Liverpool vs. Barcelona had always been a close game, that was until a tiny Argentinian came along and changed the face of football for better.
But till 2007,A a time when Liverpool were still title contenders and strong ones too, they faced each other regularly and games mostly ended with only a goal to separate them.AThe 2001 Uefa cup match which Liverpool won 1-0, then the 2001 champions league match which Barcelona won 3-1 and Liverpoolas last win against the Spanish side in 2007 where they beat them 2-1 in a Champions League match. But that was the last time they ever beat them, that is till yesterday.
Wembley is one good looking stadium and the Spanish champions have had some happy memories here, beating Manchester United 3-1 to win the Champions league would be their best moment. And given the team they played yesterday (with Messi, Suarez, Mascherano, Busquets and Arda Turan among the starters) everyone expected them to beat Liverpool, and I have a feeling they did too. But the stars, the moons and even Messias blond hair could not save them from getting beatenAby Liverpool.
The Red’s imposed JA?rgen Kloppas heavy metal brand of football straight of the clock and pressed the Barcelona team like there was no tomorrow. That combined with high performance football and classy new signings gelling perfectly with the old players and they had Barcelona in their palms. Lallana was brilliant during the first half, and started the counter attack after he pinched the ball off Arda Turan, passed it to Frimino, who gave it back to the English man. Lallana then proceeded to nutmeg a Barcelona defender with a ball through to Sadio Mane who made no mistake and delicately smashed it past Ter Stegen for his first goal.
The Catalans almost had a goal back with some brilliant pass and move plays on the edge of the box and then a pass through to Messi, who strokedAthe ball past the advancing Mignolet but also managed to hit the post instead of the back of the net, not his best performance some say. The Belgian keeper who has come under a lot of stick for his goalkeeping talents managed to keep the Spanish giants out of the Liverpool goal.
Three changes at the break from Liverpool and the entire match changed. What was a 1-0 and probably an easy comeback for Barcelona, turned into a rout. Pressure from Jordan Henderson in the very first minute of the second half helped Mascherano score a peach of an own goal. Then a minute later Kevin Stewart steals the ball of Sergio Busquets. He looks around for a second and then sends the ball down the pitch and towards Divock Origi, who shrugs off his marker with ease and calmly finishes it between Ter Stegen legs for their third.
And keep in mind that this is not some second or third rate team, no no no! This is Barcelona, the worldas best according to their fans, only the best of the best play in this team. And then pre-season and theyare thrashed within the first forty seven minutes by Liverpool, or rather a Liverpool that looks like a Borussia Dortmund during Klopp best spell with them, circa 2010-2012. Thatas right, FORTY SEVEN MINUTES Aand they were 3-0 down. And then there were four, with Marko Grujic contributing in the dying minutes and then the fans in the stadium had ticket stubs worth every penny! Their team had undone the best team in the world, and they were there to watch it.
And talk about being worth every penny, thereas Sadio Mane troubling the Barcelona defence once again with his brilliant runs, his incredible pace and combined with Adam Lallanaas vision and intelligence, he has unbridled potential – qualities which have been missing since the departures of both Luis Suarez and Sterling.
And therein ends this article, Liverpool trounce Barcelona.