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It was like something out of a game of FIFA. Liverpool walked into the clash as the underdogs, losing not one but three key stars including Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino before the game. The away side was Barcelona who had a three-goal advantage and just for added measure rested all their key stars over the weekend.
It seemed an absolutely impossible task for the Reds and yet for some reason, with the Kop behind them, it seemed merely improbable not impossible. But with the underdogs against Barcelona, the improbable has nearly always turned into possible with the ghosts of last season haunting their minds and memories.
And then it happened, an astute combination of a lot of things and brilliant tactics all worked in tandem to make it work. A sensational 4-0 victory and the Reds proved they do not depend on any one player with Gini Wijnaldum and Divock Origi smashing it home. Everything seemed to go their way, and they proved that sometimes an undying belief does take you all the way.
Here are three reasons why Liverpool beat Barcelona.
#3 Alisson Becker is worth every penny
First they spent a world record sum on Virgil van Dijk and then they did it again six months but this time it was for Alisson Becker. That effectively changed everything for Liverpool, giving them the boost they needed to move from a top four side to a title challenger. And today against Barcelona, against Lionel Messi, he proved to be more than good enough.
The first leg saw him humiliated by arguably and debatably the best player in the history with an absolutely gorgeous free-kick from just outside 30 odd yards. Today he made sure nothing like that would ever happen, proving to be more than a match against what looked like an exhausted Barcelona side.
However, he made four rather great saves, doing it so nonchalantly that it made everything look like it was in slow motion and walking towards him. Nobody managed to break his defense, with Jordi Alba, Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi all trying their very best. It might go down under the radar, but Alisson certainly deserves any praise he gets.
#2 Incredible partnership from Jordan Henderson and Fabinho
If Jordan Henderson is that overactive, hyper-energetic kid always running about the field, then Fabinho is that kid who’s far too old for his age. Together the two form a near perfect pairing in midfield, allowing everyone else to do what they do best. Tonight, however, they were at their very best.
The Englishman successfully tried his best to cover every blade of grass while Fabinho kept to himself, patrolling the midfield with incredible efficiency. Sure he dived into a few tackles and got caught out once or twice, but Henderson was there to bail him out. It’s the partnership that just might help Liverpool do well in the present and lead them to glory.
If Naby Keita was in the game, it could have became even more exciting with the Guinean’s energy and never-ending drive to do well. His injury will hurt the club but as long as Henderson and Fabinho play together, Liverpool always have a chance.
#1 Liverpool 10/10 performance
No Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and no Naby Keita meant that Liverpool had to depend on their back-up front line. Divock Origi and Xherdan Shaqiri found a place in the starting eleven alongside Trent Alexander Arnold and James Milner as the only four changes. Yet it was the same four players who proved to make a massive difference.
Origi nabbed a well-taken brace, with Georginio Wijnaldum coming off the bench for a sensational cameo. James Milner played just as effectively at central midfielder as he did at left-back, while Trent Alexander Arnold provided the assist of the tie. Only Shaqiri struggled in the first half, but a stern talking during the break changed that.
In the end, it was the team that outran, outplayed and outperformed Barcelona, with eleven players playing out of their skins to get a result at home. Sure, the home crowd played their part by energizing the team, but in the end, it came down to the team and the tactics. You may not like this Liverpool side, but you certainly have to respect what they’ve achieved in this Champions League fixture.
