What a brilliant, epic comeback by Liverpool! Oh man, where do I even begin to try and sum up what just happened? 0-3 down in the Champions League semi-final, to Barcelona no less, Jurgen Klopp's men put up a performance for the ages to triumph 4-0 on the night, earning respect even from his biggest critics.
So let me just start there. Jurgen Klopp. What a man, what a manager. I remember when he was flying into Liverpool some 4 years ago, fans were actually tracking his flight path. From the get-go, it seemed like a perfect fit. Larger-than-life, charismatic, a man with a plan; his optimism and spirit immediately became contagious.
But really, it's not just all hugs and rah-rah-rah. He brought along with him German discipline and preciseness. From transfer deals, to player fitness to tactical astuteness, Klopp has invested so much time and effort in getting everything that he wants.
Last week in the 1st leg, he was let down by the team's poor finishing, and some criticised him for playing Wijnaldum in the injured Firmino's position. But we could see now what he was going for. Wijnaldum popped up with 2 excellent goals last night; the second, tying up the contest.
And of course, we now know from the players that Klopp was confident of a great result all along. And he made everyone BELIEVE.
And what about the players, huh? I can't even decide on my Man of the Match last night. Each one of them gave their absolute everything! With Firmino and Salah injured, replacement hitmen Origi and Shaqiri more than did their part; Origi with 2 goals, and Shaq with an assist.
Mane ran and ran and ran. Hendo was heroic. Old man Milner put in yet another solid shift. And Fabinho, oh damn, Fabinho. He was a monster in midfield. Picking up the pieces always (and a couple of fights as well, haha).
And our defense held up well, although Barcelona had a couple of clear chances in the first half. Virgil and Matip always stood firm, but it was sad to see Robertson KO-ed by an injury. Young Trent? Oh, man. What a genius of a player, who can only get better. Note to Liverpool owners: sign him up for the next 10 years!
And yes, Alisson Becker. The Brazilian earned a year's wages just based on last night's performance. There were moments when my heart skipped a beat, but the Thor-lookalike thwarted everything Barcelona threw at him. What a bargain for GBP67m!
Finally, hats off to Anfield! What a rocking atmosphere! Another brilliant European night made even special by the fantastic fans lucky enough to watch it live.
Oh man, I can go on and on. What a night. What a feeling. What a win. THIS MEANS MORE indeed. Onwards to the final! #YNWA
