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Lionel Messi scored twice to put Barcelona in control of their Champions League semi-final against Liverpool, winning 3-0 in the first leg at the Nou Camp.
It was former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez who put the hosts ahead in the 26th minute, flicking a lovely Jordi Alba cross home home over Alisson and the 32-year-old did not hide his celebrations.
Barcelona rode the wave of Liverpool pressure at the start of the second half and Messi (75) was in the right place at the right time as he slotted home after Suarez had hit the bar.
But his real moment of magic came seven minutes later as he swept a sensational free-kick around the Liverpool wall and into the top corner, scoring his 600th goal for the club and putting Barcelona in pole position to reach their first Champions League final since 2015.
It was an entertaining first half, with Philippe Coutinho attempting to strike an early blow to his former side, but his 16th minute strike - which was offside - went whistling past Alisson's far post.
For all the pre-match questions on Liverpool's formation, it was thrown slightly into disarray as Keita picked up a groin issue following a clash with Ivan Rakitic. He was replaced after 24 minutes by Jordan Henderson, and two minutes later, a familiar face came back to haunt Liverpool.
A sensational cross from Jordi Alba on the left picked out the run of Suarez through the middle of the two centre-backs. He then flicked the ball over the top of Alisson with a delightful finish before celebrating his first Champions League goal of the season with a knee slide in front of the Nou Camp crowd.
But for all of Liverpool's possession and pressure in the second period, it was Barcelona who doubled their lead in the 75th minute. Suarez's initial effort hammered against the crossbar but Messi was waiting to roll the rebounded ball home with Alisson well off his line.
It was a moment of sheer class from Messi in the 82nd minute as he netted Barcelona's third and bought up his 600th goal for the club. He lined up a free-kick from 25 yards out after a foul from Fabinho on the Argentine and he got the delivery inch-perfect as he curled the ball around the Liverpool wall and into the top corner.
A solitary goal would have taken the bare look off the visitors’ side of the scoreboard and given them some faint hope of turning this tie around next week.
Liverpool will need a miracle at Anfield next week.
As things stand, they need to score a minimum of three goals at Anfield, but will need five or more if Barcelona breach their defences in the return leg.
Liverpool's team selection was perplexing, with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Roberto Firmino on the bench while James Milner, Georgino Wijnaldum, Naby Keita and Fabinho all started. When the game began, Wijnaldum took up the false nine role left vacant by Firmino with a flat midfield three as Jurgen Klopp maintained an eye on Saturday's crunch Premier League game against Newcastle.
Player ratings
Barcelona: Ter Stegen (8), Roberto (6), Pique (7), Lenglet (7), Alba (8), Rakitic (7), Busquets (8), Vidal (6), Messi (9), Suarez (9), Coutinho (6).
Subs used: Semedo (6), Dembele (n/a), Alena (n/a).
Liverpool: Alisson (6), Gomez (6), Matip (6), Van Dijk (6), Robertson (7), Fabinho (6), Wijnaldum (6), Milner (6), Keita (6), Salah (7), Mane (7).
Subs used: Henderson (7), Firmino (n/a), Origi (n/a).
Man of the match: Lionel Messi.
Jurgen Klopp speaks ...
Speaking to BT Sport, Liverpool’s manager sounds disappointed, but philosophical. “Football is like this,” he says. “It’s about scoring goals and they scored three goals and we scored none. The performance was great and the boys were really good. I’m really happy with the performance but I’m not happy with the result. You don’t get grades in this game, you only get a hard result.
On the subject of his team’s profligacy in front of goal. “What can I say?” he asks. “It’s easy to talk about goals, but how we created the chances was outstanding. How we caused them problems was outstanding. How we played it - I don’t know if we can play much better.”
He has a little grumble at the play-acting of some of Barcelona’s more experienced players (yes you, Luis). “We’re 3-0 down but let’s recover and go to Newcastle,” he says. “The game is over, but whatever I say will not change the result. We will play again and see what happens. We have not made our lives easier.”
Arsene Wenger reveals why Barcelona beat Liverpool 3-0
Former Arsenal boss, Arsene Wenger has revealed why Liverpool lost 3-0 to Barcelona in the first leg of the Champions League semi final against Barcelona on Wednesday.
Wenger said Jurgen Klopp’s men collapsed in the final 15 minutes of their 3-0 defeat.
Wenger told beIN Sports, “It was hard for Liverpool tonight.
“But, I must say, Barcelona suffered in the second half until they scored the second goal, then Liverpool collapsed.
“There was two important things that happened tonight. First, when they suffered Ernesto Valverde made a good change.
“He brought [Nelson] Semedo on and put [Sergi] Roberto in midfield… from that point on that looked more stable defensively.
“The second part of it… something we have seen so many times, is Messi. Mr Messi came in and said: ‘Let me finish the job.’
“Liverpool had a late chance, they should have scored. They will regret this chance but overall it is typical thing I have seen at Barcelona.
“They are better than you in the final third, every pass is great. That makes the difference at the end of the day.”
Lionel Messi has now scored 600 goals for Barcelona
Liverpool are the 76th team he has scored past for Barca
Scored his 1st senior goal 14 years ago today in 2-0 La Liga win v Albacete, May 1st 2005
Has reached 600 senior club goals in 118 games fewer than Cristiano Ronaldo:
Lionel Messi scored twice to put Barcelona in control of their Champions League semi-final against Liverpool, winning 3-0 in the first leg at the Nou Camp.
It was former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez who put the hosts ahead in the 26th minute, flicking a lovely Jordi Alba cross home home over Alisson and the 32-year-old did not hide his celebrations.
Barcelona rode the wave of Liverpool pressure at the start of the second half and Messi (75) was in the right place at the right time as he slotted home after Suarez had hit the bar.
But his real moment of magic came seven minutes later as he swept a sensational free-kick around the Liverpool wall and into the top corner, scoring his 600th goal for the club and putting Barcelona in pole position to reach their first Champions League final since 2015.
It was an entertaining first half, with Philippe Coutinho attempting to strike an early blow to his former side, but his 16th minute strike - which was offside - went whistling past Alisson's far post.
For all the pre-match questions on Liverpool's formation, it was thrown slightly into disarray as Keita picked up a groin issue following a clash with Ivan Rakitic. He was replaced after 24 minutes by Jordan Henderson, and two minutes later, a familiar face came back to haunt Liverpool.
A sensational cross from Jordi Alba on the left picked out the run of Suarez through the middle of the two centre-backs. He then flicked the ball over the top of Alisson with a delightful finish before celebrating his first Champions League goal of the season with a knee slide in front of the Nou Camp crowd.
But for all of Liverpool's possession and pressure in the second period, it was Barcelona who doubled their lead in the 75th minute. Suarez's initial effort hammered against the crossbar but Messi was waiting to roll the rebounded ball home with Alisson well off his line.
It was a moment of sheer class from Messi in the 82nd minute as he netted Barcelona's third and bought up his 600th goal for the club. He lined up a free-kick from 25 yards out after a foul from Fabinho on the Argentine and he got the delivery inch-perfect as he curled the ball around the Liverpool wall and into the top corner.
A solitary goal would have taken the bare look off the visitors’ side of the scoreboard and given them some faint hope of turning this tie around next week.
Liverpool will need a miracle at Anfield next week.
As things stand, they need to score a minimum of three goals at Anfield, but will need five or more if Barcelona breach their defences in the return leg.
Liverpool's team selection was perplexing, with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Roberto Firmino on the bench while James Milner, Georgino Wijnaldum, Naby Keita and Fabinho all started. When the game began, Wijnaldum took up the false nine role left vacant by Firmino with a flat midfield three as Jurgen Klopp maintained an eye on Saturday's crunch Premier League game against Newcastle.
Player ratings
Barcelona: Ter Stegen (8), Roberto (6), Pique (7), Lenglet (7), Alba (8), Rakitic (7), Busquets (8), Vidal (6), Messi (9), Suarez (9), Coutinho (6).
Subs used: Semedo (6), Dembele (n/a), Alena (n/a).
Liverpool: Alisson (6), Gomez (6), Matip (6), Van Dijk (6), Robertson (7), Fabinho (6), Wijnaldum (6), Milner (6), Keita (6), Salah (7), Mane (7).
Subs used: Henderson (7), Firmino (n/a), Origi (n/a).
Man of the match: Lionel Messi.
Jurgen Klopp speaks ...
Speaking to BT Sport, Liverpool’s manager sounds disappointed, but philosophical. “Football is like this,” he says. “It’s about scoring goals and they scored three goals and we scored none. The performance was great and the boys were really good. I’m really happy with the performance but I’m not happy with the result. You don’t get grades in this game, you only get a hard result.
On the subject of his team’s profligacy in front of goal. “What can I say?” he asks. “It’s easy to talk about goals, but how we created the chances was outstanding. How we caused them problems was outstanding. How we played it - I don’t know if we can play much better.”
He has a little grumble at the play-acting of some of Barcelona’s more experienced players (yes you, Luis). “We’re 3-0 down but let’s recover and go to Newcastle,” he says. “The game is over, but whatever I say will not change the result. We will play again and see what happens. We have not made our lives easier.”
Arsene Wenger reveals why Barcelona beat Liverpool 3-0
Former Arsenal boss, Arsene Wenger has revealed why Liverpool lost 3-0 to Barcelona in the first leg of the Champions League semi final against Barcelona on Wednesday.
Wenger said Jurgen Klopp’s men collapsed in the final 15 minutes of their 3-0 defeat.
Wenger told beIN Sports, “It was hard for Liverpool tonight.
“But, I must say, Barcelona suffered in the second half until they scored the second goal, then Liverpool collapsed.
“There was two important things that happened tonight. First, when they suffered Ernesto Valverde made a good change.
“He brought [Nelson] Semedo on and put [Sergi] Roberto in midfield… from that point on that looked more stable defensively.
“The second part of it… something we have seen so many times, is Messi. Mr Messi came in and said: ‘Let me finish the job.’
“Liverpool had a late chance, they should have scored. They will regret this chance but overall it is typical thing I have seen at Barcelona.
“They are better than you in the final third, every pass is great. That makes the difference at the end of the day.”
Liverpool are the 76th team he has scored past for Barca
Scored his 1st senior goal 14 years ago today in 2-0 La Liga win v Albacete, May 1st 2005
Has reached 600 senior club goals in 118 games fewer than Cristiano Ronaldo:
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