Barcelona vs Liverpool Live 2019

The best way to deal with Lionel Messi is to treat him like football's version of the Incredible Hulk: Don't make him angry and you might just be spared an ordeal of pain and humiliation.
Liverpool midfielder James Milner did not get the memo, judging by his crude first-half barge on the home side's No. 10 during Barcelona's 3-0 Champions League semifinal first-leg win Wednesday at the Nou Camp, and it is fair to say that the Premier League side went on to reap a whirlwind of two-goal Messi's annoyance.
"In these moments, he is unstoppable," Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said afterward of Messi. "My boys didn't show him too much respect or treat him harshly to try to stop him, but he is a world-class player and he showed that again tonight. What else can I say?"
For Milner, perhaps there was a sense of déjà vu. Back in March 2015, while playing for Manchester City, the former England international inadvertently became a YouTube sensation when he was nutmegged by Messi during a Champions League round-of-16 tie against Barcelona.
On that occasion, the Argentine forward played the ball through Milner's legs and left his opponent sliding on his backside before scampering away on another of his mazy runs. Four years on, Milner saw the opportunity to exact revenge.


Bad move. Although referee Bjorn Kuipers did not issue the yellow card that Messi demanded, in that moment Barca's talisman went from being a threat to a man possessed, and the full force of his fury was played out in the second half, when his brilliance left Klopp's team hanging on in their attempt to reach a second successive Champions League final.
Liverpool actually played well -- Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen made several fine saves, while Mohamed Salah hit the post with a glorious chance -- but ended up beaten by the same score as Manchester United, who were much less impressive during their own 3-0 defeat two weeks ago.
Messi was ultimately the difference between the two sides, scoring his 599th and 600th Barcelona goals in the process, but former Liverpool forward Luis Suarez laid the foundations for victory with a stunning finish from Jordi Alba's pinpoint 27th-minute cross.
Gerard Pique rolled back the years with a majestic performance in defence, while Arturo Vidal was an incessant bundle of energy in midfield for Ernesto Valverde's team. But in truth, while others deserve their honourable mentions, this game was all about one man.
Klopp joked in his pregame news conference that Messi sounded as though he was issuing a "threat" in August when he insisted Barcelona would make up for last season's quarterfinal exit to Roma by going all the way in the Champions League this year. On Wednesday, the Liverpool manager saw at first hand that the 31-year-old had not been joking.
Messi played like a man on a mission against United, and Liverpool got the same treatment. His first goal, a tap-in after Suarez had hit the bar, came after a period of Liverpool pressure early in the second half; his second, seven minutes later, was a jaw-dropping free kick from 30 yards that is up there with the best he has ever scored.
It prompted 90,000 Catalans to bow as they chanted his name, but as ever, there was so much more to Messi's display. Perhaps the best example of his genius was borne out in the final seconds of second-half stoppage time when, after breaking clear, he teed up Ousmane Dembele with a sumptuous reverse pass inside the penalty area.


The French winger simply had to hit the target from 12 yards to make it 4-0, but Dembele somehow shot directly at Alisson, whereupon Messi threw himself to the ground in disbelief at his teammate's wastefulness.


Playing alongside Messi must be a dream, even for the likes of Dembele, who is nowhere near being on the same wavelength. Every pass is perfectly weighted into the path of a teammate, and he creates so much space by dragging opponents away when he has the ball that it is not unusual to see three Barcelona players unmarked in attacking positions.
Messi coasted through this game at times, coming alive only in short bursts, but so destructive were those contributions that Liverpool are in need of a footballing miracle if they are to overturn this deficit Tuesday.
Anfield has been the venue for several tales of the unexpected on European nights, but for all the magic of the old stadium, it will struggle to compete with that which exists in Messi's boots.
"It's football, so we have a chance," Klopp said. "But we had a better chance before the start of this game."
Liverpool need a miracle at Anfield next week despite dominating much of the first leg. The Reds had more of the ball and more of the chances, but they didn't have Lionel Messi, and ultimately that was the difference in a 3-0 defeat.
Positives
Not many sides will go to Camp Nou and take the game to Barcelona as impressively as Liverpool did. That's a sign of the progress made by the Reds in the last couple of years, but successful sides score when they need to and Liverpool did not take their chances here.
Negatives
Regardless of how well they played this tie is all but over now even though Liverpool know they are more than a match for Barcelona. For all the wonderful strides made by the team this year, it's looking increasingly like more end of season heartbreak for supporters who are now becoming used to it.
Manager rating out of 10
6 -- With Roberto Firmino deemed unfit to start, Klopp sprung a surprise by using Georginio Wijnaldum in the Brazilian's "false nine" role. It didn't work. Nor did the selection of the more defensive-minded Joe Gomez over Trent Alexander-Arnold. Tactically, though, Klopp must have done something right as his side had Barca on the ropes for long spells. Unfortunately, the manager can't put the ball in the net for his players.
Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best. Players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)
GK Alisson, 6 -- Beaten three times but other than perhaps the opener there was nothing he could do about any of them.

DF Joel Matip, 8 -- Highly accomplished display full of determination and quality. Several times he was left isolated against Luis Suarez and invariably he came out on top. Cool in possession too.DF Joe Gomez, 6 -- His selection made sense if Liverpool were going to play it cagey but given that the Reds spent virtually the entire game on the front foot taking the game to Barca, it seems a strange call in hindsight. Defensively he stuck to his task manfully, but Liverpool badly missed the creativity and crossing of Alexander-Arnold.
DF Virgil van Dijk, 7 -- Not a bad performance but the newly crowned PFA Player of the Year was certainly not at his imperious best. Culpable for the opening goal when he didn't track the run of Suarez.
DF Andrew Robertson, 9 -- Simply sensational. What a performance that was from the Scot at both ends of the pitch. Heroic, tenacious defending coupled with intelligent, rampaging attacking.
MF Fabinho, 7 -- Started the game brilliantly, winning several key tackles. Eventually, though, the task became almost impossible for him as Messi began to pick the ball up in space and turn. Stuck to his job well as well as could be expected and wasn't afraid to foul when it was required. Very efficient with his passing.
MF James Milner, 6 -- Showed his experience to help the Reds enjoy far more of the ball than anyone could have predicted. Tactically disciplined and helped to snuff out numerous counter-attacks at the source. Unlucky not to score with a curling effort that was tipped around the post, but then wasted a glorious chance when he shot straight at Marc-Andre ter Stegen when the score was only 1-0. A bad -- and ultimately crucial -- miss.
MF Naby Keita, 7 -- Made a good start to the game before being forced off prematurely with a groin injury.


MF Georginio Wijnaldum, 6 -- Deployed in an unfamiliar role at the tip of a midfield diamond. Very good positionally and played his part in Liverpool being able to dominate possession and prevent Barcelona from getting their much vaunted passing game going, but did not offer a great deal in an attacking sense. Did produce a clever dummy to tee up Milner for the chance he wasted. Eventually made way for Firmino.
FW Mohamed Salah, 6 -- Looked sharp and caused plenty of problems, particularly in the first half. Forced a good save from the keeper with a low drive after the break but undid all of his good work by failing to find the gaping net seconds after Barcelona's third goal. Had he converted that most simple of opportunities, it would have given Liverpool a much better chance of turning the tie around next week. An inexcusable miss.


FW Sadio Mane, 7 -- Very dangerous in the first half and perhaps should have been awarded a penalty when he was bundled over by Gerard Pique. Missed a good chance when he couldn't keep his shot down, but faded a little in the second stanza.
Substitutes
MF Jordan Henderson, 7 -- Will no doubt have been disappointed not to start the game, but he was brought on to replace the injured Keita early on and wasted no time getting involved. Produced a couple of terrific crosses and was bright and purposeful.
FW Roberto Firmino, N/R -- Probably should have been brought on earlier. Almost scored with one of his first touches when his shot was cleared off the line. Had he been fit to start the game, who knows what might have happened.
FW Divock Origi, N/R -- Sent on late to try and salvage something after it went to 3-0. Made a few runs down the left that didn't really amount to anything.

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