Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona - 6 Reasons why Liverpool completed the 'remontada'

#1 Lionel Messi failed to provide a spark

Lionel Messi was uninspiring

Lionel Messi was made Barcelona's official captain at the start of the season following the departure of Andres Iniesta and in his first speech in his new role, the 31-year-old stated that it was his mission to bring the Champions League trophy back to the Nou Camp.

Throughout the course of the season, the Argentine has played like a man possessed, as though using the criticisms levelled at him for his performance last season and at the World Cup as extra motive to silence his critics.

Messi was at his most destructive best this season, while he also proved decisive on more occasions than one and was the principal driving force behind Barcelona's quest on three fronts.

Given his high level of performance, many saw Barcelona as firm favourites for the Champions League and Messi's brace in the first leg only further strengthened their claim.

However, on the night Liverpool found a way to shackle the mercurial maestro, denying him space and making sure his impact in the final third was limited.

The five time Ballon d'Or winner was forced to drop deep to influence proceedings and rarely had a sniff at goal, gut floundered one of the best opportunities of the night when he was the beneficiary of a brilliant cutback by Jordi Alba with the Barcelona number 10 attempting to beat his man when the better option was to shoot at goal.

Barcelona have been extremely dependent on Messi for success this season, with coach Valverde stating as much and while the Catalans have largely benefited from this dependence, against Liverpool, Messi failed to find his mojo and Barcelona found themselves paying heavily for it.