After a thrilling Tuesday in the UEFA Champions League quarter final stage, the road to Kiev continues today with the remaining four teams battle ready.
Top of the bill action tonight is the game between two English rivals, Liverpool and Manchester City.
The Reds host City, who are Premier League’s champions-elect, in the first leg of their CL last eight clash at Anfield.
It will be the 10th meeting between two English representatives in the glamorous CL, with the home side, Liverpool, involved in six of those games.
However, despite having faced each other 179times in all competitions, when the Reds welcome Pep Guardiola and his impressive Cityzens, it will be the first time both teams have met in European competition.
Both managers have been talking, and according to them, are ready for what’s expected to be a pulsating European night at Anfield
With five CL titles behind them, Liverpool have history on their side but Jurgen Klopp has urged his current side to create their own history.
“Everyone knows pretty much everything; I meet people throughout the day and they can tell me each goal Liverpool scored 37 years ago in the 56th minute.
“There are maybe 10 players who did it and they can say their names. That’s all good and I like it, but for this team we need to be proud of our history but we have to create our own history.”
Liverpool are the top scoring team in the CL this season, with 28goals, led by their Egyptian magician, Mohamed Salah. But while such an attacking threat is a concern for Guardiola, he says his side won’t change how they play.
“Of course, I consider what is the value of Liverpool and their qualities and I am concerned about what they do,” he said at his pre-match press conference.
“I am not so arrogant. But if you think about defending 90 minutes and play on counter, that’s not gonna happen. Why should we change when it’s going well so far?”
These two have already played each twice this season, with a win apiece and a total of 12goals scored.
Therefore, the stage is set for an exciting game, the Reds are gunning for a first semifinal appearance in 9 years, while City are hoping to reach that stage of that competition for only the second time in their history.
Meanwhile, the game at Anfield is not the only one in the Champions League tonight.
After Cristiano Ronaldo’s performance and wonder goal against Serie A champions, Juventus, all eyes will be on his rival, Lionel Messi, when Barcelona welcome the other Italian side left in the competition, AS Roma, to Camp Nou.
But not to worry, Messi fans, the Argentine has a bit of history against tonight’s opponents.
He has scored two goals in two matches against Roma, and 12goals against Italian oppositions in 19 CL games.
But for both clubs, it will be only their fifth meeting, and surely the visitors can’t forget in a hurry what happened when they last faced the Spanish giants.
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) April 4, 2018
Ready to go!
#BarçaRoma
https://t.co/Y4gVF2DZjl pic.twitter.com/utxNGBkUsx
A ruthless Barca side, led by Messi and Luis Suarez, who both scored a brace each, put six goals past the helpless Italians, in a one sided affair that ended 6-1 in favour of the La Liga side.
Edin Dzeko scored Roma’s only goal that day, but will be hoping for a better outing this time after he also missed a penalty in that match.
Roma have reached the CL last eight for only the third time in their history, but are hoping for a first semifinal appearance.
It’s going to be a long night for them, nevertheless, as Barca are unbeaten at home this season in the CL and haven’t lost a game there since the beginning of the 2013-2014 campaign.
Also, in Barca, Roma face the meanest defense in the competition, with just two goals conceded so far, keeping six clean sheets.
