TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2019 16 Salah out of Barca clash Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino are ruled out of Liverpool’s Champions League clash against Barcelona

“This team is so wonderful Salah was concussed we will try 100 percent, but that • doesn’t mean it will all work during Liverpool’s out.” 3-2 win at Newcastle While, Liverpool edged a on Saturday KNOW WHAT bruising battle with Newcastle to remain in the hunt for a first AFP | Liverpool Premier League title in 29 years, Mohamed Salah is the Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde Premier League’s top could afford the luxury of mak- iverpool will be without scorer with 22 goals this ing 11 changes for a 2-0 defeat at top scorer Mohamed Sa- season Celta Vigo on Saturday having Llah for Tuesday’s Cham- already sealed the La Liga title. pions League semi-final, second And Klopp admitted he could leg against Barcelona after man- have one eye on Sunday’s final ager Jurgen Klopp revealed he Reds also came from 3-1 down in league game of the season at was concussed in a 3-2 win at the final 25 minutes to beat his home to Wolves with his team Newcastle. old side Borussia Dortmund 4-3. selection. The Egyptian was stretchered However, the German coach “We have to make a lot of de- off at St James’ Park on Saturday is aware of the extra difficulty cisions. Tomorrow night will be due to a head knock sustained as of not just scoring at least three the third game in six days and he challenged Newcastle goal- against the Spanish champions, Barcelona changed 11 positions keeper Martin Dubravka for a but also not conceding a vital on Saturday, so that is a massive high ball. away goal to the likes of Lionel difference as well of course,” “It’s a concussion so that Messi and Luis Suarez that he said. means he would not even be al- would leave Liverpool needing “Together with our supporters lowed to play. So that’s it,” said Liverpool’s Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah falls to the ground after injuring himself in a challenge with Newcastle to score five to progress. it was a long season and there is United’s Slovakian goalkeeper Martin Dubravka (2nd R) Klopp at his pre-match press “I imagine the place will be at least a little chance to make it conference on yesterday. no due to a groin injury as his night and we have to score four of stunning comebacks in Eu- rocking even before we score to even longer. “He feels OK but it is not good side face the huge challenge of goals against Barcelona to go ropean football, most famously be honest, but we not only have “But if not, these are the last enough from a medical point of trying to overturn a 3-0 first leg through after 90 minutes,” add- lifting the Champions League in to score, we have to deny Bar- two home games of an incredible view that is all. He’s desperate deficit to make the Champions ed Klopp. 2005 after trailing the final 3-0 celona from scoring,” he added. season and I think we should (to play) everything but we can- League final for a second con- “It doesn’t make life easier, but to AC Milan at half-time. “It doesn’t happen too often celebrate that with a good per- not do it.” secutive season. as long as we have 11 players on In Klopp’s first season in that Barcelona don’t score at formance on the pitch and a Klopp will also be without “Two of the world’s best strik- the pitch, we will try it.” charge in the quarter-finals of all. We know how big the chal- very, very good performance in Brazilian striker Roberto Firmi- ers are not available tomorrow Liverpool have a rich history the Europa League in 2016, the lenge is. the stands.”

Warner, Smith help Australia Valverde warns Barcelona to be wary of history at Anfield edge New Zealand AFP | Madrid

rnesto Valverde wanted to Ekeep Barcelona’s feet on the Liverpool are a team ground after their 3-0 win over that can make any Liverpool so he hit his players opponent suffer. And where it hurt. “Liverpool are a team that of course last year can make any opponent suffer,” we had a three-goal he said in the press conference advantage in the after the match. quarter-finals. And “And of course last year we we were knocked out had a three-goal advantage in ERNESTO VALVERDE the quarter-finals. And we were knocked out.” David Warner walks past the incoming Steve Smith during the game against Valverde knows that loss to New Zealand in Brisbane Barcelona’s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi (L) scores a goal Roma still rankles with his play- “We have no reason to be AFP | Brisbane reverse sweep. ers, barely a week passing with- win the tournament for a fourth did us some harm. We want to complacent,” Valverde said. That brought out Smith who out one of them referencing the time in five years rubbed salt erase that and have a beautiful “The result is good, I have no avid Warner hit a quick- started nervously before hit- game that defined their season into the wound. “It is a thorn season to forget it. We want to doubt about that, but the tie is Dfire 39 and Steve Smith ting a pair of boundaries. He last year and could yet shape in our side,” said Luis Suarez in soothe the scar.” still open.” 22 yesterday in their first ap- spent 43 balls in the middle this one too. September. Thirteen months on, Liver- Liverpool are stronger than pearance for Australia since a before being caught behind off The tie looked over after a 4-1 But it was not just that Bar- pool will hope the doubt that Roma were. They have scored major ball-tampering scandal Matt Henry. thrashing at Camp Nou only for ca had fallen short, for a third lingers and, perhaps, the pres- three or more goals 19 times this as the home team edged a sec- It was the pair’s first game in a 3-0 loss in Rome to complete consecutive year. It was the way sure to make amends can help season, against opponents like ond-string New Zealand by Australian colours since serv- one of the great Champions they had thrown it away. them pull off what would surely Paris Saint-Germain, Manches- one wicket in a practice match. ing year-long bans for their League comebacks and send “We feel like there is this be the club’s most remarkable ter United, Arsenal and Porto. The Australians were set a part in the “Sandpaper-gate” the Italians into the semis. scar,” Clement Lenglet told AFP turnaround since the 2005 final An early goal at Anfield on Tues- target of 216 at Allan Border ball-tampering scandal in That Real Madrid went on to Sport in February. “This match in Istanbul. day and belief would surge. Field in Brisbane as they warm Cape Town that rocked Aus- up for their World Cup de - tralian cricket. fence, and scraped home with After Smith departed, Aus- 10 balls to spare thanks to a tralia lost five for 42 before tail-end rescue act. an impressive 34 from Nathan Federer happy to return to clay after three-year hiatus They have now won nine Coulter-Nile helped steer one-dayers in a row, although them home. Reuters | Madrid reporters. However, the 20-times Grand play the winner of the match be- this was an unofficial game Earlier, Pat Cummins “I haven’t looked back yet Slam singles champion said he tween France’s Richard Gasquet and not counted as a full in- grabbed two wickets in his ormer world number one during the clay court build-up, was not trying to burden him- and Spanish teenager ternational. first over before New Zea - FRoger Federer said he was thinking, ‘Ah, maybe I shouldn’t self with expectations when Alejandro Davidovich Skipper Aaron Finch con- land, missing Kane William- glad he made the decision to have.’ I’m happy I’m here, I’m he steps out on court at the Fokina, who reached tinued his rich vein of form son, Martin Guptill and Trent return to clay courts as he pre- happy I am on the surface. Caja Magica. the semi-final of the with a measured 52, but fellow Boult, recovered to post re- pares for the Madrid Open this “It takes some time getting “It will be interesting to see Estoril Open last opener Usman Khawaja fell spectable 215 off 46.1 overs week, three years after his last used to how to construct the how this tournament goes,” week. cheaply -- bringing Warner to Tom Blundell led the fight- match on the surface. points a little bit more because Federer added. “I do not have the crease, to warm applause back and top scored with 77. Federer had skipped the clay there is more baseline (play), high expectations in some from the crowd. Cummins ended with 3-36 off court season the past two years a possibility to play with more ways. Roger He survived a dropped catch eight overs, with Nathan Coul- since last competing in Rome angles and height. It’s been in- “But at the same time Federer on nought before clicking into ter-Nile and Jason Behrendorff in May 2016 but confirmed his teresting and fun, but not so I also know that things gear and turning on the form also grabbing three apiece. participation for the tourna- challenging.” are possible. Madrid that saw him average 69.20 in Australia play another two ment in Madrid earlier this year. Federer, who recently won always plays fast with 12 innings in the Indian Pre- games against New Zealand “I’m happy that the decision his 101st singles title in Miami, the altitude here. I’m mier League. this week before heading to I took last December, when I is the tournament’s fourth seed intrigued to find out.” Warner hammered 39 off 43 England where they open their started feeling like I definitely behind world number one No- Having received balls before falling to leg-spin- World Cup campaign against want to play on the clay, was vak Djokovic, Rafa Nadal and a bye to the second ner Todd Astle attempting a Afghanistan on June 1. the right one,” Federer, 37, told Alexander Zverev. round, Federer will