TWO MORE CHAMPIONS League quarter-finals this evening, as Liverpool hist Manchester City and Barcelona entertain Roma.
The all-English tie at Anfield promises to be a thrilling match-up over two legs, and the atmosphere on Merseyside has been red-hot all afternoon.
With home fans lining the streets from early on, the Man City bus was pelted with bottles and cans as it arrived at the ground.
Welcome to Anfield, @ManCity
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 4, 2018
🎥 Follow our story from Liverpool vs Man City over at https://t.co/CEea6LE0qR 📲 pic.twitter.com/S168cSbNBM
Team news sees Dejan Lovren come in for the injured Joel Matip and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlin replace Georgino Wijnaldum for the Reds.
Pep Guardiola, meanwhile, has left out former Liverpool attacker Raheem Sterling for Ilkay Gundogan. It looks like three at the back for City.
Liverpool: Karius; Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson; Milner, Henderson, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Mane, Salah, Firmino.
Manchester City: Ederson; Walker, Kompany, Otamendi, Laporte; Fernandinho, De Bruyne, Gundogan; Silva, Sane, Gabriel Jesus.
There’s a place on the Liverpool bench for 19-year-old Irish defender Conor Masterson. The Dubliner has been among the substitutes once before back in January 2016, but he has yet to make a first-team appearance.
While Man City spanked Liverpool 5-0 back in September after Sadio Mane’s red card, the most recent meeting saw Jurgen Klopp’s men edge out an entertaining 4-3 at tonight’s venue.
Mohamed Salah, who has 37 goals in all competitions this term, bagged what proved to be the winner that day.
So, how do you see the first leg going?
Poll Results:
Liverpool have just released a statement to respond to the actions of their fans. It reads:
“The club condemns in the strongest possible terms the scenes which preceded our Champions League quarter-final, which resulted in damage being inflicted on the Manchester City team bus during their arrival at Anfield.
“We apologise unreservedly to Pep Guardiola, his players, staff and officials caught up in the incident.
“The behaviour of a number of individuals was completely unacceptable and the club will cooperate fully with the authorities to identify those responsible.
“The priority now is to establish the facts and offer Manchester City whatever support is necessary.”
Here’s the two managers:
"For Liverpool FC, I have to say sorry" - Klopp.
— eir Sport (@eirSport) April 4, 2018
"I know this is not Liverpool" - Pep.
Jurgen Klopp & Pep Guardiola spoke to @DesKellyBTS ahead of kick-off at Anfield. #LIVMCI pic.twitter.com/wJFXeJtoky
You’ll Never Walk Alone is being belted out as the players emerge from the tunnel. We’re about to get going.
Kick-off – The game has begun with Milner tipping back to Lovren, who lumps forward. It bounces around for a bit before being cleared into the Liverpool half for a throw-in.
It’s been a frantic opening five minutes but Man City have just had a prolonged spell of possession. Sane runs at the Liverpool backline and shoots at goal, but it comes off Lovren and goes behind for a corner.
Kompany gets up highest, and Karius collects easily.
Oxlade-Chamberlin gets a cross in but Otamendi heads away. The crowd were encouraged by that.
GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Manchester City (Mohamed Salah)
It’s first blood to the home side! Liverpool break from a City corner with Salah, who plays in Firmino. His shot is initially saved and the Brazilian pulls it back across for his team-mate to calmly finished. Anfield erupts.
City respond and Sane bursts through the middle on the counter-attack. With options either side, he drags a shot wide of the post, however.
Here’s that goal. You can’t see it in this clip, but Salah looked offside when he was initially played in.
Mohamed Salah makes it 1-0 to Liverpool, he has now scored 38 goals in all competitions for Liverpool this season. pic.twitter.com/9u9bCSsZYf
— Mootaz Chehade (@MHChehade) April 4, 2018
GOAL! Liverpool 2-0 Manchester City (Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain)
That is some strike! Liverpool pour forward again and Milner wins a 50-50 in City’s half. The ball falls to Oxlade-Chamberlain, who blasts a strike past Ederson from 25 yards.
What a start from the Reds.
Super strike…
OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN!! What a rocket, son! 🚀 #LIVMCI pic.twitter.com/It4F79gigd
— LFC Podcasting Couch (@PodcastingCouch) April 4, 2018
This has been sensational from Liverpool so far. They’ve shot out of the blocks and gone 2-0 ahead, while Man City look more than a little rattled.
We’re only 30 minutes in though, and you wonder how long the Reds can keep it up for.
GOAL! Liverpool 3-0 Manchester City (Sadio Mane)
This is quite incredible. You’re reading that right, Liverpool are THREE-NIL up on Man City and we haven’t even reached half-time.
Salah clips in a cross and Mane heads home. Unbelievable.
The Man City defence doesn’t know what has hit it…
Liverpool 3-0 M. City #UCL pic.twitter.com/3FoWDJ34x6
— BJK ʍΞdya Taкip (@BjkMedyaTakip) April 4, 2018
GOAL! Over at the Camp Nou, a Daniele De Rossi own goal has put Barcelona 1-0 up against Roma.
Firmino finds some space and lets fly from distance. It’s high and wide though.
Otamendi shoots from long range and it rolls wide. Two minutes of time added on to play.
Half-time: Liverpool 3-0 Manchester City
That’s quite the own goal from De Rossi. Barca lead Roma 1-0 at the break.
Roma with own goal by @deRossi pic.twitter.com/BZP4MIio9X
— Tamal_Uzzaman (@TamalUzzaman) April 4, 2018
Second half – The teams are back out and we’ve restarted. A huge 45 minutes for both clubs. No changes on either side just yet.
A couple of chances for City. Otamendi heads over, then, moments later, Sane flashes a shot across the Liverpool goal.
Bad news for Liverpool – After receiving treatment, Salah limps off down the tunnel and his night is over. Dutch midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum comes on in his place.
Man City are putting a bit of pressure on here and Gundogan’s shot goes behind for a corner. His first effort is cleared away, and he gets another go but Liverpool deal with the set-piece.
It looks like Sterling will be joining the action imminently.
Man City sub – Guardiola withdraws Gundogan to introduce Sterling.
In the other tie, Barcelona have gone 3-0 up against Roma. Another own goal, this time from Konstantinos Manolas, makes it two, before Gerard Pique gets his name on the scoresheet.
That looks like they’re on their way to the last four.
City continue to probe for a first goal. So far, they haven’t shown enough of a cutting edge in the final third, however.
Another Reds change – Firmino makes way for Dominic Solanke.
Only on the field, Solanke picks up possession on the end line and cuts it back for Mane, but he can’t make decent contact.
Jesus tries an acrobatic overhead kick after latching on to a cross from the right, but it’s not quite on the same level as Cristiano Ronaldo last night and sails wide.
Minutes later, the Brazilian striker earns himself a yellow card.
Roma have pulled one back in the other game through ex-Man City striker Edin Dzeko. That’s 3-1 to Barcelona now.
Booking – It’s been a frustrating night for De Bruyne, who body-checks Mane and picks up a yellow card.
4-1 Barcelona, as Luis Suarez gets in on the action!
It hasn’t been their night. De Bruyne curls a ball into the box and it hits Silva on the leg, when normally you would expect him to take a touch and score.
A final Liverpool substitution – Oxlade-Chamberlain is replaced by Alberto Moreno.
It’s full-time at the Camp Nou, where Barcelona have beaten Roma 4-1.
Two plus time added on to play at Anfield.
Full-time: Liverpool 3-0 Manchester City
