Reds reeling

est ones he has registered. And then one of those remarkable, otherworldly free-kicks, from impossibly far out, curled artfully around Liverpool’s wall and beyond Alisson, who stood no chance.

It didn’t seem fair on Liverpool; but then life isn’t fair and football isn’t fair and Messi isn’t fair and neither is Suarez, come to think of it. No, Suarez definitely isn’t fair.

Nor was it fair when Liverpool’s even later chance finally beat Ter Stegen only for the ball to be cleared from the line, and when it came back out to Salah the Egyptian could only strike the post. An away goal that appeared their only way back in this tie eluding them at the last.

Fair play, ultimately, that they gave it a go. Are there two teams in Europe at the moment who can turn defence into attack at such speed? It’s unlikely. Watching it from

inside the stadium made your neck hurt — more like a Wimbledon final on Centre Court than a football match at times.

On 15 minutes, a Barcelona break ended with the ball rolling into Messi and Robertson diving to block as though the Scot’s life depended on it.

Straightaway,liverpoolwent direct: Salah lost Barcelona’s midfield on halfway as though they were running on quicksand and passed to Mane. Sergi Roberto got a toe to the ball to tackle as the Senegalese forward bore down on their penalty area. But it was not to be.

The sad thing for Liverpool is that they are edging closer to ending an epic season with absolutely nothing. Finishing second in the 2018-19 Premier League season will not be noted in their history books. Nobody will remember that time they went out to Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals. Had they won either – as they obviously still can – these players will be eternalised in Merseyside folklore.

The next two weeks could still mean the dream will be realised – but will likely end in nothing.