Liverpool - Barcelona

Liverpool host Barcelona at Anfield, they don't get bigger than this. Liverpool will go into the game as slight favourites to progress, on the back of a 2-1 aggregrate lead. Prior to this game, both teams didn't exactly enjoy the best of weekends. Liverpool will feel hard done by a 1-0 defeat to arch rivals Manchester United, courtesy of a late goal by boyhood Reds fan John O'Shea, despite dominating the entire game. Barcelona on the other hand, surrendered their lead at the top of the Spanish League when they fell 2-1 at 2nd place Sevilla; and in the process missed a penalty and failed to capitalise when at one point allowed 10-men Sevilla to crawl back and took the lead. That win leapfrogged Sevilla to first.

Many followers of 'the game' would rush to give their tactics and predictions and have you believe that the game is won before the ball is kicked. "Barcelona cannot score 'the' 2 goals"; "Stevie G on the right to nurture the threat of Ronaldinho"; "Liverpool can hold for a goal-less draw"; etc. But I ain't falling for that! I will not be drawn into giving predictions.

As so overused by pundits and football analyst worldwide, Barcelona is definitely capable of scoring the '2 goals' at Anfield. But I feel, as much as Barcelona is capable of turning games, tonight's outcome don't depend on Barcelona playing to their best. The outcome will depend on whether Liverpool can play to their best. So a cauldron of noise it will be, let's anticipate this football spectacle!