Liverpool emerged as shock 4-0 winners over Barcelona in their penultimate pre-season friendly at Wembley. New signing Sadio Mane starred as Klopp’s side overcame the Catalan giants ahead of next week’s Premier League opener against Arsenal.
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool thrashed Barcelona by a convincing 4-0 scoreline in their final International Champions’ Cup encounter at Wembley. It was a stunning display of the German’s popular ‘heavy-metal football’ as the Blaugrana struggled to cope with the Reds’ intensity on the evening. The loss will also come as a wake-up call for Luis Enrique as his side looked rusty when presented with a stern opponent in Liverpool.
Liverpool left Daniel Sturridge out of the squad as the England striker is reportedly recovering from a hip injury ahead of the next week’s season opener against Arsenal. Needless to say, the injury rules out the 26-year-old from the Reds’ final friendly against FSV Mainz on Sunday.
Daniel Sturridge has been left out of today’s #LFC squad as a precaution due to a slight hip issue
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 6, 2016
The #LFC starting line-up and substitutes against @FCBarcelona at Wembley Stadium in full pic.twitter.com/ZwGy5UsAkk
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 6, 2016
Barça XI:
1.Ter Stegen
5.Sergio
6.Denis
7.Arda
9.Suárez
10.Messi
12.Cámara
14.Mascherano
17.Munir
22.Aleix Vidal
24.Mathieu— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) August 6, 2016
Liverpool had no intention of taking the game lightly as they attacked Barcelona straight off the blocks on a feisty evening at Wembley, where a sold-out crowd in excess of 89,000 was in attendance.
Friends reunited! ?
Go behind the scenes with us at Wembley on Snapchat: https://t.co/IVW20pz1Is pic.twitter.com/mux8NJMSBn
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 6, 2016
The man instrumental in giving the Reds an edge in attack was new signing Sadio Mane, whose blistering pace and trickery on the ball caused all sorts of problems early on for the Catalan back-line. The former Southampton man was rewarded for his spectacular start with a goal in the 15th minute, when a counter-attack initiated by Adam Lallana’s interception at the centre of the park culminated in Mane smashing the ball into the back of Ter Stegen’s net. Needless to say, social media erupted after the Reds’ shock lead against the La Liga champions.
Sadio Mané scores his first goal in a Liverpool shirt after fine build-up play.
Not a bad team to do it against… pic.twitter.com/1YIfpHZDk3
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) August 6, 2016
Wembley, painted red in all sections, erupts as Sadio Mane puts #LFC 1-0 up after stellar build-up play.
— Melissa Reddy (@MelissaReddy_) August 6, 2016
Watching 5-10 minutes of the game intermittently when I find the time & have just seen Mane’s goal. Utterly stunning play. Faultless counter
— Si (@TalkingAnfield) August 7, 2016
GOAL! 1-0 Mane, rapid counterattack. Adam Lallana’s role immense, winning possession & then playing final ball. Fine start by @LFC
— Dominic King (@DominicKing_DM) August 6, 2016
That’s a proper Klopp goal. Brilliant from Lallana to win the ball back and launch the attack. Classy finish from Mane.
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceEcho) August 6, 2016
Mane celebrates his first goal for #LFC pic.twitter.com/qxyqAgS7l3
— Liverpool FC News (@LivEchoLFC) August 6, 2016
Newboy, Sadio Mane, loving it today #LFC pic.twitter.com/3ZCvKBVYry
— Spion Klopp (@Jay_78_) August 6, 2016
Barcelona did respond well and threatened to wipe out Liverpool’s lead on at least three occasions, but Simon Mignolet, along with centre-halves Dejan Lovren and Ragnar Klavan, made life hard for Barcelona’s attackers.
The two sides went into half-time with Liverpool having their noses in front. Klopp made three changes at the break, bringing on Origi, Henderson and Stewart for Wijnaldum, Lallana and Coutinho. Liverpool found themselves 3-0 up just minutes into the second half, thanks to an own-goal from Javier Mascherano and a well taken goal from half-time substitute Divock Origi. The blitzkrieg sent Liverpool fans into delirium, while the rest of the footballing world could scarcely believe what was unfolding at Wembley.
mascherano’s own goal got me like: @FCBarcelona pic.twitter.com/n3cFJ63hub
— moroccan (@benzaema) August 6, 2016
Mascherano meant that own goal. Proper red
— Harol̶l̶d (@HRLDAMOO) August 6, 2016
48: Crazy couple of minutes! Henderson forced a Mascherano own goal before Origi calmly slotted in #LFC‘s third! [3-0]
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 6, 2016
And before you could tweet that it’s 2-0, it’s 3-0!
Divock Origi on the scoresheet after Jordan Henderson/own goal for the second. #LFC
— Melissa Reddy (@MelissaReddy_) August 6, 2016
3-0 up against Barcelona
First goal for Mane
Great finish by OrigiDoesn’t get much better for Klopp… #LFC
https://t.co/TWiKI7ApOI— Ladbrokes (@Ladbrokes) August 6, 2016
Liverpool 3-0 Barcelona pic.twitter.com/t6Ro7MQ1RL
— Footy Jokes (@Footy_Jokes) August 6, 2016
When you realise #LFC are 3-0 up against Barcelona.. pic.twitter.com/OldSs04c8p
— 101 Great Goals (@101greatgoals) August 6, 2016
We’re beating Barcelona 3-0, wow
— Indigo (@IndigoLFC) August 6, 2016
The chances kept coming for both sides, but there were no changes to the scoreline until the second minute of stoppage time, when substitute Marko Grujic scored an outrageous looping header off a cross from Lazar Markovic to make it 4-0 to the Reds on the evening.
Liverpool are beating Barcelona 3-0 pic.twitter.com/PtKwtPhVpR
— TheLADbible (@TheLadBible) August 6, 2016
#LFC 4-0 #FCB – a friendly of course, but hey, you don’t often beat Barcelona 4-0. Not even on FIFA.
— Ian Doyle (@IanDoyleSport) August 6, 2016
We just beat Barcelona 4-0.
— The Anfield Chat (@TheAnfieldChat) August 6, 2016
What a fantastic win by Liverpool to beat Barcelona 4-0.
It’s nice to see Jürgen Klopp reaping the rewards of my hard work.
— Deluded Brendan (@DeludedBrendan) August 6, 2016
FULL TIME: Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona.https://t.co/Yqfmg3BiM0
— BBC Sporf (@BBCSporf) August 6, 2016
Ragnar Klavan looked ace in his new #LFC kit during today’s 4-0 win over Barcelona. Joke stolen from @ManLikeIngs ?? pic.twitter.com/tPEtQT52zK
— Empire of the Kop (@empireofthekop) August 6, 2016
“It’s just a friendly”
Well I don’t see other teams beating Barcelona 4-0 in their friendlies.
— Anfield Hub (@AnfieldHub) August 6, 2016
The 2nd largest ever crowd at Wembley for Liverpool vs Barcelona today… just 29 fans short of the record. Wow! pic.twitter.com/AhtUfwNmsQ
— Uber Football Facts (@UberFootbalI) August 6, 2016
It’s not everyday you see your side beat a team of the stature of Barcelona by a convincing 4-0 scoreline and the Liverpool players enjoyed the moment, expressing their joy on social media.
Nice touch! ? #LFC pic.twitter.com/P79BtM8vPx
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 6, 2016
? Post-match delight captured! pic.twitter.com/DKDPindXJn
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 6, 2016
Great display and atmosphere at Wembley ???? #YNWA pic.twitter.com/k8RcAbShA2
— Nathaniel Clyne (@Nathaniel_Clyne) August 6, 2016
#lfc pic.twitter.com/hVYUUxSwPY
— Lazar Markovic (@LMarkec50) August 6, 2016
Fantastic atmosphere and result at Wembley. Well done lads #YNWA #LFC ? pic.twitter.com/xBMi5vL2Ap
— Georginio Wijnaldum (@GWijnaldum) August 6, 2016
Great performance from the boys! So happy to be back and be part of it! And thank you for the great reception when I came on ⚽️❤️?
— Danny Ings (@IngsDanny) August 6, 2016
Another step towards the start of the new season. Good performance from the lads. Nice to get on… https://t.co/AuGcZCRnoo
— Jordan Henderson (@JHenderson) August 6, 2016
Sadio Mané: “I’m very happy to score, especially in front of the amazing fans. I’m also happy for Origi and Grujic to score for the team.”
— Viktor Fagerström (@ViktorFagerLFC) August 6, 2016
There was a nice touch after the game from Luis Suarez as well, with the Uruguayan congratulating his former side on Instagram and acknowledging the warmth and support he received from the Liverpool supporters.
