Nothing to lose at Anfield in Barcelona second-leg
It wasn't exactly the ideal result, despite a solid performance.
It was a rare occasion that Liverpool found themselves in last night, losing.
The 3-0 defeat to Barcelona was a low moment in a season of highs for Jürgen Klopp's men, and it puts their place in a second consecutive Champions League final in serious jeopardy.
And what it does is throw the second leg as wide open as Alisson's goal was for Messi's first at the Nou Camp.
But …
Observations as Liverpool Delivered Hammer Blow But Fight Continues
Liverpool were dealt a crippling blow to their Champions League hopes, suffering a 3-0 defeat at Camp Nou after a seven minute spell from Lionel Messi. With it all to do at Anfield next week, Jurgen Klopp's men will have taken confidence from the fact that they created several chances to get on the scoresheet, but a better cutting edge will be required should they complete a remarkable turnaround.
This was a night that was indicative of Lionel Messi’s quality. …
Key Stats as Liverpool Sunk At The Camp Nou
So, Liverpool are 3-0 down at what is effectively half-time? What possible precedent is there for such a recovery? Here are the key stats from a chastening defeat at the Nou Camp, starring Leo Messi.
Big Chances Haunt Reds Again
There have been moments in the Champions League this season where Liverpool have gotten away with missing big chances, and it didn’t haunt them. They missed three in the first leg against Bayern and secured a 3-1 win over the …
Barcelona 3-0 Liverpool: What went wrong?
This one hurts. Liverpool performed well at the Nou Camp, but they've come away on the end of a stinging defeat which leaves them in need of a miraculous result at Anfield next week to salvage hope of silverware.
The tie slipped out of the Reds' grasp in agonisingly swift fashion with Lionel Messi's second-half double. Chances to grab a critical away goal were spurned, and now one goal for Barca would leave Liverpool needing to score five.
The painful …
Player Ratings as the GOAT chews up Liverpool in Barcelona
Football is a game decided by moments. The Champions League is a competition decided by key moments. Unfortunately, they didn't go Liverpool's way tonight.
I'm disappointed to lose 3-0, but little else. Not pissed at the officials, annoyed at Klopp, angry at a player. Liverpool went to the Nou Camp and created chances kept Messi quiet (in open play) and forced Valverde into what was essentially an 8-2 formation for times during the second half.
However, the greatest player of …
Discussion: The Rival Player I'd Have at Liverpool
Personally, I love a hypothetical within the realms of football. They allow one to examine the possibilities and justify why their selection would be viable. Of course, these hypotheticals can border on the edges of insanity, almost irrelevance i.e. Which footballer would be able to the most kick-ups with a live chicken? (probably Leo Messi). However, some are cause for intrigue.
Recently I was posed with a rather thought-provoking hypothetical, the answer to which would have been utterly disparate had …
How Mo Salah Built A Superstar's Aura
There are many things that make Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo the greatest players of their generation, if not in the history of the game.
They score goals at an unfathomable rate; they lift their teams when they are struggling; they produce moments of genius and their level of consistency is second to none.
Something that stands out most is their ability to make an impact when not at their best - an issue that even this unbelievable duo experience …
Will Mo Salah End the Messi & Ronaldo Ballon d’Or Stranglehold?
As Mo Salah sent that outrageous looping header into the Bournemouth net last weekend, you were left stunned by yet another piece of individual genius from the Egyptian King.
It also clocked up a notable milestone for the 25-year-old, who took his incredible goal tally to 40 for the season, despite not even being an out-and-out striker.
Only Ian Rush and Roger Hunt have achieved that feat in the past, which sums up how prolific he has been.
Luis Suarez …
Salah or Suarez: Who reigns supreme?
28 league goals so far, and he doesn't seem to be slowing down: Mo Salah is blitzing his way through records as fast as he leaves defenders chasing dust on the pitch. It's truly remarkable, seeing Salah develop into a second striker, as Klopp looks to wean the very best out of his skills. But having scored every 85 minutes in the league so far, the inevitable comparison to Liverpool's last Golden Boot winner was always going to be made: …
Where Does Salah Rank Among Europe's Best?
The nature of the conversation around Mo Salah has indeed shifted in recent weeks, culminating in a significant shift following Liverpool’s 5-0 win over Watford. Salah was of course, entirely unplayable on Saturday, scoring four and assisting Bobby Firmino’s goal, but that performance was only the cherry on top of what has been a truly elite season for Salah. His 28 goals make him the top scorer in the top five European leagues, with nobody contributing more than his 37 …