Liverpool fans have hardly had many games this season where they’ve been outdone like they were in Catalonia last night. Barcelona had a game plan and executed it to perfection, with Lionel Messi the star yet again at the Camp Nou. The Reds now have a big job to do at Anfield, but it would have been made easier had Mo Salah tucked away a huge chance.
NO MO. Liverpool miss absolute sitter to get back in the tie. Firmino first and Salah onto the post. Fine margins. Fine margins. Mo HAS TO SCORE.
— Empire of the Kop (@empireofthekop) May 1, 2019
The Kopites knew that it would not be easy going away to Barcelona in the first leg of their semi-final, and in the past, they’ve been so effective in the Champions League by blitzing their opposition at Anfield and giving themselves a cushion for the away leg. Last night, though, they got a taste of their own medicine, as Barcelona blitzed them, albeit with some shoddy finishing from the Reds costing them.
There were a whole host of moments where the Kopites should have found the net. Sadio Mane and James Milner missed big chances either side of half-time, but the biggest fell to Salah. After watching Lionel Messi score an audacious free-kick, Roberto Firmino had a go at the other end just for the rebound to fall to Salah. An open goal was in front of him, but on his weaker right-foot he could only rattle the woodwork, and it summed up the Reds’ night.
You can see what the Kopites made of Salah’s miss here:
Gaaah, we really needed that away goal
— Martinho (@Martinh27143703) May 1, 2019
Salah should have smashed that into the back of the net than try to be clever
— Ewert Mashau (@MR__Mash) May 1, 2019
https://twitter.com/_______lalo/status/1123691846545309696
https://twitter.com/SRobbo7/status/1123691800579932164
That’s both the league and the champions gone
— Cam Pound (@poundy88) 1 May 2019
Mane, then Milner, now Salah! All guilty off missing clear chances!
— Dameo (@DamienMarchant) 1 May 2019
https://twitter.com/Pmac_21/status/1123693660237914119
The tweets above couldn’t have better summed up what went through the Reds’ heads as Salah hit the post, and they’ll be desperate for a more clinical touch in the return leg at Anfield.
