Barcelona have received a major boost ahead of their Champions League semi-final clash with Premier League side, Liverpool after one of their stars have picked up an injury. Jurgen Klopp confirmed that Brazil International Roberto Firmino has picked up a muscle injury and is set to miss the tie.
This would come as good news for the Barcelona players especially Lionel Messi who is desperate to win the Champions League a record-tying 5th time. Due to Firmino’s work rate and tackling success which makes him an important part of Liverpool’s style, he was most likely going to put Messi under pressure in order to help his side win the ball back.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp sounded hopeful that the striker who missed Friday’s 5-0 Premier League win over Huddersfield Town, will be fit to face Barcelona on Wednesday despite revealing he has a small muscular tear.
The Merseysiders, who have moved back to the top of the Premier League table, take on the Spanish giants in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal at the Nou Camp and the loss of Firmino would be a significant one.
The 27-year-old Brazilian was replaced by Daniel Sturridge in the Liverpool lineup on Friday after picking up a muscle injury in training on Thursday. “Bobby trained yesterday completely normally. It was not high-intensity we just had to work on set-pieces a little bit and here and there a couple of things,” said Klopp.
“I didn’t see it in training, it happened in the last situation of training and he felt a muscle a little bit. Now the official diagnosis is he has a small tear in a small muscle, so apart from the word ‘tear’ everything else is positive. It is Bobby, so he might be ready for Wednesday, but we obviously don’t know in this moment.”
“Because it is him, it’s rather likely that [he will be] than not, but we will see. “So, of all the bad news you can get it is pretty much the best, but it’s still bad enough that he couldn’t play tonight.” Firmino has featured in 46 games for Liverpool this year in all competitions, scoring 16 goals with eight assists.
Klopp also said Netherlands defender Virgil Van Dijk, who brought Anfield to a hush when he went to ground with an injury during the second half against Huddersfield, was fine. “No, nothing. I asked him, he said, ‘No, no, all good,” added Klopp.
Liverpool’s comfortable win over Huddersfield on Friday has put them back on top of the Premier League table until Manchester City play. Salah and Mane also got on the score sheet twice to keep the confidence level high at Anfield ahead of the crucial clash with Barcelona as the Reds chase down the League and Champions League double.
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