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Barcelona fan pays ultimate mark of respect to Liverpool with gesture in stands at Anfield
BARCELONA fans were left distraught after a chastening 4-0 loss to Liverpool - but one fan had the poise to congratulate the home team on their triumph.
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Barcelona headed into the second leg at Anfield with a healthy 3-0 lead after their late rally at the Nou Camp.
Lingering in the memory of fans was what happened in the quarter-final stages of the competition last year, however.
After beating Roma 4-1 in Catalonia, Barcelona capitulated at the Stadio Olimpico, losing 3-0 and heading out in the final eight for the third straight season.
The same happened last night as Ernesto Valverde’s side self-combusted in the cauldron of Anfield.
At full-time, the live TV cameras cut to Barcelona and Liverpool fans crying for very different reasons.
But amid the dismay in the travelling end, one supporter showed his appreciation for the display he had just witnessed.
He stood up proudly and lifted a half-and-half scarf bought from last week’s tie in Barcelona.
But the man elected to only show one side - that of Liverpool’s.
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A fitting tribute to the magic he had just witnessed on another special European night at Anfield.
Fear that they were about to witness their side blow a three-goal lead once more resurfaced among Barcelona supporters after seven minutes at Anfield, when Divock Origi tapped home into an empty net.
The away side had opportunities to equalise and thus lead Liverpool to chase five in response, but could not convert their chances.
Anxiety in the Barcelona away end reached boiling point soon after the interval when Georginio Wijnaldum latched onto Trent Alexander-Arnold’s low cross from the right flank, steering home under Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
The half-time substitute grabbed another two minutes later, leaping high in the area to powerfully head home Xherdan Shaqiri’s floated cross.
The away end’s nerves were now palpable. And, 11 minutes from time, incredulity took over them.
Alexander-Arnold won a corner on the right. He was quickly presented the ball from the nearby ball boy and looked up. He spotted Origi.
Two seconds later the ball was in the back of the net. Not one Barcelona defender foresaw the mischievous cross coming, which was swept home wonderfully by the alert Frenchman.
After some toothless attacks from Barcelona, Anfield eventually heard the stinging whistle from Cunyet Cakir - and bedlam broke out.