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Messi's stunning second-half free-kick. Adam Davy

'He's unstoppable' - Klopp not surprised by Messi's heroics against Liverpool

The Reds boss said Messi’s performance was ‘world class’ after netting a brace during Barcelona’s 3-0 win.

LIONEL MESSI WAS called “unstoppable” by Jurgen Klopp after the Barcelona forward scored twice in a 3-0 Champions League semi-final first-leg win over Liverpool.

Despite keeping him quiet for the majority of the game at Camp Nou, Messi scored a seven-minute brace after Luis Suarez’s opener on Wednesday to reach 600 goals for the club, who took a big step towards reaching the Champions League final thanks to their talisman.

Messi’s first was a routine finish after the ball came back to him off the crossbar following Suarez’s effort, but the second was a delicious whipped free-kick from 30 yards out.

That was his 600th goal for Barca 14 years on from his debut and it was another night where Messi proved to be pivotal for his team.

“In these moments, he’s unstoppable,” Klopp told a press conference. “Obviously we couldn’t defend the free-kick. What a strike. He’s a world-class player.

“The second goal – the 2-0 – was probably not the nicest goal in the career of Lionel Messi but it shows his skills that he’s there in that moment. But apart from that I was happy with how we defended.

“I’m a big admirer of him but my boys tonight didn’t show too much respect. They were there, tried with completely legal things. We didn’t treat him harshly or whatever to try to get him out of the game. We played just football and I like that.

“I knew before that Lionel is a world-class player and now I saw it again. I’m not too surprised, to be honest.”

Liverpool were largely on top after Suarez struck first, but Sadio Mane fired over from a one-on-one before James Milner – twice – and Mohamed Salah were denied by Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Messi’s late brace, which preceded Salah hitting the post, has now left Barcelona firmly in charge of the tie, with Klopp unwilling to sugar-coat the situation.

Asked if his team still have a chance to progress, Klopp replied: “Because it’s football, yes, but before this game we had a bigger chance, let me say it like this.

“It’s difficult. What can I say? It’s Barcelona. That’s difficult to avoid.

“Because it’s football, we should still try but it’s not a night for being really mouthy and saying, ‘It’s exactly what we wanted. It’s half-time, score an early goal and all that s***’. It will be another really difficult game.”

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    Mute themansam
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    May 2nd 2019, 7:38 AM

    Absolutely the GOAT, puts in a tackle in the full back position then goes end to end. He’s the all round complete team player. Enjoy him ladies & gentlemen we won’t see his like for some time

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    Mute Anthony
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    May 2nd 2019, 7:40 AM

    @themansam: I don’t think there’s ever been a more complete player

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    May 2nd 2019, 7:48 AM

    @Anthony: no one even close. Been lucky to see him live a couple of times over the years. You can understand why an entire stadium was shouting his name & bowing to him

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    Mute Rory O'Connor
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    May 2nd 2019, 9:20 AM

    @themansam: And to think that Dunphy said that he was finished 2 years ago!!
    The man didn’t have a clue.

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    May 2nd 2019, 9:52 AM

    @Rory O’Connor: hes been irrelevant for a long time now

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    Mute Beer Belly 0476
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    May 2nd 2019, 10:37 AM

    @themansam: stop talking about Hendo like that

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    Mute @at
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    May 2nd 2019, 10:41 AM

    @themansam: he is the 2nd best player of all time. Maradona is no 1. The difference between Messi and Maradona is, put Messi into a good team (Barcelona) and he is awesome, put him into an average team (Argentina the last 10 yrs) and he is average. Put Maradona into a good team (Napoli) and he is awesome, put him into an average team (Argentina) and he will singlehandly win you the world cup and lead you to the final of another. If Messi was playing in Maradona era when tackles from behind was the norm, he would not have played in half the amount of games and would have scored 1/4 the amount of goals. There is clip of YouTube of all the plays Maradona was involved in in the 86 game against England. Watch that and you will see what I mean

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    May 2nd 2019, 10:58 AM

    @@at: that’s your opinion you don’t agree with mine nor i yours. For me Messi is the complete team player who will leave a lasting legacy. As great as Maradonna was he doesn’t leave a legacy that would inspire young lads starting out

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    Mute Anthony
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    May 2nd 2019, 11:29 AM

    @@at: you’re completely wrong. Messi makes Barcelona a great team. A one club player who has had numerous Barcelona teams built around him. Every time the pundits said Barcelona were ageing or finished Messi keeps them going. Maradonna wasn’t the complete footballer. Messi tracks back, tackles hard, scores, assists, free kicks, corners, headers. All whilst still being a complete professional and not craving attention. This us why he will always be greater than Maradonna, Ronaldo, Pele etc.

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    May 2nd 2019, 2:01 PM

    @Anthony: how come then he cannot make Argentina a great team also ?

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    May 2nd 2019, 2:04 PM

    @themansam: leaving a legacy is totally different to what he can do on a pitch. We all know that Maradona was and still is a nutjob off the pitch but on the pitch he has no equal. Do you watch that video I spoke about ?

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    May 2nd 2019, 2:12 PM

    @@at: dont need to look at it at all, ive seen it plenty of times. this is no doubt about his ability but you’re wrong when you say what a player does off the pitch has no baring on his legacy, that has to be considered when talking about the greatest of all time.
    Anthony pointed out quite well, the differences between the two so i wont repeat that.
    both players are unplayable on their day, but for me with his work rate alone he edges Maradonna

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    Mute Ger
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    May 3rd 2019, 6:23 AM

    @themansam: not to mention Messi does it week in week out unlike what Maradona did, and he’s been doing it for far longer than Diego and without the help of colombian matching powder. For me Maradona would just about make it in the top 5 of all time, maybe.

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    Mute Donncha Lynch
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    May 3rd 2019, 12:17 PM

    @@at: that Napoli team had some great players and by no means a one trick pony

    with the likes of Ciro Ferrara, Salvatore Bagni and Fernando De Napoli filling the ranks.

    Messi got a very average Argentina to the wc final a number of years ago! Could easily have been a wc winner

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    Mute Sheila Teehan
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    May 2nd 2019, 8:23 AM

    The only one who kept Messi quiet was Messi himself. Did Milner quieten him with his cheap, lousy lunge on the touchline? No, just revved him up.

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    Mute padar
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    May 2nd 2019, 8:51 AM

    Mane and Salah had to proper chances, at Anfield you just never know. Barca will give you chances and you gotta take them. YNWA

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    Mute David Weston
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    May 2nd 2019, 9:29 AM

    @padar: Barca will know that they have to score and the only way I see that not happening is if Messi doesn’t play

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    Mute Paul Furey
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    May 2nd 2019, 9:50 AM

    @padar: Should have 4 at least for Barca

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    May 2nd 2019, 11:19 AM

    @Paul Furey: yes Barca could have had 5. Liverpool could of had 3. But the game ended 3 nil. So I’m not sure why you keep repeating that.

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    May 2nd 2019, 8:58 AM

    Only in the darkness of the TEMPLE can you see the stars ….

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    May 2nd 2019, 9:16 AM

    @David Weston: you’d need an awful bright light at OT these days buddy

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    May 2nd 2019, 9:23 AM

    @themansam: as a Liverpool fan I need to add that in 2 weeks time the only difference between Liverpool and Manchester United May well be ‘potential’… It’s not shaping up well for the reds I’m afraid. Liverpool threw it away by the looks of it. So we may well and probably will win the same amount of cups as man united this year – zero.

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    May 2nd 2019, 9:25 AM

    @David A Roberts: oh and of course we are certain of a CL spot for next season…

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    May 2nd 2019, 9:50 AM

    @David A Roberts: id rather be in need of adding a player or 2 David than a complete overhaul of the squad

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    May 2nd 2019, 10:23 AM

    @David Weston: like I’ve said to you before David. Didn’t united fans throw “stop living in the past” at Liverpool fans for years? You guys keep falling, what’s happening this season, live in the here & now David it’s deadly

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    May 2nd 2019, 11:32 AM

    @themansam: you’re talking like you’ve won something this year. Liverpool haven’t. Or even in the last couple of years. As bad and all as United are they won two cups. That’s not too long ago lol

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    May 2nd 2019, 11:41 AM

    @Anthony: I know Anthony I just find it amusing that (not you, you have a laugh and leave it there) most united fans are banging on about a team that are still just about in the semi final of the European Cup. A team that are going toe to toe with one of the best teams in the league ever but their team are having a rotten season. People in glass houses

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    May 2nd 2019, 5:18 PM

    @Anthony: 3 actually and a losing finalist also

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    May 2nd 2019, 5:30 PM

    @David Weston: let’s talk about this season bright spark. Give a summary of where your club is

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