Jurgen Klopp admitted Lionel Messi was “unstoppable” on
Wednesday after he left Liverpool needing a miracle to reach the Champions
League final.
Luis Suarez poked in against his former club before Messi
hit a late double, the second a stunning free-kick for his 600th Barca goal, as
his team took a 3-0 lead from a pulsating semi-final first leg ahead of next
week’s return at Anfield.
“He’s unstoppable,” said Klopp afterwards. “Obviously we
couldn’t defend the free-kick. What a strike. He’s a world-class player but I
knew that already. It’s no surprise.”
Klopp could only smile after Messi’s curling shot nestled in
the top corner but this result was harsh on his side.
They matched Barcelona in the first half, dominated them
early in the second and could still have left with an away goal after Messi’s
brilliant brace, only for Mohamed Salah to hit the post.
“I said to the boys I was proud of how we played against a
side like this,” Klopp said. “If you lose away it’s not a massive problem as
long as you score a goal. That’s our problem tonight – it doesn’t make our life
any easier.”
Messi and Suarez did what they have done all season, their
tallies now at 47 and 27 goals respectively in all competitions.
It had been a breathtaking contest befitting two of Europe’s
most exhilarating teams. The first half was electric, a reel of chances, breaks
and blocks, while the second was tense, a tactical battle where Barca dared
Liverpool to over-exert.
The comeback will be even tougher for them given Barcelona,
with La Liga wrapped up, will surely rest a host of players against Celta Vigo
this weekend while Liverpool, a point behind Premier League leaders Manchester
City will have to be at full throttle again away at Newcastle on Saturday.
“They can still make us suffer,” said Barca coach Ernesto
Valverde. “The result is good but the tie is open.”
Messi was already fresh, after playing just over half the La
Liga minutes he could have done in April, and he looked sharp early on, weaving
through the centre while for Liverpool, the sensational Sadio Mane raced down
the left.
The attacks were scintillating but the defending was good
too. Andy Robertson scrambled across to block Messi’s finish from six yards and
moments later it was Sergi Roberto on the slide, preventing Mane from sprinting
clear.
Messi wanted a penalty when the ball jumped up on Joel Matip
and Naby Keita went off injured in the 25th minute, replaced by Jordan
Henderson.
A minute later came the goal. Arturo Vidal sprayed the ball
left to Philippe Coutinho, who cushioned back for Jordi Alba. Alba shaped to
cross but instead curved a perfectly weighted pass to the near post, where
Suarez nipped in.
Liverpool came again. Mane scampered in behind then flicked
the ball round Sergio Busquets. He should have scored too, Henderson’s cross finding
him free from eight yards but the shot flew over.
Barca took control just as Suarez began to lose it, irked by
James Milner barging Messi into the sideboards after the Argentinian had danced
past Robertson.
But Liverpool were re-energized at the start of the second
half. Marc-Andre ter Stegen pushed away shots from Milner and Salah, and held a
Milner drive.
Then Messi intervened, striking twice in seven minutes. His
own run started the first, setting Sergi free to square to Suarez. Off balance,
Suarez could only knee the ball against the crossbar but it came back for
Messi, who chested and finished into an open net.
Two was tough on Liverpool but Messi was not done. The
free-kick was central, 30 yards out. He whipped it over the wall and into the
top corner.
Barca were delirious but Liverpool almost grabbed an away
goal when a clearance on the line fell kindly for Salah, who hammered against
the post. It could have been a lifeline. Liverpool are on the brink.
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