Champions League: 4 reasons why Barcelona beat Liverpool 3-0 

#1 Lionel Messi

Messi got a brace in the match

If there was anybody anywhere in the world who still doubted Messi’s incredible brilliance, then they must have been convinced after another brilliant display by the Argentine maestro.

Heading into the match, much was made about how PFA Player of the Year winner Virgil Van Dijk had turned Liverpool’s backline into a fortress and how Messi would find it difficult to break down the meanest defense in the Premier League.

However, as Messi has shown time and again throughout his career, impossible is nothing and the bigger the stage, the higher he rises.

This was Barcelona’s first semi-final appearance in the Champions League since 2015 and just like in that tie against Bayern Munich, Messi was extremely decisive, weighing in with two goals to all but seal Barcelona’s passage to the final.

His brace took him to 600 goals in club competitions – just four days after his eternal rival Cristiano Ronaldo achieved the milestone. It also means he has now scored 28 goals in total against Premier League teams which makes a big mockery of those who suggest that he would not perform in England’s top flight.

There could also have been a handful of assists on the night but for profligate finishing by his teammates.

In total, Messi has scored 48 goals this season from just 45 matches and with the European Golden Shoe all but a foregone conclusion, he also seems set to win the Champions League Golden Boot, while he is the undoubted forerunner for the 2019 Ballon d’Or.

Unstoppable is the word Klopp used to describe him in his post-match comments and with Messi having stated last August that his mission is to return the Champions League to the Nou Camp, there could be no stopping him from achieving his aim as Liverpool sadly found out.