Former Liverpool and Barcelona player claims tomorrow’s match is “50-50”

Former Liverpool and Barcelona player Mauricio Pellegrino has had his say on which side will come out on top in tomorrow’s clash at the Nou Camp.

Pellegrino had a brief spell under Rafa Benitez at Anfield in 2005, and also spent a season on loan at Barcelona prior to this in 1998.

Now manager of CD Leganes, the Argentine has spoken up about the two sides set to do battle in the Champions League semi-final tomorrow night.

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“Not too many teams in the world have got the many talents of Liverpool and Barcelona. I cannot chose one of them, I cannot!” Pellegrino said, according to LiverpoolFC.com.

“Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, for example, are players that in one action can kill the game. Liverpool have got Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino or Sadio Mane – and it’s the same! It’s difficult to analyse the match.”

He added: “The perception right now is that Barcelona has to do their job here.

“The people know that Liverpool at home, in Anfield, is really strong. This is the perception of the people in general.

“Barcelona usually play in the same way in both [legs] but Liverpool maybe play in another level in Anfield.

“It’s really difficult to predict the result right now. When both sides are really good, the small details will determine the result.

“I imagine that Liverpool usually like to be really aggressive in the high pressure. But it’s something that Barcelona is really good at – trying to attract the teams by moving the ball in their own pitch.

“Liverpool have to be patient, don’t go too high too much because they are really good [when they] break the first line.

“[Marc-Andre] Ter Stegen is really good, [Gerard] Pique, [Clement] Lenglet, Jordi Alba, [Sergi] Roberto, [Nelson] Semedo, they are players who have played for many, many years in the same way and they don’t have the fear to take a risk.

“But at the same time, when they [Liverpool] regain high, they have got the chance to score.

“For me, it will be fun to see if Liverpool are able to recover the game in the opposite half and if Barcelona are able to break the first pressure of Liverpool.”

He finished by saying, “The game is 50-50.

“Because both teams are really good with different profile of players, different styles.

“Both the teams have got the same chance now.”

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Source: anfieldhq.com