5 players who have played for both Barcelona and Liverpool

FC Barcelona and Liverpool are going to face each other in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-finals tonight. While the Catalan giants will host Liverpool in the first leg, the two teams will meet next week at Anfield for the second leg.

Both Barcelona and Liverpool are two of the biggest clubs in world football. Barcelona are one of the biggest clubs in Spain and proudly represent the Catalans whereas Liverpool remain one of the biggest clubs in England despite going through a trophy drought in the last few years.

Both the teams will be eyeing their sixth UCL title when they meet tonight. The Spanish giants have defeated Lyon and Manchester United in the knockout stages while the Reds knocked out Bayern Munich and Porto. It goes without saying that both these teams are firm favourites in the Champions League.

Over the years, both Barcelona and Liverpool have had some legendary players playing for them. Without further ado, let us take a look at five players who have featured both the clubs.

#5 Pepe Reina (Barcelona 2000-02 and Liverpool 2005-14)

The Spanish goalkeeper spent two years with Blaugrana before leaving in 2002. Reina started out in the Barcelona C team before eventually making his way upto the first team. The Spaniard was first called for Barcelona's first team when he was just 18-years-old. Reina made 30 appearances in the LaLiga for the Catalan giants before moving to Villareal.

Reina was signed from Villareal in 2005 and the Spaniard quickly cemented his place as a starter with Liverpool. It was at Anfield that Reina made his mark and created a legacy. The Spaniard established himself as one of world's best with Liverpool in the eight years he spent with the club. Reina was a fan favourite and went on to make over 300 appearances for the club.

Reina was loaned out to Napoli in the 2013/14 season before the Reds eventually sold the goalkeeper to Bayern Munich in the next season.

#4 Luis García (Barcelona 2003-04 and Liverpool 2004-07)

Liverpool FC Legends v Australian Legends

Like Reina, Luis Garcia came up from Barcelona youth teams and was a product of La Masia. The Spaniard started his career at Barcelona B but spent years on loan. Garcia switched to Atletico Madrid but returned to the club in 2003.

Despite the fact that the Catalan giants signed him back, Garcia struggled to cement his place in Barcelona team and was never a regular. The Spanish playmaker was sold to Liverpool in 2004.

Garcia spent three seasons with Liverpool but became instant fan favourite among the Anfield faithful due to his role in the UCL win in 2005. The Spaniard established himself as a starter during his three year tenure and proved himself to be an asset for the Reds.

Garcia netted 30 goals in over 121 appearances for Liverpool before returning back to his former club Atletico Madrid in 2007.

#3 Javier Mascherano (Barcelona 2010-18 and Liverpool 2007-10)

Javier Mascherano made his move to Liverpool from West Ham in 2007. Knwon for his agility and maturity, the defensive midfielder formed a formidable partnership with Xabi Alonso at the heart of Liverpool midfield.

The Argentine quickly established himself as a starter in his first season at Anfield under the tutelage of Rafa Benitez. Mascherano played a crucial role in Liverpool's sensational run in the UCL where they eventually lost to Milan in the final.

After his three year tenure at Anfield, Barcelona secured his services for a fee around €17 million. Mascherano struggled to make his mark initially but was later deployed as a central defender beside Gerard Pique during his second season with the Catalan giants.

The Argentine made over 200 appearances for the Blaugrana in his seven and half year tenure at the club.

#2 Philippe Coutinho (Barcelona 2018-present and Liverpool 2013-18)

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After a chaotic tenure with Inter, Coutinho proved himself as an asset to Liverpool during his five and half seasons at the club. The Brazilian midfielder established himself as a starter from his second season at Anfield. Coutinho made over 150 appearances for the Reds, netting 42 goals and providing 35 assists in the Premier League.

Coutinho's meteoric rise attracted interest from top clubs across Europe and Barcelona. They were all eyeing a move for some time. The Catalan giants eventually got their man for a club record fee of £142 million, which made Coutinho the 33rd Brazilian to feature for Barcelona. Coutinho is the latest player to feature for both Liverpool and Barcelona.

But since moving to Spain in January of 2018, Coutinho is yet to cement his place in the starting line up under Ernesto Valverde. It goes without saying that the Brazilian playmaker is yet to justify the huge fee Barcelona paid to secure his services.

#1 Luis Suarez (Barcelona 2014-present and Liverpool 2011-14)

Luis Suarez joined Liverpool in 2011 after enjoying a terrific spell with Ajax. The Uruguayan quickly became a fan favourite and enjoyed his best season during 2013/14. Suarez scored 31 goals in the league that campaign and won the European Golden Shoe but was unable to help Liverpool win the Premier League.

After a sensational three year spell, Suarez was signed by Barcelona in 2014 for a reported fee around €82 million. Since then, the Uruguayan ace has won plethora of trophies at Nou Camp and remains one of the key players for the Spanish giants. Suarez has scored over 130 goals in his five year tenure and it goes without saying that he still is one of the best goalscorers in Europe.

In the current season, Suarez has scored 21 goals in the league which includes a hat-trick against arch rivals Real Madrid. Surely, he stands a chance of scoring against his old club tonight.

Edited by Jong Ching Yee