Footy Talks - Liverpool's Mission Impossible

Honestly, I have no confidence that Liverpool can go through to the Final of the Champions League after going down 3 - 0 to Barcelona at Camp Nou. Most fans and rival's fans alike are 100% sure that it is almost impossible to overturn the deficit or even keep a clean sheet at Anfield.

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I woke up at 2.55am this morning, just to see how Liverpool will react to the match, and who will be fielded in place of the injured duo Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino. And I was thinking that Jurgen Klopp might field the young and exciting talent in Rhian Brewster for the first time this season.

But when I saw the lineup that include Divock Origi and Xherdan Shaqiri, I was really sceptical at first, especially Shaqiri who hasn't played much recently. How will they fare in this match against a team like Barcelona? But I was guessing that playing in a big match like this will be good for their experience and exposure.

When the match started, I wasn't expecting much, but once Origi scored the first goal early in the match, I saw a glimpse of hope, that Liverpool can at least win this match, and that is all that is matters.

Liverpool was playing like mad men, running and pressing relentlessly, forcing the Barca players to commit mistakes again and again. The 1st half ended with Liverpool leading 1 - 0, (1 - 3 in aggregate). Barca created a lot of chances too, and almost scored through Philipe Coutinho and efforts from Lionel Messi. Again, I felt that it will be impossible for Liverpool to even win this match. I just hope that they won't give up and give their best.

The second half commenced, and Andrew Robertson has been withdrawn due to injury, and was replaced by Gini Wijnaldum. But little did I and Barca knew that this one change in the line up will prove to be something positive and will turn the match around.

Wijnaldum managed to get on the scoresheet twice, and Liverpool are now level with Barca in terms of aggregate. It is now 3 - 3 and the door which has been half shut is now wide open again. But there is always a possibility that a quality team like Barca will score, and Liverpool will have to score twice for each goal conceded.

I was already looking forward to extra time, and was thinking whether the Liverpool players can still maintain the intensity of their gameplay. But one act of pure genius between Alexander Arnold and Origi changed the match outcome completely.

It was a routine corner kick, and the players from both sides was about to prepare for it. Shaqiri was walking towards the corner flag, and Arnold was walking away to let Shaqiri takes the corner kicks, but then the weirdest thing happened. Arnold spotted that there is a huge space isolating Origi with the other Barca players. Arnold rushed back to the ball and made a quick corner kick towards Origi, who had the simplest of task to direct it into goal. It was lightning quick, and feels like a dream. It was a brilliant goal that was allowed by the referee. Liverpool are now leading 4 - 3 in aggregate. Things are getting even more intense now.

I couldn't stand to watch the match until the final whistle as Barca was pushing Liverpool to the limit for the one elusive away goal. So, I turned off the TV and went to sleep. A few hours later I woke up to check on the final score.

Liverpool has done the impossible! Winning the match 4 - 3 on aggregate and they have now qualified for the FINAL!! It's a fairy tail win by Liverpool, furthermore, they won against the mighty Barca, overturning the 3 - 0 deficit, and keeping a clean sheet! There is no way anyone can explain how this match can turn out to be like this. MISSION IMPOSSIBLE - HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED!

See ya in the FINAL!

YNWA