Barca 3 - 0 Liv: Messi a force too powerful for the Reds
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| Lionel Messi celebrates with teammate Luis Suarez after scoring against Liverpool |
Liverpool lived with Barcelona and Lionel Messi for 75 minutes of this Champions League semi-final first leg - then discovered there is a force too powerful to resist.
Jurgen Klopp's side may have trailed to Liverpool old boy Luis Suarez's first-half goal, but in all other aspects they were in control and looking like taking a very presentable result back to Anfield next week.
Indeed, a Liverpool equaliser looked a more likely outcome than further Barcelona additions as they controlled possession in the arena where it is king and pushed their opponents back into their own territory.
And then it happened.
The magic that Messi has been sprinkling on Barcelona and the entire sport for more than a decade transformed this tie in the space of those final 15 minutes. Liverpool, for all their good work, now face a mountainous task if they are to reach their second successive Champions League final.
Reactions after Messi's 600th goal - As posted... 👇👇
This is the way to celebrate #Messi's 6⃣0⃣0⃣th goal 😱😱😱— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) May 1, 2019
How did you react? #Messi600pic.twitter.com/hpWIxUr9rC
Messi's first and Barcelona's second may have been a bundled mess after Suarez had hit the bar, but the goal that probably pushes this tie beyond Liverpool was perfection in every single respect.
It was a free-kick curled into the only place Alisson could not reach from distance, Messi's 600th goal for Barcelona exactly 14 years to the day since he scored his first.
Liverpool did not have Messi and, more significantly, the world-class marksman they possess themselves had a rare off night as Klopp's normally ruthless and clinical side found the finishing touch had deserted them.
Sadio Mane and Mo Salah have fuelled Liverpool's magnificent toe-to-toe Premier League title battle with Manchester City, but they both missed wonderful chances to secure a priceless away goal.
The answer is simple: Lionel Messi happened to them.
Greatest Of All Time - As posted... 👇👇
🐐 GOAT. Greatest Of All Time— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) May 2, 2019
🔵🔴 Born in La Masia. Made at @FCBarcelona
⚽ #Messi600
🙌 YannDalon pic.twitter.com/hozsNbe78p
They are not the first and will not be the last, and the nightmare is they will have to go through it all again next week.
This was a threat fulfilled and inflicted on Liverpool.
It leaves Liverpool with their backs against the wall at Anfield.
Messi is on a Champions League mission. And the evidence in the Nou Camp suggests he is in no mood to be denied. BBC
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