Topic: UEFA Champions League 2018-2019 - page 26. (Read 7780 times)

It is really not even remotely fair that one team has Messi and the other doesn't. You may have seen the highlights and you may have seen the goal but what he was doing last night was otherworldy in every single time he got the ball.

When any other player in the pitch got the ball their first reaction is to not lose the ball and they try to either pass or if they are open run to wide open side like really working hard to not lose the ball, when Messi got the ball he ran at people and those people literally ran back instead of running at him because they knew if they run at him he will just go pass them with a trick and he was capable of that. He got the ball many times and each time it was a "how does he do this" and that really shocked me because I was expecting him to be less effective with age but he is still amazing.

To be honest, the 3 - 0 scoreline was a bit unfair to Liverpool's performance, and they paid the price of failing to convert their chances, a big miss from Mane first half and Salah in the second half had cost them the game, and their chances of making it to consecutive UCL final, I don't think Barcelona will blow a 3 goal lead fully being aware of what happened in Rome last year, they will take the second match at Anfield with all seriousness.

Ajax vs Tottenham is still an open tie, but Ajax will need to be at their best too, If they get carried away they might get eliminated despite their first leg win, It doesn't matter who wins here anyways I'd say Barcelona would win the trophy this year.

I think Barcelona deliberately ceded the ball to Liverpool. They are much more dangerous if they are playing fast, creating attack from the defence going much slowest with more risk. I don't think that Liverpool have a chance in the second leg, Klopp has no strategies for plan "B".

And I must say, Suarez, is one of the best players today but at the same time dirtiest and bad.

Tough night for Liverpool yesterday.
They were the better team for 75 minutes and then a clinical Messi changed the outcome of the game. And it could have been 4-0 if Dembele hadn't missed at the last second.
I honestly don't see how LFC can come back from this one but they'll definitely try which might give us a very offensive game in Liverpool. I expect many goals to be scored.

Boy was i wrong there with liverpool as possible winner. If this hit them back home on the next match it will be a very tough match to beat.

yes, they will play the finals most likely.

I'm totally on Cloud 9 after this game last night. I thought we might still get 2-1 or even a draw, and that miss from Salah had me so worried but we made it with a clean sheet. Now Liverpool have to score 3, or even 5 if we score away goal, so it's one foot in the finals I guess against Ajax? I will still worry about how we play at Anfield though, I still remember the bad memories of Roma:(

We love you Messi, please never get old!

A difficult match for Liverpool. With a margin of 3 goals, this is a very difficult thing for Liverpool. Barcelona is in a very on fire position. When Barcelona can compensate for Liverpool's game later in Anfield, Barcelona will enter the final. By calculation, Barcelona and Ajax will be in the top position which has the chance to win the final ticket. Let's wait for any surprises in the champions league this season. This will be an interesting match for all of us !!!

@Trofo, yeah I know Klopp's gotten away with it a couple of times but this is Barca and we should have stuck with our best. I know it's all about risk management but we had 5 games left to play in the season, I know the players would give everything. As it is, we have no choice but to use our full strength squad and at our familiar formation at Anfield. It will make for an exciting game, nevertheless. I'll be taking a bet on LFC qualifying so I guess the odds should be pretty damn high. We just had to make life so difficult for ourselves!

@webtricks: Overhyped I don't know, the bookie odds speak for themselves in my opinion. Against PSG, Bayern and Barca, even Napoli away I recall we were the distinct underdogs... I disagree about the charms, there's always something special about an overperforming team reaching this far into an elite competition, no? Unless you're talking about Messi and Ronaldo being good luck charms, then I always prefer a team unreliant on one guy. Loved Gerrard, Suarez, Torres, now Salah, but I'd take the rest of the team together any day over 1 of them.

^  Eh?  Give Klopp the same transfer budget as Real, Barca and City.


Full back reading the striker well and the striker knows that the full back knows where to put the ball is 'out of context'...?  Nay.  I think that's the kind of things they do in practice.

But that Messi free kick tho.  Then again yeah...  I'll really feel sad mostly for Klopp if they don't reach the final.

Liverpool is the most over-hyped team in the Europe at the moment. Only unique thing they can do is outside the box attacking formation where all of their midfielders and front 3 contribute to the attack, thanks to masterclass of Jurgen Klopp. Except that Liverpool lacks the charm what best teams of the World have. Consider the defense or midfield, I didn't see anything extra-ordinary in that. It took a bit of brilliance from Messi to beat the defence and score goal. He single-handedly dribble in Liverpool half 15 times and was successful to get past defenders at 9 instances.
I don't see things changing much in second leg. Maybe Liverpool will get a goal or two but their attacking approach may result in more goals for Barcelona. Any way, I am seeing Ajax vs. Barcelona finals right from the day draws of QFs were announced and it seems like the same going to happen.

Ajax is the team I have been rooting for to win the champions league, they played without fear and won the game. While Tottenham got their tactics completely wrong for this game, I feel the absense of Son and Kane hurt them the most without those two it was always going to be an uphill task for them. In last nights match Messi was phenomenal, and he’s made sure Liverpool have no chance to qualify for the final.

True, i thought Liverpool will make a goal under 20 minutes. I'm expected Liverpool lose to Barcelona but with not this 3-0 goals, 3-0 is too much, i thought it will be 1-0 or 2-0 maximum. Let's see if Liverpool can make it or not, maybe the miracle of crystanbul can be happened again.

I feel a bit sad for Liverpool because the game could have ended 2-0 and they would still be in the game to qualify for the final and the goal that Messi scored by taking the ball of the defender was a really bad psychological hit for Liverpool.I still think that the game is open and in Anfield Road will be decided everything.

In the first 15 minutes, I thought Liverpool would give a surprise because at that time Liverpool looked more dominant in ball possession. However, Barcelona is a big team that is able to overcome all conditions quickly and finally able to beat Liverpool with a huge score. It would be very hard for Liverpool to turn things around.

A top class player is always a leader and makes a difference in difficult matches.
Liverpool doesn't have any player similar to Messi and it was expected that they are going to lose. A 3-0 is a disappointing defeat and it would be difficult to qualify now.

Don't agree with you this time. Klopp gambled with Joe Gomez as right back after he didn't play most of the season. His right side was very much exploited by Alba. There is no telling if Alex Arnold would do any better but it is highly unlikely he would be worse. At least Alex Arnold is faster player so maybe he could have had a chance to catch Alba few times. They are lucky this position costed them only first goal, there was several more very promising chances created on this side.

His second gamble/idea was Wijnaldum as a 9. I know his idea was to break down Barca attack in the beginning and it worked somewhat but he was very bad in attacking plays, lots of heavy touches. I believe a naturally attacking player in that position would have allowed Liverpool a much bigger chance of scoring a goal. He needed player like Manduzkic to pull that off but I don't know any other attacker that can add that much defensive covering/breaking opponents play to his game. It would have been crucial for Liverpool to score a goal or two even if it meant conceding more. Result like 5:2 is better than 3:0 and I would prefer if Klopp fielded his usual 11, and used Origi or Sturidge if Firminho wasn't able to give more than 20ish minutes.

It is easy to be general after the battle but i had bad feeling as soon as I saw those line ups. Even wrote it here. You are correct about those missed Liverpool chances, they deserved a goal or two but in the end they are lucky Barca didn't punish them with another 2 goals.

Gosh, what a result on semi final champions league this year. Ajax got a clutch win on the first leg at Tottenham home match 0-1, it was unexpected. I thought Tottenham will give a good fight and some of goals but nope. On the other match, Liverpool also lost with big amount, 3-0 goals. It would be hard for liverpool on 2nd leg at their home.

seeing the first leg score everyone predicts which team will advance to the final. too early and cannot be ascertained Spurs and Liverpool will fail at the second leg match. I'm sure they can still surprise even if it looks like it's impossible.

keep in mind that Liverpool has never been defeated this season while playing at home.

We know it's not easy to beat Barcelona even though in the second leg they played at home, I'm not sure Liverpool can beat Barcelona
Until now I saw Barcelona go to the final with Ajax

Messi is always a differentiator in last night's match. seeing his left foot's free kick was incredible in that distance. Liverpool have played well just unlucky. undergoing a 3-goal deficit in home match at Antfield would be difficult. although playing at home against FCB will still not be easy. Liverpool must remain calm and catch up with their goal deficit in order able advance in to the final.