Messi, Liverpool show class

Lionel Messi and titleholders Liverpool were in top form in the Champions League yesterday.

Messi scored one goal and set up another as Barcelona beat Slavia Prague 2-1 to take control of Group F at the group stage’s midpoint.

Liverpool overwhelmed Genk 4-1 to end a four-game losing streak away from home in the group phase.

Alex Oxlade-chamberlain made the most of a rare start to score twice and Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah also got on the scoresheet for last season’s champions.

Still, Liverpool remained one point behind Napoli in Group E after the Italian club won 3-2 at Salzburg with a brace from Dries Mertens.

Inter Milan and Borussia Dortmund trail Barcelona by three points in a group where three heavyweights are vying for two spots in the knockout stage.

Inter beat Dortmund 2-0 in the other Group F game with goals from Lautaro Martinez and Antonio Candreva.

Meanwhile, Michy Batshuayi came off the bench and scored a late winner as Chelsea rode their luck to beat Ajax 1-0 and throw Group H wide open.

The Belgium striker fired in off the underside of the bar from close range in the 86th, 15 minutes after coming on. United States international Christian Pulisic, another of coach Frank Lampard’s subs, provided the cross. ‘‘It’s what you want from subs,’’ Lampard said. ‘‘Sometimes the toughest part of management is leaving out players that really want to play week in, week out, and you rely on them being positive, coming on and making an impact and they both did. Delighted for them both.’’

The result left both teams on six points after three matches. Valencia, who drew 1-1 with Lille, are next with four points.

It was another late Champions League stinger at the hands of a London team for Ajax, who lost the semifinal last season to Tottenham thanks to a Lucas Moura goal deep in stoppage time.