Liverpool 4 – 0 Barça: Knocked out of Europe

FC Barcelona squandered a 3-0 aggregate lead from the first leg and lost 4-0 to Liverpool on Tuesday night at Anfield, thus eliminating them from the UEFA Champions League, 4-3 on aggregate.

The Reds scored once in the first half and three times in the second, and while Barça needed just a single goal to go through, they could not make it happen.

Liverpool got on the board in minute seven when Orogi picked up a rebound following a save by Ter Stegen to give the hosts the best start imaginable.

Lionel Messi tried to respond, but his 14th minute shot from inside the area was slapped away by Alisson, and five minutes later he fired just wide on the tail end of a corner kick.

Saido Mane spearheaded multiple counters for Liverpool, but time and again Gerard Piqué and Ter Stegen were up to the task.

In first half injury time, Messi’s 25 yard shot from out in front grazed the outside of the post. And seconds later, Alisson foiled a one on one with Jordi Alba to preserve Liverpool’s 1-0 lead heading into halftime.

After the break, in the 51st, Virgil van Dijk back heeled a close-range shot off a corner but Ter Stegen was right there to make the stop on the goal line.

Liverpool cut the aggregate lead to 3-2 in the 54th, when a Barça turnover in their own end led to a cross from the right wing that Wijnaldum redirected into the net.

Liverpool then tied the aggregate score at 3-3 moments later when Wijnaldum scored his second goal in two minutes, this time nodding in a cross from the left wing.

Messi tried to respond again but had a long free kick blocked by the Liverpool wall, followed by a close-range shot that was parried by Alisson.

The Reds got their fourth goal on a corner kick in the 79th, when the Barça defenders had their backs turned and Liverpool quickly slid the corner underneath to Origi, who one-timed into the net for his second goal of the game.

Barça still had over ten minutes to find the goal that would send them through, but couldn't muster any major attacks.