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Lionel Messi and Barcelona COULDN’T HANDLE Klopp’s relentless Liverpool - Shearer
LIONEL MESSI and Barcelona were no match for Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool on Tuesday night, and Alan Shearer has given his verdict on Ernesto Valverde’s men.
Lionel Messi went missing as Barcelona crashed out of the Champions League on Tuesday night.
Liverpool’s 4-0 victory was enough to send them through to the final after losing 3-0 in Spain last week.
“I have never seen anything like this before,” Shearer admitted on 5 Live.
“I’ve played at Anfield when there is a superb atmosphere but this is something else, something special.
“Liverpool showed their intent right from the off and if they were going to go out they were going to give it a right go.
“We're talking about [Sergio] Busquets, [Luis] Suarez, [Gerard] Pique and the best player I've ever seen, Messi, and they could not handle it, they could not handle the pressure.”
The result means that Liverpool will contest the Champions League final against either Ajax or Tottenham.
Shearer continued: “I’ve never seen Anfield like this and the fans were driving their players forward from start to finish, it's just been relentless, just incredible.
“It has been incredible from all the players, the decisions that went for and against them.
“The players they had to play without and then Robertson went off at half time. Wow.
“[Divock] Origi's hold-up play, his finishing, he ran Barcelona ragged and they couldn't handle him. He was superb.”
Origi was chosen to lead the line alongside Sadio Mane and Xherdan Shaqiri, and the Reds got off to a perfect start.
Jordan Henderson’s inspired run and shot forced Marc-Andre her Stegen to play the ball to the feet of the grateful Origi.
Andy Robertson was forced off at half-time and his replacement Georgina Wijnaldum made a fast impact.
The midfielder scored two in ten minutes to put Liverpool level and light up Anfield.
The goal that handed Liverpool the lead was a piece of brilliance from Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The England international took Barcelona by surprise with a quick corner that Origi gratefully slotted home to hand Liverpool victory.
The Belgian striker told BT Sport: "It was more about the team [than my goals]. We did so well.
“We knew it would be a special night.
“We wanted to fight for the injured guys. We fought so hard."