Trevor Steven: Klopp’s decision on how to deal with Messi will prove decisive for Liverpool in Barcelona Champions League clash
Liverpool’s Champions League semi-final against Barcelona tomorrow night comes at the perfect time.
The Reds in form, have momentum after a 5-0 thrashing of Huddersfield on Friday and, following Roberto Firmino’s return to training, have all their major players fit.
If this game had come around one year ago I definitely would have preferred Barca to win, but things are much tighter now.
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Of course there are no walkover games at this stage of the competition and no such thing as easy passage to the final, but I think Jurgen Klopp’s side will be confident of their chances.
Liverpool are within a whisker of the Premier League title and essentially face a four-game season finale – the two ties against Barcelona and their remaining league matches against Newcastle and Wolves.
There’s a lot to admire about them at the moment. Mohamed Salah is back to his best, Virgil van Dijk has just won the PFA player of the year award, Sadio Mane is on fire, they have a top level goalkeeper in Alisson and fullbacks who are key to their distinctive playing style.
Virgil van Dijk faces the biggest test of his season at Barcelona (Source: Getty)
Having reached the Champions League final last year Liverpool have experience of these crunch ties and have what I believe to be an advantage in playing the away leg first.
Overall they’ve been dealt the best hand they could hope for and they have a great opportunity to take something back to Anfield.
Messi conundrum
Although they’ve already wrapped up La Liga, Barca are not the fearsome side they used to be. The problem, of course, is that they still have Lionel Messi, who is just as scary as he has always been.
Like many managers before him Klopp will have spent plenty of time coming up with a way to stop Messi play; former player Luis Suarez is a threat, but he’s very much second fiddle to the Argentine.
Everything Barca do in attack is channelled through Messi and with good reason: he’s nearly unstoppable when he’s afforded space. He will hurt you unless you pay him special attention.
Before their quarter-final clash I wrote that Manchester United make Scott McTominay man-mark Messi, follow him everywhere and aim to frustrate him. They didn’t do so and were blown away 4-0 on aggregate.
Scott McTominay (right) couldn't keep Messi at bay in the quarter-finals (Source: Getty)
Liverpool are stronger than United but Klopp is still faced with a conundrum: stick with his 4-3-3 pressing system, or make a change on account of Messi?
Jordan Henderson and James Milner are capable of doing the job, although I would prefer Georginio Wijnaldum to do it as Messi usually drifts inside off the right-hand side.
Midfield battle
Aside from Messi, I think the match will be decided in midfield.
Barcelona’s possession-based style can undo opponents and if Liverpool are starved of the ball their system could be disrupted and forced into making costly mistakes. If you over-commit and surrender space you’ll be punished.
If Liverpool can get good possession in midfield and release the pace of Salah and Mane at the right times Barca, like any side, will be vulnerable.
Ultimately it’s about discipline: staying in shape and waiting for the right time to pounce and grab a precious away goal.
I don’t think the tie will be won or lost in the first leg, but if they play to their potential Liverpool can certainly put themselves on the way tomorrow.