Liverpool v Barcelona: Reds can make their mark at Anfield

THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE semi-finals conclude this midweek and on Tuesday night Liverpool look to try and fight back from 3-0 down against Barcelona at Anfield. Daniel McCulloch (@DMcCulloch1984) shares his betting thoughts.

Liverpool v Barcelona | Tuesday 7th May 2019, 20:00 | BT Sport

With Mo Salah and Roberto Firmino ruled out of Tuesday night's clash with Barcelona, it would take a brave man to back Liverpool to make the Champions League final, and I am certainly not that courageous. I am, however, still of the view that they are value to win the second leg at 6/4 with Unibet.

Throughout the tie at the Nou Camp, Liverpool were very competitive. There was little in the game at 0-0 but they were certainly the better side once Barcelona took the lead. They missed several good chances in both halves, with Sadio Mane, Salah and James Milner all missing very presentable chances.

Barca, by contrast, were very clinical and their third – Messi's 30-yard free-kick – put a gloss on the scoreline but did little to convince many that it was a deserved margin of victory.

Liverpool had 15 shots to their opponents 12 at the Nou Camp and while Salah will be a big miss, the ability of Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold to get to the byline (Alexander-Arnold will surely play ahead of Joe Gomez here) gives me confidence that Klopp's men will still create chances.

Moreover, it's worth noting that Barcelona's victory at Old Trafford last month was their first away win in six attempts in the knockout stages. Liverpool's record at Anfield is exceptional, they're unbeaten there in the Premier League and Champions League and have beaten PSG and Napoli in the Champions League here this campaign.

I hate the ‘special night at Anfield' line but I do think that Liverpool have the players and tactical nouse to cause Barcelona even more problems than they did in the reverse fixture. Messi may have already produced sufficient magic to ensure that it will be Barcelona in the final but 6/4 seems huge to me.

I did also consider backing Sadio Mane in the goalscorer market but I would want more than the 6/4 available.