MX23RW : Wednesday, November 6 01:39:20| >> :120:10811:10811:
[monks data]
Attendance: 55,212
Liverpool logo
Champions League | Semi-Finals
May 7, 2019 at 8pm UK
 
Barcelona logo

4-0

Origi (7', 79'), Wijnaldum (54', 56')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Jurgen Klopp looks ahead to "difficult" return leg

Jurgen Klopp looks ahead to
© Reuters
Liverpool lost 3-0 in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp refuses to give up on the side's dream of reaching successive Champions League finals despite a 3-0 defeat in Barcelona.

Former Reds striker Luis Suarez scored in the first half before, in the final 15 minutes, Lionel Messi came to the fore with a tap-in and a brilliant free kick.

Roberto Firmino had a shot cleared off the line and Mohamed Salah hit the follow-up against the post as Liverpool's quest for a much-needed away goal fell flat.

They face a monumental task to turn things around in next week's second leg at Anfield, especially knowing that, without an away goal, if they concede again they will almost certainly be out.

But Klopp refuses to give up hope.

"Because it is football, yes, but before this game we had a bigger chance let me say it like this," he said.

"It is difficult because it is Barcelona and they can play for counter-attack which doesn't help us a lot.

"Because it is football we should still try but it didn't make our life easier."

Despite the defeat, the scoreline was not an accurate reflection of how Klopp's side – hamstrung by having first-choice forward Firmino only fit enough for the bench and then losing midfielder Naby Keita to injury midway through the first half – performed.

There was a 20-minute period after half-time when they threatened so much that Barca coach Ernesto Valverde took off another former Red Philippe Coutinho and sent on another defender, switching to a 4-4-2 formation.

But Liverpool just could not take their chances and paid as a result.

"People who haven't seen the game will see the result and say strange things about it," added Klopp.

"As a manager, what I judge on is how we played. I am completely happy and proud of the boys.

"I think it was the best Champions League game we played not only this year but last year as well. Against a side like this, playing this kind of football, I was completely happy.

"Whatever happens, these boys, I couldn't be more proud of them."

Klopp said he was not surprised by Messi's brilliance but Valverde said he continued to be amazed.

"In these moments he is unstoppable. We couldn't defend the free kick. What a strike!" said the Liverpool manager.

"I knew before that Lionel was a world-class player and now I saw it again I am not too surprised to be honest."

Valverde, however, was full of praise for his talismanic forward.

"Messi always surprises you. I don't know how he does it," he said.

"He also does it in times when we need it. We also gained some breathing room with his runs to their penalty area when we needed it."

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Carl Markham, Press Association Sport, Barcelona');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', '518d35dd-4c8d-4955-bd96-95f099acfc44');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:club-news,paservice:sport:football,paservice:sport:uk,paservice:sport:world');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Jurgen Klopp will not give up hope after Barcelona defeat'});

ID:357950: cacheID:357950:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:7544:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Barcelona GOAT Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring during the Champions League semi-final against Liverpool on May 1, 2019
Read Next:
Lionel Messi's record vs. English clubs as Liverpool become sixth victims
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS

League Phase

TeamPWDLPTS
1Liverpool440012
2Sporting Lisbon431010
3Monaco431010
4Dortmund43019
5Aston Villa33009
6Man City42117
7Brest32107
8Inter Milan32107
9Juventus42117
10B. Leverkusen42117
11Lille42117
12Arsenal32107
13Celtic42117
14Dinamo Zagreb42117
15AC Milan42026
16Feyenoord32016
17Barcelona32016
18Benfica32016
19Real Madrid42026
20Atalanta31205
21PSV41215
22Stuttgart31114
23Sparta Prague31114
24PSG31114
25Bayern31023
26Brugge31023
27Girona41033
28Atletico31023
29Shakhtar30121
30Bologna40131
31RB Leipzig40040
32Sturm Graz40040
33Salzburg30030
34Red Star30030
35Young Boys30030
36Slovan Bratislava40040


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!