Barcelona 3-0 Liverpool: Jurgen Klopp's reckless gamble and Ernesto Valverde's press in focus

A late brace from Messi – a tap-in and a perfect free-kick – gave the scoreline a flattering look; this was not a performance that warranted a loss by such an emphatic margin for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

You can never count Liverpool out but it will take something supremely special under the lights at Anfield next week to get them into a second successive final.

Here, we take a look at how both managers rated:

BASIC STATS

BARCELONA

Goals – 3

Shots – 12

Shots on target – 5

Goals conceded – 0

Possession – 47.6%

Dribbles – 16

Tackles – 15

LIVERPOOL

Goals – 0

Shots – 15

Shots on target – 5

Goals conceded – 3

Possession – 52.4%

Dribbles – 10

Tackles – 17

GOT RIGHT

VALVERDE – EXPOSING WEAKNESSES

The visitors surprisingly dropped Roberto Firmino and Trent Alexander-Arnold for the first leg and Ernesto Valverde’s side took full advantage of centre-back Joe Gomez slotting in to cover right-back by exploiting Liverpool on the left side.

In an open game from the first whistle, Barca committed numbers to overload Liverpool’s left and it resulted in a succession of dangerous attacks in which Alba’s darting runs constantly pierced holes in the Reds’ armour.

Though Liverpool enjoyed plenty of penetration of their own, the right side of defence became an increasing concern, typified beautifully by Alba’s sumptuous delivery – one of three key passes from the 30-year-old – that Suarez dispatched past Alisson brilliantly.

KLOPP – KEEPING TABS ON MESSI

It’s virtually impossible to prevent Messi from affecting a football match and, as much as he saw the ball in the first leg, Liverpool fared fairly well in terms of keeping a lid on his magic – until the final 15 minutes of course.

Although he got into some good positions he was also forced to come deep in search of the ball and when we’re talking about the best player on the planet, you’d rather see him without the ball. But in his own half is a better place to see him in possession than anywhere else.

He only played one key pass in the game and his pass accuracy – though it improved to a still under par 73 per cent by full-time, dipped as low as 50 at one stage early in the second half.

GOT WRONG

VALVERDE – FED UP WITH PHIL

While one former Red flourished, another floundered. Whether you love him or hate him, Suarez played a pivotal role in the game, and not just because he scored the goal. He riled opponents and played with a tenacity we don’t often see these days.

Philippe Coutinho, however, endured a difficult evening. Like has been the case for much of his early Blaugrana career, he was a passenger, hiking a lift on the Messi machine without paying his fare.

The frustrating thing for Valverde would have been the fact he popped up in dangerous areas with the ball but was unable to pose any sort of threat. He did play one key pass but a pass accuracy of just 75 per cent left a lot to be desired and he was hooked for Nelson Semedo before the hour.

KLOPP – FRONT THREE NOT SO FAB

Only two of the three amigos started in Spain as Georginio Wijnaldum took up an unfamiliar No10 role behind Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane. Resting Roberto Firmino, who is so key to Liverpool’s attacks, especially in the transition from defence, as well as Alexander-Arnold, seemed a bizarre and reckless gamble from Klopp. Yes, every game now is crucial as they search to end a painful 29-year wright for a domestic title, but resting two of his team’s best players this season in the biggest game of the season, will seem insane judging by Barca’s smash and grab finish.

Messi’s late double felt fortunate in that the scoreline was harsh in the extreme on the visitors, but their profligacy – Salah the chief culprit after he somehow hit the post with the goal gaping – feels significant.

TACTICAL TALKING POINT

BARCA PRESS THE ‘GEGENPRESS’

Barcelona were the original pioneers of the press but they don’t quite deploy it like they ruthlessly used to under Pep Guardiola. His Manchester City side and Liverpool have now become the masters, but Valverde rolled back the years at the Camp Nou. He had to really as fighting fire with fire is really the only way to quell this impressive Liverpool side in full flight.

Arturo Vidal looked like a madman with an expiring fuse in the quarter-final against Manchester United. Here, he was the all action dog of war he has spent a career building – even if his late tackles on Mane was, albeit excellent, overzealous. But it was indicative of Barca’s hunger and drive.

VERDICT

VALVERDE A-

As with every Barcelona performance, the critics will just say Valverde instructed his players to simply give the ball to Messi. But they needed much more than the little magician’s mercurial talents to get through this test – despite scoring two goals he had been kept largely quiet until the 75^th minute.

Deploying Vidal on the right side of midfield helped quell the threat of a marauding Andrew Robertson. It also allowed Alba’s forward surges which helped to overload Liverpool’s right side.

With Gomez left exposed, Liverpool had to commit more men to help and that nullified their attacking jaunts on the opposite side.

KLOPP D+

His side, along with City, are playing some of the best stuff in world football, and it was on show here as they posed problems throughout.

But while Barcelona are not the force they once were, despite trotting to another dominant La Liga title, the German seemed to drastically underestimate his opposite number in opting to leave two form players out of the starting line-up in Firmino and Alexander-Arnold.

Gomez is a fine defender but his channel was exploited ruthlessly throughout and, in the end, they were lucky not to concede more.

The problem for Klopp is that although you feel his side still have a chance, his errors have provided Liverpool with a chasm to bridge in the second leg.