Vibrant Liverpool pulled no punches as they annihilated Barcelona 4-0 at Wembley to send shock waves across the globe. Sadio Mane, Divock Origi, Marko Grujic and an own goal from Javier Mascherano did the damage as the Spanish champions were given a bolt out of the blue.
The Reds dominated the proceedings right from the start and Mane took just 14 minutes to trigger the onslaught, following some near misses. With the scoreline reading just 1-0 in Liverpool’s favour despite a sparkling half. Their efforts paid off in the second half as Mascherano stumbled the ball into his own net 5 minutes after the break, and Origi made it 3-0 just 30 seconds later.
Barcelona, who by then, were like a deer caught in the headlights, gained some footing in the game as it wore on, but Serbian youngster Grujic added more gloss to an already unbelievable scoreline with a fantastic header beyond Claudio Bravo for 4-0 deep in extra-time.
Luis Enrique’s side were given a harsh reality check ahead of the new season, whereas Liverpool wrap up their preparations for next week’s EPL opener in the most emphatic way possible. Here are some of the talking points from the Wembley spectacle.
#1 Barcelona left horribly exposed
The pre-season games hardly weigh any significance, but a defeat of this magnitude spells some trouble. Barcelona were completely outclassed, outplayed and outmaneuvered by a clinical Liverpool, sending manager Enrique into some introspection before the Spanish Super Cup against Sevilla.
Enrique played an experimental defensive quartet of Aleix Vidal, Jeremy Mathieu, Javier Mascherano and Juan Camara, and it showed. The back-line was taken to the cleaners by the speed and agility of Mane, Firmino and Coutinho, and also left acres of space at the back for them to run in to.
Liverpool’s high-pressing game unsettled the Catalans, who looked out of sorts from the very beginning. A huge, huge reality check for the Spanish champions.
#2 Mane illuminates Wembley
On a day when the hoopla was all about Luis Suarez facing his former club for the first time since joining Barcelona, Sadio Mane made sure his debut did not go unnoticed. The Senegalese took just 14 minutes to open his Liverpool account, marking an unforgettable start to his new sojourn.
Mane was signed from Southampton last month for £34 million, making him one of the most expensive transfers in Liverpool’s history, but it has already started to pay off. He finished a well-worked counter-attack by delicately placing the ball into the net, and later racing down the right wing and forced Mascherano into an own goal early in the second half.
His trickery, lightning pace and predatory instincts inside the box was a spectacle to watc,h as Barcelona struggled immensely to contain him. Those qualities helped Liverpool look sharp in attack as they pressed the visitors to the hilt.
Liverpool have been lacking a true blue striker since the departure of Luis Suarez, but in Sadio Mane, they may have found a permanent solution.
#3 Not a memorable reunion for Suarez
For the three years that he was associated with the KOP, Luis Suarez had made a special place in the hearts of all the fans. His goal-scoring exploits for Liverpool was one of the finest as he almost dragged them to their first ever league crown in 2014, but Barcelona came calling soon and the Uruguayan packed his bags.
In his first meeting with his old colleagues, Luis Suarez hogged all the limelight in the build-up and fans thronged Wembley in numbers to see their former hero again, and would’ve been delighted to see him struggle against his old team-mates.
Suarez was clearly below his best as he toiled hard in front of goal. Not only was he gasping for service from Messi and others, but also failed to conjure something of his own. Liverpool had his number as some brilliant man marking effectively nullified any sort of threat from him.
Suarez was supposed to plunder goals to show his former team that he’s still the best in the business, but was instead left embarrassed on his reunion.
#4 Karius may have to fight for his place after Mignolet blinder
The arrival of goalkeeper Loris Karius from Mainz in the summer spelt a change of personnel under the bar as Liverpool’s no.1 choice Simon Mignolet could smell the coffee. The Belgian’s first team chances seemed under threat but reciprocated with a rousing performance against Barcelona to remind Klopp that he’s still the best choice to go with.
Mignolet made some excellent saves in the first half, including his terrific stops to deny Suarez and Turan as Barcelona were given absolutely no chance at goal.
The Belgian shot-stopper just proved what he’s capable of, but now it’s time for him to carry that into the season as Karius is waiting in the wings.
#5 Liverpool make a huge statement of intent
Yes, it was only a friendly. Yes, it wasn’t a full-strength Barcelona. But Liverpool have sent the Premier League into a tizzy with a dazzling performance that’s hard to ignore. Nobody expected the Reds to win, let alone mauling the Spaniards 4-0. This very fact makes this win a significant one, especially given the new season is just around the corner.
It was a game where everything went right for the Reds. Steely in defence and acerbic in the attack, Liverpool were at their rip-roaring best. Dominating right from the off, Klopp’s side made their intentions known. They did not take this friendly lightly, and their performance cannot prove it more.
The Blaugrana were battered from pillar to post as they had no answer to this rambunctious Liverpool side.
It was a perfect way to wrap up the preparations for the new season, and regardless of how their rivals take this result, Liverpool have well and truly sent an ominous message about their title aspirations for 2016-17 campaign.
