Highlights: Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona
Liverpool produced one of the greatest comebacks in Champions League history as they overturned a 0-3 first leg deficit to beat Barcelona 4-0 on Tuesday night to progress to the 2019 Champions League final.
With Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah both out injured, Divock Origi took up the central striker position at Anfield and got the ball rolling on seven minutes by tucking home from Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s parry after Jordan Henderson’s effort had been parried into his path. A header from Jordi Alba into Sadio Mane’s path had started the attack.
Alisson was forced into smart saves to deny both Lionel Messi and Philippe Coutinho in the following 10 minutes and then in the final minute of the first half to deny Virgil van Dijk.
Barcelona’s German goalkeeper pulled off a stunning save to deny van Dijk five minutes after half-time whilst Luis Suarez produced a tame effort at Alisson when one-on-one just moments later.
Jurgen Klopp went for broke in the second half as he introduced attacking midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum for left-back Andy Robertson at the break. His efforts were greatly rewarded in the 54th minute when the Dutch international latched onto Origi’s low cross to power home, beneath ter Stegen. Ivan Rakitic had carelessly conceded possession deep inside his own half this time.
Just two minutes later Wijnaldum made it 3-0 with a free header inside the six-yard box having been picked out by a Xherdan Shaqiri cross.
Messi was denied by Alisson with an effort at his near post midway through the second half but otherwise the Brazilian goalkeeper wasn’t too busy in the second half.
Trent Alexander-Arnold then produced one of the smartest plays of the season. The young right-back was walking away from taking a corner when he noticed the Barcelona defence napping and quickly ran up to the ball to deliver a low cross into the path of Divock Origi. The Belgian striker finished first time from seven yards with 12 minutes remaining.
Liverpool saw those finals out with some ease.
Watch the highlights from Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona here:
