UEFA Champions League
Result: Liverpool 4-0 FC Barcelona (4-3 aggregate)
Date: 07 May 2019
Venue: Anfield
FC Barcelona threw away a three-goal lead and were dumped out of the UEFA Champions League following a stunning 4-0 win by Liverpool in the second leg at Anfield. The Reds were without the services of Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino, as Divock Origi and Xherdan Shaqiri were drafted in to the line up.Origi, who netted the winner against Newcastle United, sent Anfield in to frenzy when he slotted home from close after Jordan Henderson's strike was saved.
Barca did not seem too disturbed by the early goal as the likes of Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi began influencing game going forward.
The visitors managed to carve out a few openings at the Liverpool goal, with Messi and Luis Suarez going closests after being denied by Alisson Becker.
Becker ensured the Reds entered the break without conceding after produced a superb save to deny Jordi Alba who was left un-marked in the box.
Jurgen Klopp was forced into a change at the start of the second half as Andy Robertson picked up a knock and made way for Georginio Wijnaldum. The change certainly paid off as Wijnaldum doubled Barca's lead on the night, turning home a cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold on 50 minutes. It was all tied up on aggregate five minutes later when an un-marked Wijnaldum was allowed to nod home a cross from Shaqiri to make it 3-0 on the night. Former Liverpool man Philippe Coutinho was eventually withdrawn for Nelson Semedo on 60 minutes, before Arthur replaced Arturo Vidal 10 minutes. The Reds then took control of the tie with 12 minutes remaining as some quick thinking from Alexander-Arnold ended with Origi firing home close-range with the Barca defence caught napping from the corner. The Catalan giants threw bodies forward in search of an away goal, but the Red remained resolute to hold out for the win to advance to the final.
