GUARDIOLA NAME REASON FOR BARCA WIN OVER LIVERPOOL

• Pep Guardiola has nothing bad to say about Liverpool's performance against Barca.
• He thinks the game was 'incredibly good'.
• And Man City manager also doesn't believe Barca's win vs LFC will help him in the title race.
• Pep also names the reason for Barca's victory - Leo Messi.

Barcelona brilliantly beat Liverpool 3-0 in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals.

The Reds' main competitor for the Premier League title Pep Guardiola was there to witness that tough moment for Liverpool. He watched the game from the Camp Nou stands supporting Barca as a regular Cule.

Barcelona legend does not believe Liverpool's defeat will throw them off course right before the end of the season because their performance was good:

"I don't think so, the game was incredibly good, both sides," Pep told reporters on Friday. "Liverpool were outstanding and a good performance from both. I enjoyed watching it," Guardiola said.

"I don't think it will affect them, I think it will be not easy at Newcastle but they'll be well prepared to win there."

And the reason for the Champions League result is obvious for Pep - it's just Messi:

"Yes [it's Messi].

"I think Barca defended really well, they beat an incredible team. Liverpool must be proud of what they did in the most difficult stadium, they played with personality and courage. Both teams played the way they did and they deserve it."

OFFICIAL STARTING XI BARCELONA VS LIVERPOOL

• Arturo Vidal sensationally starts in the midfield instead of Arthur.
• Sergi Roberto and Philippe Coutinho both start as well.

Ernesto Valverde names his strongest squad to face Liverpool in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals.

As it was expected earlier, he opts for the possession-orientated football and includes Sergi Roberto and Philippe Coutinho among the starting XI.

Barcelona XI: Ter Stegen; Alba, Lenglet, Pique, Roberto; Vidal, Busquets, Rakitic; Coutinho, Suarez, Messi.

There were rumours that Arthur is set to start instead of Vidal, however, the coach decides otherwise.

The starting lineups are in for Wednesday's gigantic Champions League semifinal showdown between Barcelona and Liverpool at the Camp Nou. The first-leg battle is set for 3 p.m. ET -- stream via  fuboTV (Try for free) -- and neither team is fielding any big surprises, but one of Liverpool's stars didn't make the starting XI. 

The big lineup story leading up to this onewas whether Roberto Firmino would play at all, but the Brazilian striker isn't in the starting lineup for Liverpool. He's been named to the bench after missing out on the team's last league game as he recovers from an ankle injury, but there's a chance he'll come on as a substitute. 

Here are the lineups:

Barcelona: Marc-Andre Ter Stegen; Sergi Roberto, Gerard Piqué, Clement Lenglet, Jordi Alba; Sergio Busquets, Ivan Rakitic, Arturo Vidal; Lionel Messi. Luis Suárez, Philippe Coutinho

Liverpool: Alisson; Joe Gomez, Joel Matip, Virgil van Dijk, Andrew Robertson; Fabinho, James Milner, Georginio Wijnaldum, Naby Keita; Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah

AUBAMEYANG CONFIDENT OF CATCHING SALAH,AGUERO IN GOLDEN BOOT RACE

 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has his sights set on catching Sergio Aguero and Mohamed Salah in the race for the Premier League's Golden Boot after his opportunistic goal downed Watford.

Aubameyang capitalised on goalkeeper Ben Foster's lapse in concentration in the 10th minute at Vicarage Road on Monday, earning a win that moved the Gunners up to fourth in the table.

Troy Deeney's red card shortly after the goal gave Watford a mountain to climb but Javi Gracia's side hit the woodwork twice, Bernd Leno turning Craig Cathcart's effort on to the post and Adam Masina's drive clipping the crossbar.

Arsenal held on against the 10 men for their first away clean sheet in the Premier League this season, giving Unai Emery's men a boost ahead of the second leg of their upcoming Europa League quarter-final with Napoli.

Aubameyang moved on to 18 Premier League goals with his winner and is now within one of Golden Boot leaders Salah and Aguero, while Liverpool's Sadio Mane is level with the Gabon international.

Former Borussia Dortmund striker Aubameyang was the Bundesliga's leading scorer in 2016-17 after netting 31 times and he feels he can chase down Aguero and Salah despite games running out fast.

"Yeah, why not. I feel confident," Aubameyang told Sky Sports when asked if he could claim the Golden Boot. "The race is going on. I know it's a tough battle. I'm confident that I will carry on.

"I was confident. It's a long time I wanted to score a goal like this. Tonight, it went through. I was confident. Normally goalkeepers, they don't really know if you're coming back to them. It was a good goal for me, I like it."

Aubameyang ploughed a lone furrow with Alexandre Lacazette left on the bench and the striker accepted he would prefer to operate as a front two with the Frenchman alongside him.

"Everybody knows that I like to play with Laca because we have a great partnership," he added.

"Sometimes one plays, the other is on the bench. It's like that. You have to fight for the team.

"I think you know that I like to play with two strikers but I don’t want to say it because the coach will be maybe a bit angry."

Watford goalkeeper Foster accepted he was badly to blame for Arsenal's winner, failing to move the ball on fast enough after receiving Daryl Janmaat’s pass.

"I am gutted for the lads. they were brilliant," Foster said to Sky Sports. "We were the better team, pushing for it. Arsenal were happy to hit us on the counter.

"I should have just ‘Cruyffed’ him to be honest. I've said sorry to the lads. I have tried to drag it on to my left and pass it out but before I knew it he was bloody on me. He is too quick.

"I have to do it quicker. In hindsight you have to get rid as quick as you can, even if it goes into row Z. I am definitely not a modern goalie. They can't score from row Z. He is just rapid. Lesson learned."

WEST HAM HANDS ‘SALAH’ RACIST ABUSE EVIDENCE TO POLICE

 

West Ham have passed on findings from an investigation into racist abuse directed towards Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah to the Metropolitan Police.

Salah was the subject of expletives and derogatory references to his Muslim faith from a supporter at London Stadium when the sides played out a 1-1 Premier League draw.

The abuse was audible on mobile phone footage, shot from the West Ham end, of Salah talking a corner, which was subsequently shared on social media.

West Ham announced an internal investigation into the incident on Wednesday and have moved quickly to involve the authorities.

"After a thorough and immediate investigation following the abhorrent racist abuse aimed at Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah on Monday night, West Ham United can confirm that it has handed evidence to the Metropolitan Police," a club statement read.

"The club is unequivocal in its stance – such abuse will not be tolerated. There is no place or excuse for this kind of behaviour."

Speaking at a news conference earlier on Thursday, West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini called for any fans found guilty of racially abusing players to be banned from Premier League grounds.

"Of course, I think that cannot happen in the stadium," he said. "The best way to manage those things out of the game is to remove them from the great spectacle that is the Premier League.

"We must have high standards and when this happens, you must take action. The club knows how to work and says it cannot accept these kind of things in the game.

"It was a very good game and everybody was enjoying the game, so these people must be punished as soon as we can."