Anfield rocks as Liverpool comeback to stun Barcelona in Champions League

Istanbul will always be the benchmark when it comes to Liverpool comebacks in Europe but the 4-0 dismantling of Barcelona at Anfield will run it close as Jurgen Klopp’s side reached successive Champions League finals.
By The Newsroom
Published 7th May 2019, 23:47 BST
Liverpool's Georginio Wijnaldum celebrates scoring his side's third goal of the game during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final, second leg match at Anfield, Liverpool. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday May 7, 2019. See PA story SOCCER Liverpool. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire.Liverpool's Georginio Wijnaldum celebrates scoring his side's third goal of the game during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final, second leg match at Anfield, Liverpool. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday May 7, 2019. See PA story SOCCER Liverpool. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire.
Liverpool's Georginio Wijnaldum celebrates scoring his side's third goal of the game during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final, second leg match at Anfield, Liverpool. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday May 7, 2019. See PA story SOCCER Liverpool. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire.

Trailing by three goals from the first leg no-one gave the Reds much hope but two goals apiece from Divock Origi and game-changing half-time substitute Georginio Wijnaldum saw them progress 4-3 on aggregate.

In a truly remarkable - and intense - game not only did Liverpool erase that disadvantage inside 56 minutes, they went on to score a winner and, remarkably, kept Lionel Messi quiet.

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For only the fourth time in the competition’s history a team was eliminated from a knockout tie having won the first leg by three or more goals, the last occasion being Barca against Roma in last season’s quarter-final.

Origi’s timing in scoring his first Champions League goals was impeccable, as was Wijnaldum’s introduction for injured defender Andy Robertson.

Liverpool needed an early goal to increase the already vibrant atmosphere and when Robertson’s cross was deflected behind with Xherdan Shaqiri, making his first start since January, after just 53 seconds it was the ideal opening.

It became almost perfect when Origi scored in only the seventh minute, tapping home a rebound from Jordan Henderson’s shot after Sadio Mane had seized on Jori Alba’s mis-hit headed backpass.

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The hosts were dominating in what was turning into a brilliant game in a superb atmosphere and one can only imagine what a spectacle it would have been had key players Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah not been out injured.

Gerard Pique cleared from Henderson, Robertson denied by Marc-Andre Ter Stegen and Claude Lenglet pushing Mane to the ground without punishment as he threatened to run past him.

Wijnaldum was sent on for the second half and James Milner dropped to left-back. It was a pivotal, if somewhat fortunate, change.

Within 11 minutes the Holland midfielder had scored twice; first charging into the area to drive a low Trent Alexander-Arnold pass under Ter Stegen and then rising highest at the near post to head home Milner’s cross.

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As per last week Ernesto Valverde swapped another former Red Philippe Coutinho for a defender in Nelson Semedo and switched to 4-4-2 but it appeared to have little effect.

The pace of the game was taking its toll not only on Barcelona legs but also minds and when Alexander-Arnold spotted Origi unmarked in the six-yard box his quick thinking picked out the Belgium international to sweep home with 11 minutes to go.

There were a few fraught moments but marshalled by Virgil Van Dijk they saw off any threat to spark wild scenes at the end.

Related topics:LiverpoolBarcelonaChampions LeagueEuropeJurgen Klopp