Liverpool now have to go for broke at Anfield but their task will be made harder by the continued absence of Firmino, whose presence was sorely missed in last week’s defeat. The Brazilian was only fit enough to feature from the bench, with his replacement Georginio Wijnaldum ineffectual in a makeshift forward’s role. Firmino has since been ruled out and it’s likely that Divock Origi will take his place after scoring a late winner in Liverpool’s win over Newcastle at the weekend.

Klopp will also have to make two further changes to his starting XI from last week’s defeat. Naby Keita is ruled out after suffering an abductor injury and will miss the remainder of the season, while Salah was stretchered off against Newcastle after suffering a blow to head. Jordan Henderson will likely come in for Keita, although Wijnaldum could also drop back into a more familiar deeper midfield role, while either Daniel Sturridge or Xherdan Shaqiri will start for Salah in the event that the Egyptian doesn’t recover in time.

With Liverpool looking to go out all-out-attack, Trent Alexander-Arnold should come in for Joe Gomez at right-back. Gomez performed admirably during the first leg but the natural center-back has his limitations when going forward and only just returned from a long-term injury. Alexander-Arnold, on the other hand, has been one of the most creative players in Europe this season and showed his worth with two more assists during the win over Newcastle. His attacking prowess could help Liverpool chase down Barcelona’s first-leg lead.

Ernesto Valverde might be inclined to make a change or two of his own. The scoreline from the first leg paints the picture of a comfortable win for Barcelona but in reality they often found themselves in the unfamiliar position of having to play on the counter, at home no less. Sergi Roberto and Clement Llenglet in particular seemed to struggle with Liverpool’s pace and Valverde may elect to make tactical tweaks to address these concerns. They will also be without Ousmane Dembele, who suffered a hamstring injury in Barca’s defeat to Celta Vigo on Saturday.

Nonetheless, the Catalan giants will no doubt be happy to sit back and absorb the pressure from Liverpool again. The Reds have no option but to throw bodies forward which will inevitably leave gaps at the back; gaps which Messi & Co. will be waiting to exploit at the first chance they get.

Klopp’s men will back themselves against anyone, even in the face of insurmountable odds, but a Messi-inspired Barcelona always arrives with the disclaimer that you get your hopes up at your own risk.