Lionel Messi gave Liverpool a mountain to climb in their Champions League semi-final after his sensational free-kick gave Barcelona a 3-0 lead to take to Anfield next week.
The little magician struck his 600th goal for the Catalans in mesmerising fashion, curling a stunner into the top corner from 30 yards out.
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Messi scored a mesmerising free-kick
It was his second of the game and the identity of the first goalscorer, former Reds striker Luis Suarez, will add insult to injury on a disastrous night for Jurgen Klopp’s men.
Despite dominating for large spells at the Nou Camp and spurning several glorious opportunities to grab a priceless away goal, they find themselves in need of an Anfield miracle next Tuesday.
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With Firmino only fit enough for the bench after a muscle tear Klopp picked utility man Georginio Wijnaldum, a stand-in centre-back last season, in an unfamiliar false nine position.
Ivan Rakitic’s early cross was blocked and Suarez headed the resulting corner into the side-netting but Liverpool posed their own threat with Salah playing like he was made for this grand stage, giving Jordi Alba and centre-back Clement Lenglet plenty of trouble.
Messi had kept a relatively low profile but he is most dangerous in short bursts and when he broke into the penalty area a goal seemed inevitable until Andy Robertson produced a brilliant sliding challenge to dispossess him.
That was a measure of just how good the Scotland captain has been this season but on the other side Joe Gomez, making his first start since breaking his leg in early December, was getting exposed by Coutinho drifting inside to allow Alba a free run.
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It provided the breakthrough midway through the first half when Alba’s low cross was diverted in by the sliding Suarez, making good on his pledge to celebrate against his former side after his 25th goal of the season.
Despite the goal Liverpool had done a pretty impressive job and it should have been better had Sadio Mane not ballooned over a raking, low pass from Jordan Henderson – a 24th minute replacement for the injury Naby Keita.
Virgil Van Dijk’s proud record of never having been dribbled past this season looked like being beaten when he slipped with Messi in close proximity but the Dutchman’s recovery pace was such he not only managed to get back but also dispossess the Argentinian just as he threatened to break into the area.
Milner forced the first save out of Marc Andre Ter Stegen early in the second half and then wastefully shot straight at the goalkeeper after Wijnaldum had dummied Salah’s cut-back.
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Suarez broke Liverpool hearts
Barca’s change in formation did not seem to help them much as Liverpool continued to press for the equaliser.
But then fortune and some considerable Messi magic counted against them.
Suarez’s close-range effort cannoned off the bar and Messi completed the simplest of tasks when the ball fell into his path.
There was nothing lucky about his second, though. Alisson, one of the world’s greatest keeper, could get nowhere near the Argentine’s wondeeful free-kick from distance.
And the margin would have been greater had substitute Ousmane Dembele taken advantage of two late chances.
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