Liverpool opinion: Liverpool should not be ashamed after Barcelona loss

The trip to Barcelona didn’t pan out too well for Liverpool in terms of the scoreline. The Catalans ran out 3-0 winners in the first leg of the Champions League semi, and we need another fantastic night at Anfield to make it into a second straight final.

Luis Suarez stabbed us in the heart with the opener before Lionel Messi got a brace, his second goal was an incredible free-kick.

The Reds had their chances and on another day, we could have scored a precious away goal too, however, our players should hold their heads high despite the 3-0 loss.

Dominating Barcelona at the Nou Camp

Liverpool were great in the second half but we could not get that away goal. James Milner, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah should have all scored, but this just was not our day.

Stats from WhoScored added that we had 15 shots at the Barca goal compared to 12 for our hosts. We won 63% of aerial duels and shaded possession with 53%.

Barcelona’s attack was brilliant and our defence had trouble at times to contain the opposition, still, Joel Matip did a great job and so did Andy Robertson.

Joe Gomez was never going to be the attacking outlet that Trent Alexander-Arnold is, and Virgil van Dijk didn’t do all that great, but this was a quality performance just let down by our finishing.

The Reds weren’t overrun in the game, and went toe to toe with one of the best in the world.

Liverpool have come a long way from the days of a B-team going to face Real Madrid under Brendan Rodgers.

Jurgen Klopp went to the Nou Camp with a plan, and it worked for almost 90% of the game. The difference in the tie was Messi and Suarez being a thorn in the Liverpool defence.

This was also a real test for the team in Europe and shows that we still are a little short when it comes to taking on the best in the world.

Salah, Mane and Roberto Firmino are brilliant as a unit, but with the Brazilian not starting, the energy in the attack was missing.

Georginio Wijnaldum did an alright job in the attack, but he isn’t on the same level as Firmino in that position.

One last shot at glory

This was a learning experience for the Reds and Klopp will certainly be thinking of how to ensure such a result does not take place again.

Liverpool have taken us on a wonderful ride in the Champions League this season, and we have one more shot to make this campaign memorable at Anfield in a few days.

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European nights are always fantastic at our home, and if we start the game in full attack mode, there could be some scared Barcelona defenders that we could exploit.