Liverpool V Barcelona 2019

Liverpool V Barcelona

7th May 2019

I am sure all of you have read the title of this and have fond memories of this day. One of the – if not the most famous game of the ongoing Jurgen Klopp era at Liverpool. Even writing this post, gives me the shivers thinking about how special it was.

I remember the day very well. It was becoming close to my A-Levels starting, and I was extremely stressed. I was sitting in my bedroom revising my head off. I was working myself too hard. I remember, my dad coming into my room and asking me to stop now and come and watch the Liverpool game. I said to him “What’s the point? We’re out anyway. We’re not going to come back from 3-0 down… especially against Barcelona!”. However, he convinced me and said it was for the best – so I thought why not? Boy, I’m glad he convinced me now! Little did I know what magic would occur in the next two hours.

Three days earlier, Liverpool had just scraped a memorable 3-2 win over Newcastle. However, during that game, we lost Mo Salah to a concussion injury – on top of losing Roberto Firmino in the first leg against Barcelona. We were already in the worst possible scenario, and the game hadn’t even kicked off yet. Liverpool instead played Xherdan Shaqiri and Divock Origi up front along with Sadio Mane. One of that front three would soon become the Champions League hero.

Anfield was ready! The players were ready! But were Barcelona?

Liverpool went 1-0 up in six minutes after some poor defending by Barcelona. Matip played a long diagonal ball to Sadio Mane, who then laid it to Henderson. Henderson shot straight at the goalkeeper, but Origi poked it in on the rebound. We were all thinking at this point, could this be another one of ‘them European nights’.

Half time came, and the score was still 1-0 (3-1 on aggregate). We played some decent football during the first half, but Barca still looked extremely dangerous on the counter, and this was slightly concerning to me. However, after the early goal – with Liverpool’s track record on European nights, I could still not write them off!

Jurgen Klopp made a substitution at halftime which would turn out to probably be the most famous substitution of all time. Luis Suarez had injured Andy Robertson, and he could not carry on so, Gini Wijnaldum came on to replace him, and Milner slotted in at left-back.

In the 54th minute, Trent Alexander – Arnold put in a beautiful right-footed cross and Gini Wijnaldum was there to tap the ball in to make it 2-0 (3-2 on aggregate). I went crazy along with millions of other Liverpool supporters around the world. ‘Just one more goal and we are level’ I thought to myself, and there was still 40 minutes to play.

Soon after that goal, it was 3-0! I couldn’t quite believe it. Milner swiped the ball out wide to Shaqiri, who then crossed to Wijnaldum. Wijnaldum belted it in with his head. I went mental. I think I scared the living daylights out of my dogs. You just knew something was happening now. This was showcasing the usual magic of a European night at Anfield. Anything can happen from now.

79 minutes will always go down in history at Anfield. One of the most famous corner – kicks of all time. Trent Alexander – Arnold walked to take the corner, then walked back. For that brief millisecond, every Liverpool fan was thinking “What is he doing?!” “We don’t have time to mess about!” However, Trent walked back to trick the Barcelona defence. I think his tactics were to make the Barcelona defenders believe Trent was going to give it to someone else to take. Barcelona was not looking and Trent crossed it in to Divock Origi who scuffed it in. Anfield erupted! Liverpool was ahead! 4-0 on the night, and 4-3 on aggregate.

The full-time whistle went. For the first time in my life, I cried at the end of a football match that we actually won. I don’t think I was the only one either. I jumped off my sofa and fell onto my knees. My dogs were licking me thinking I had died or something. I felt like I’d gone to heaven after that, to be honest. The players then huddled together and sang ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ with the Kop, which is probably the most heartwarming moment I had ever seen in Football.

Can we win it again this year? We shall soon find out….

www.youtube.com. (n.d.). Liverpool vs Barcelona(4-3agg) UCL Semi Final 1,2leg All Goals & highlights. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVNcyvD02A4&t=455s [Accessed 11 Feb. 2022]. ‌