Liverpool wins thriller, Barca bounces back

Liverpool almost paid the price, in embarrassing fashion, for taking its foot off the gas as it let a three-goal lead slip against Salzburg at Anfield late Wednesday night, but manager Jurgen Klopp said he felt no anger after his team’s 4-3 win.

The European champion played sparkling soccer as it flew into a 3-0 lead after 36 minutes, but on the hour mark it was pegged back to 3-3 before Mohamed Salah saved the Reds’ blushes.

“It’s better to learn the lessons during the game than talk about it after it,” said Klopp, who gave credit to Salzburg’s American manager Jesse Marsch for changing tactics.

“I thought we were outstanding in the first 30 minutes. We did everything they don’t like at high speed, scored the three goals and could have scored more. Then the Salzburg system changed and we lost the ball so that caused us problems,” said the German.

Still, after losing its opening group-stage game at Napoli, Klopp was pleased his team found the resolve to get the three points,

“It was a very important lesson for us to learn. Now we won 4-3, learned from it and so I am fine. I knew before we have to improve and now everyone knows. We made it more intense than necessary. Three points, game on and now recover,” he said.

“It was far away from being a perfect game but it was a typical Liverpool game – very exciting,” he said. “I thought after the game I am angry but really I am not angry. I respect the performance of the opponent. We can do better. We will do better,” he said.

Meanwhile, Lionel Messi showed Barcelona what it has been missing with his repeated injuries this season by producing a stunning and decisive assist in Wednesday’s 2-1 victory over Inter Milan.

The Argentine was only making his second start of the season in all competitions, but helped decide the game with a breathtaking piece of skill to set up Luis Suarez’s second strike of the match in the 84th minute.

The Barca captain picked the ball up close to the halfway line on the right wing and dazzled past three Inter players before taking out another with a pass across to Suarez, who took one touch before burying the ball in the net.

Inter, which produced a hugely impressive display in the first half, had taken a second-minute lead through Lautaro Martinez which was canceled out by an outstanding volley from Suarez after the interval.

“I’ve just been trying to get going, I’m glad I was able to complete the game and end it well,” Messi told reporters after playing 90 minutes for the first time this season.

“I’m tired and I’m lacking a bit of fitness, but once I play more games I’ll start feeling more liberated. I feel at my best when I’m playing a lot of games.”