Barcelona vs Liverpool: Three key battles that will decide Champions League semi-final clash

Barcelona vs Liverpool: Three key battles that will decide Champions League semi-final clash
Liverpool’s trip to Barcelona is a titanic clash between two of the world’s most in-form clubs.Barcelona have already wrapped up the LaLiga title and a treble is still very much in sights for the Catalan club.4

Liverpool face the daunting task of stopping Messi and Coutinho

While Liverpool are still on the hunt for the double with the Premier League title still within reach, although increasingly unlikely.Both sides are littered with incredible talent, with the Blaugrana boasting the world’s best player Lionel Messi and Liverpool one of the world’s best defenders in Virgil van Dijk.It is a mouthwatering tie for the neutral, but what are the key battles that could decide the outcome?Ahead of the match – which you can listen to live on talkSPORT, we have identified three clashes that could determine where the tie is won and lost.

Lionel Messi vs Andrew Robertson

Lionel Messi has once again been sensational this season, netting an incredible 46 goals in all competitions.He was on the scoresheet again on the weekend as Barca sealed the LaLiga title – his tenth in the famous blue and red striped shirt.And the Argentine also leads the way for goals in Europe this season (10).Andy Robertson faces his most daunting challenge yet in a Liverpool shirt to deal with Messi, who plays on the right side of a three-man forward line.4

Robertson faces the daunting task of handling Messi on Wednesday evening

However, Robertson also poses a significant threat to Barcelona with his surging runs forward and brilliant delivery.He racked up his 12th and 13th assists this season in his side’s victory over Huddersfield last week, becoming just the third defender in Premier League history to create over ten goals from defence.The Scot also works tirelessly in the side, having run 88km in his nine appearances in the Champions League this season.

Sergio Busquets vs Jordan Henderson

The midfield battle in this match will be essential to the outcome of the tie, and whilst these two players may not directly influence each other, whoever performs better will likely influence the result more.Busquets tops the passing charts in the competition this season, having completed 783 passes. The three-time winner of the competition has also ran more than any of his team-mates, having covered a huge 101.7km.4

Busquets is an essential anchor in Barca’s midfield

Disrupting Busquets’ role in dictating the tempo of the game could be crucial if Liverpool are to be successful at Camp Nou – and Henderson, in his new role, could be the player to put the pressure on him in the middle of the park.The Englishman has been playing in a more advanced role in recent matches – and he provided a brilliant assist for Sadio Mane against Huddersfield last week.

Jordi Alba vs Mohamed Salah

Mohamed Salah is now back to his best for the Reds and it couldn’t have come at a better time.He has five goals in his last six matches and now leads the Premier League scoring charts (21).4

Alba has more assists than anyone in the UCL this season

He will face up against the pacy Jordi Alba in what will be a fascinating clash.Alba has the most assists in the competition this season (4) and just like Robertson also poses a significant attacking threat from the left.No player in Ernersto Valverde’s side have made more crosses into the box in the tournament (25).

---

A WOLVES fan has been slapped with a three-year ban and a £300 fine for throwing a pie at West Ham supporters during their 3-0 win over the Hammers last month. Romain Saiss and Raul Jiminez grabbed the goals but 44-year-old Josephine Johnson gained the headlines from Molineux after dropping her food onto travelling fans below.
Wolves fan gets 3-year ban for throwing pie at West Ham

---

Referee explains why Alexandre Lacazette's last gasp Arsenal goal was disallowed against Manchester United which left fans fuming. All the latest transfer news and gossip from Old Trafford.
Man Utd vs Arsenal highlights: Alexandre Lacazette - goal.com

---

Arsenal news: Jon Walters explains how Stoke 'bullied' the Gunners during Arsene Wenger's reign Jon Walters admits Stoke were always deliberately aggressive against Arsenal - because they knew Arsene Wenger 'hated' facing them. Stoke's talkSPORT 1 week ago Also reported by •Daily Star
7.30pm Arsenal transfer news LIVE: Ozil wants to see out

---

Sports Mole provides the team news, predicted lineups and a full preview of Wednesday's Champions League clash between Bayern Munich and Liverpool. Niko Kovac admitted after the goalless first leg
Bayern Munich vs Liverpool Preview: Probable Lineups

---

Tottenham and Arsenal players went head to head in more ways than one during a feisty first half of the north London derby. Both teams including substitutes were involved in a melee after Eric
Mauricio Pochettino hasn't talked to Eric Dier about his

---

Benjamin Mendy: Manchester City defender gives Liverpool the finger while celebrating Barcelona win at Camp Nou The France left-back was invited to the Champions League semi-final by international
Manchester City star Benjamin Mendy revels in Liverpool

---

Arsenal tried to sign Barcelona outcast Malcom on deadline day but were put off by enormous loan fee. Arsenal were in talks for a double loan swoop from Barcelona on deadline day Tottenham vs
Arsenal put off move for Barcelona outcast Malcom by huge

---

Liverpool news: Jurgen Klopp was never 'worried' about

---

Boxing Day football: Solskjaer's Manchester United homecoming, Benitez out to topple Liverpool, Tottenham to join title race? We're set for a cracker of a day in the Premier League By talkSPORT
Boxing Day football: Solskjaer's Manchester United homecoming

---

Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen ace 'wants to stay' with Blues as transfer ban looms The 23-year-old has been an ever-present under Maurizio Sarri in domestic cup and Europa League games
Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen ace 'wants to stay' with

---

ALVARO MORATA has once again felt the wrath of Chelsea fans after missing an absolute sitter against Fulham today. The Spanaird's shocking miss forced fans to question why he was in the squad, but goal-scoring extraordinaire Tammy Abraham was out on loan firing in goals for Aston Villa.
Morata takes jab at Chelsea, says he is happier now - Thewistle

---

The worst substitution in football match. 1. Aston Villa vs Leicester City : Premier League, 2015 Leicester City were unbeaten in the Premier League up until this point last season, as they walked on to the King Power Stadium to face Aston Villa.

---

Gerard Houllier EXCLUSIVE: Liverpool 'had Barcelona running scared' in miraculous Champions League com Former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier has told talkSPORT he had a feeling this 'special' Reds team would find a way past Barcelona into another Champions League final.
Gerard Houllier EXCLUSIVE: Liverpool 'had Barcelona running

---