Liverpool face an uphill task to reach the Champions League final after a 3-0 drubbing by Barcelona.

Jurgen Klopp’s side fell behind midway through the first half as Luis Suarez broke the deadlock against his former club with a slotted finish from a Jordi Alba cross.

Suarez was involved again after the break as Barca doubled their lead when Lionel Messi bundled home a rebound from the Uruguayan’s crossbar shot.

Matters were compounded for the Reds just seven minutes later as Messi sent in an inch-perfect free kick which nestled in Alisson Becker’s right-hand corner.

Here were the key talking points from the Nou Camp:

Klopp plays the occasion, not the game

 

Rarely under Jurgen Klopp have Liverpool played the occasion over the game.

Yet last season’s Champions League finalists were guilty of exactly that with the German picking Joe Gomez ahead of Trent Alexander-Arnold in defence.

Klopp’s reasoning was clear; he needed a full-back who would just hold their position rather than bombing forward – the latter would be for the second leg.

But Joe Gomez’s first start since recovering from a knee injury in December was painfully telling as he found himself regularly on the back foot against Jordi Alba.

Barcelona’s opener was a case in point as the Spain international was allowed to slice through the visitors’ defence after getting the better of his opposite number.

This was the wrong evening to alter Liverpool’s approach, and they paid for it.

No love lost with Suarez

 

Liverpool’s old boy connection was a recurring theme in the build-up to this tie.

There was, however, no love lost between Luis Suarez and his one-time employers. The Uruguayan seemed to particularly relish the prospect.

He warned that there would be no muted celebrations if he found the target in the fixture and duly stuck to his word after a well-taken finish in the first half.

A goal alone was never going to be enough for Suarez, though. He was also continually in Liverpool’s face at every opportunity in the opening 45 minutes.

Alisson Becker, James Milner and Andy Robertson all came to blows at various intervals with the Kop’s former sweetheart, often during breaks in play.

Even in a first competitive meeting since trading Anfield for the Nou Camp, any hopes of sentiment were clearly wasted on the controversial marksman.

Messi’s brilliance sums up the season

 

Fates have conspired against Liverpool both in Europe and on the home front.

They remain on course for a record-breaking points tally in the Premier League, losing just once all season, and are still unlikely to end up as the title winners.

In the Champions League, too, they appear destined to fall short courtesy of brilliance that is Lionel Messi, who dragged his side through this showdown.

Sometimes there is no accounting for teams and players that have continually gone above and beyond in the pursuit of perfection. Messi falls into the latter.

If ever a moment summed up the misfortune of Liverpool’s season, this was it.

Reds must seek Roma inspiration

 

Losing by a three-goal deficit at the Nou Camp isn’t pretty, but Liverpool’s best hope to overcome Barca now is to channel the spirit of last season.

The Catalans held a similar advantage in their Champions League quarter-final first leg with Roma. Everyone knows what happened in the return fixture.

An away goal helped the Serie A giants’ prospects – something the Reds do not have – but ambition must be the overriding factor at Anfield in six days’ time.

Klopp’s side need to come flying out of the traps if they are to overcome the odds and reaching the final. A defiant home crowd will expect nothing less.