Suarez and Messi leave Klopp’s
● Former Liverpool striker puts Barca on road to first-leg victory before Argentine star punishes visitors with late double
It is refreshing in an age of silent, deliberately emotionless celebrations against former clubs, of faux “respect” presumably to avoid Internet outrage, that Luis Suarez let loose: down on his knees, sharp teeth bared, roaring like the wild animal that possesses him on these occasions, one whose bite is far, far worse than their bark.
It was a goal worth celebrating: Arturo Vidal’s ball clipped out left to Philippe Coutinho; nicely taken under control, laid off to Jordi Alba; the ball was as good a cross as you’ll see, bent into Diagon Alley — unless you know the gap is there you won’t see it — and Suarez had anticipated the
BARCELONA
Suarez 26, Messi 75, 82
LIVERPOOL
pass and sent it past Alisson Becker with an improvised finish.
The divisive Uruguayan was in some mood. Arguing in Alisson’s face. Tugging at Andy Robertson’s shirt. Yelling in the referee’s face when a team-mate crumpled under a Liverpool challenge to such an extent that Bjorn Kuipers had to physically push him away. It was truly marvellous to watch. No doubt horrendous to play against.
To think: Liverpool defended him vehemently after he called Patrice Evra a n **** when he played for them. The players even wore t-shirts. And this is the repayment.
Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk made one his few mistakes of an almost seamless season by losing Suarez for the goal, blindsided by the run, as he dashed a yard in front to turn the ball in. Although sometimes it is impossible to stop those who dabble in the dark arts.
Van Dijk made amends in the ways he could: interceptions and blocks and a reading of the game which would rival Rio Ferdinand at his peak. A last-man tackle to deny Suarez as he threatened to run through on goal for a second. At one point in the second half, when Barcelona broke, Van Dijk stepped in to intercept a Coutinho pass as though he had read the Brazilian midfieler’s mind.
Credit must go to Liverpool’s recruitment department that two of Barcelona’s front three were signed from them for more than £200 million. And that Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane could likely follow again in the Barcelonaliverpool trade agreement at some point in the coming years.
For much of the second half Liverpool gave as good as they got, out-barcelona-ing Barcelona in their backyard, only to find Marc-andre Ter Stegen behind everything: beating away an effort by James Milner, standing firmly behind another. Van Dijk was up for corners then sprinting back to break up the Barcelona breaks.
That was why Barcelona’s second and third in the final 15 minutes which brought up Messi’s 600th career goal were so cruel. Suarez was denied a double by the crossbar but Messi calmly controlled the ball with his chest as it came back out and tapped in with his left – one of the clos