Champions League: 3 Reasons why Liverpool beat Barcelona

#1 Liverpool 10/10 performance

Liverpool v Barcelona - UEFA Champions League Semi Final: Second Leg

No Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and no Naby Keita meant that Liverpool had to depend on their back-up front line. Divock Origi and Xherdan Shaqiri found a place in the starting eleven alongside Trent Alexander Arnold and James Milner as the only four changes. Yet it was the same four players who proved to make a massive difference.

Origi nabbed a well-taken brace, with Georginio Wijnaldum coming off the bench for a sensational cameo. James Milner played just as effectively at central midfielder as he did at left-back, while Trent Alexander Arnold provided the assist of the tie. Only Shaqiri struggled in the first half, but a stern talking during the break changed that.

In the end, it was the team that outran, outplayed and outperformed Barcelona, with eleven players playing out of their skins to get a result at home. Sure, the home crowd played their part by energizing the team, but in the end, it came down to the team and the tactics. You may not like this Liverpool side, but you certainly have to respect what they’ve achieved in this Champions League fixture.