'It's a cruel competition'
The Champions League has always been a competition that takes no prisoners. Even when you look at the 'minnows' or smaller sides in the competition, they always have one player that stands out, and usually eventually gets a move to a bigger side. Take Liverpool's very own Mo Salah for instance, a man who when at Swiss side Basel scored goals against Chelsea and later on ended up getting a move there. So, when you have a team like Barcelona, that has quality all over the pitch and their talisman is arguably the greatest player to ever grace the game in Lionel Messi, if you do not take your chances, then you may will get beaten, and this is exactly what happened to Liverpool.
If you had not seen the game and just looked at the scoreline, then your initial thought would obviously be that Liverpool took a hiding, but the Premier League side actually equipped themselves quite well and did everything but score. Not many teams have more possession than the Catalan giants, but Liverpool came and had 53% of the ball, had more attempts at goal, as well as having more corners at the Camp Nou. Another day would have seen Liverpool with a precious away goal, but they have to settle without one, and now need nothing short of a miracle if they are to get to back-to-back Champions League finals.
Despite their good efforts howebver, if Frenchman Ousmane Dembele had his shooting boots on, then this tie would already be over for Liverpool, (if it is not already). Dembele missed two good chances as Barca caught the Reds on the break late on, as they desperately strived for an away goal. Liverpool had started the encounter well, but Barca took the lead when a delightful Jordi Alba pass was expertly finished by Luis Suarez against his old club in the 26th minute. Suarez timed his slide to perfection to meet the ball and celebrated wildly as he said he would in an interview before the game. Liverpool continued to try and attack the La Liga champions; Sadio Mane shot over from beyond the penalty spot, when it would have been easier to hit the target.
Liverpool started the second half in the same vein and James Milner went close after a good team move, side-footing the ball and it was turned away by a grateful Marc-Andre Ter Stegen. The German international also saved from Mo Salah, as Barcelona looked to protect their lead for as long as possible, sitting quite deep, rather than over commit players and risk giving away an away goal. The scales of the tie flipped completely over in Barcelona's favour when Messi was at the double within a seven minute period. The first had an element of luck about it as he capitalised on a rebound off the bar, and was the quickest to react as Virgil van Dijk was by his standards flat footed. If the first had fortune, the second goal from Messi was sheer wizardry. Fabinho was penalised for obstructing Messi, despite the Argentine following through and striking him in the face. Messi, lined up the free kick and curled it into the top corner past Alisson from over 30 yards. Whether you like Messi or not, whether you like Barcelona or not, you just had to applaud what you had just seen. Liverpool were devasted, all their hard work had been undone by the five times Ballon D'Or winner. Arsenal, are a club who knew all too well about how this could happen to an English side in the biggest club competition there is, but Liverpool had not played against Barcelona in the Champions League since Messi was a teenager.
Straight after the free-kick Liverpool went straight up the other end and somehow did not grab a precious away goal. Roberto Firmino, had his shot cleared off the line, and Salah who you would have put your house on to score the rebound, hit the post from inside the six yard box. Salah, tried to avoid the men on the line, but you still expect him to put the chance away. So 3-0 it was, Liverpool will need to dig deep in the second leg and hope luck is on their side. With a good start, Liverpool can score three at Anfield against anyone, four would be a tough ask, but in 90 minutes it is a doable, the question is can they keep a clean sheet against this cunning Barca side. All remains to be seen, but a repeat final realistically as it stands is not going to happen.
@DubulDee
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