What can you say after that?
It started so well for the visitors; on the front foot, pressing, pushing. But there was one man on the pitch who certainly wanted his name in the headlines. Just as he does so well, Luis Suarez came back to bite Liverpool on the backsides, poking Barcelona in front in a breathless first half.
Dominance, utter dominance ensued in the second half as Jurgen Klopp’s men blew a host of great chances to secure the all important away goal. Yet lady luck had other ideas.
Entirely against the run of play, Suarez hit the bar and the ball fell kindly to a certain number ten to walk it in. For all the ease and simplicity of his first, the second was utterly sublime. A free kick that could be attributed to one and one only, Lionel Messi proved once more he isn’t human.
?Before this titanic footballing spectacle had even begun there was support from former players for their respective sides.
A blistering opening from both teams set the tone for the contest, before ?Sadio Mane went down under Gerard Pique’s clumsy challenge. Referee Björn Kuipers put his whistle in his mouth but opted against reviewing the tackle on VAR. It’s fair to say ?Liverpool fans weren’t best pleased. Even if he looked offside in the build up.
VAR useful there. Probable pen but let’s just not bother checking it.
— Ollie E (@OJEfootball) May 1, 2019
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Looks like Barcelona have switched VAR off for this ?
— Jason (@Jcov1998) May 1, 2019
??A real moment of quality followed, however. Much to the dismay of the Scouse ensemble, former man ?Luis Suarez timed his run sublimely for Jordi Alba’s excellent cross to poke his side in front. Needless to say, it wasn’t taken lightly..
That goal hurts just because how much I loved suarez…
— V3NOM (@COMMANDER_V3NOM) May 1, 2019
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Suarez even celebrated ?
— Dazai (@D_THFC) May 1, 2019
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What a pass by Alba that was, surprised to see Suarez celebrating though.
— Chintan mehta (@Chintanmilan07) May 1, 2019
Half was coming to a close in a wonderfully contested and even match. Yet there was time for ?Messi to do something, rather, un-Messilike. Not known for his play acting, the Argentine wizard fell the to floor with a woeful display of over exuberance after Jamés Milneymar’s shoulder barge.
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Messi WTF was that??
— The Stig (@NigerianStig) 1 May 2019
??Some saw the other side.
Milner trying to get pay back for Messi nut megging him in 2015
— Random Coloured Dude (@LB2991) 1 May 2019
??Just as they did in the first half, Liverpool started like a house on fire. Pinning La Blaugrana back with the hosts barely getting a touch of the ball. Barcelona not having the ball. Yes, really.
Their Senegalese speed merchant had their best chance of the opening period, while Milner tested Marc-Andre ter Stegen twice with Mohamed Salah having the German ‘stopper at full stretch. It was all Liverpool.
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Ter Stegen has been #Barcelona best player tonight. Good distribution from the back, coming out to catch the ball, sweeping behind the back 4 & 2 good saves from Milner & Salah #BARLIV #UCL #ChampionsLeague
— Rupesh Popat (@rpopat1) May 1, 2019
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Liverpool are teaching Barca how to play football. Messi has been anonymous so far in this second half.#FCBLIV
— Shittu saheed (@Babasridonpapa) May 1, 2019
??However, in brutal fashion, their inability to make their make their dominance count came back to haunt them. Suarez hit the bar and the ball fell kindly to Messi to walk the ball into the net for 2-0.
Them: Messi has not scored against Liverpool.
Messi: Hold my Pepsi. ?
— Kearabetswe. (@KeaMnguni) 1 May 2019
Virtual van Dyke was sleeping for the Messi goal. I’m hoping the real one will be available for the home leg. #barvliv
— kenny (@kennya77) 1 May 2019
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How fucking unlucky can we get. Fabinho makes a good tackle – falls to Sergi Roberto, Robbo makes a block – falls to Suarez, Suarez hits the bar – falls to Messi. #BARLIV #LFC #YNWA
— Chris Kerr (@kermit2601) 1 May 2019
And in a moment of Game of Thrones-esque foreshadowing, one Twitter member even called it.
Liverpool dominating, you know what that means. Barca 2-0 #BARLIV
— Kawhi Stan (@TheVokality) May 1, 2019
??And then Messi happened. With a 30 yard free kick. Messi just happened.
This free kick is the real #Messi moment. The goal of the round. The best man ever! #UCL #Fcb
— biodun adeyanju (@adeyanjubiodun) 1 May 2019
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Best in the world, absolutely sensational from Messi ???
— DC (@Dancowell7) 1 May 2019
??AND THEN ROBERTO FIRMINO HAD ONE CLEARED OFF THE LINE, IT FELL TO SALAH!! BUT NO!!!!
Firmino’s shot off the line and Salah missing the rebound from 6 yards, sums our night up that
— Mikey Richardson (@Mikey_R_1992) May 1, 2019
??To lose the match 3-0 feels unjustified. They created chances and had ?Barcelona on the back foot for large parts of the game.
Fine margins, fine margins everywhere. The game we love is based so heavily on fine margins. And magicians, Argentinian magicians.
They’ve got a mountain to climb with a toothpick. But there’s still a chance for Klopp’s boys. Granted it’s a small one, but it’s there.
Let’