Search icon

Football

01st May 2019

Luis Suarez scores against Liverpool and has no time for muted celebrations

Luis Suarez gave Barcelona the lead in the first half against his old club, but of course he was always going to celebrate

Reuben Pinder

Of course he celebrated

Luis Suarez gave Barcelona the lead against his old club Liverpool at the Camp Nou on Wednesday night, poking home a Jordi Alba cross after bending his run to perfection past a static Virgil van Dijk.

In many other cases of players scoring against their old clubs, especially when that club propelled them to stardom, you might expect a muted celebration – a half-arsed apology for inflicting pain against his former employers. But this is Luis Suarez, one of the all time great shithouses. Of course he celebrated.

Barcelona doubled their lead after the break through captain and talisman Lionel Messi, who capitalised on some penalty area pinball to roll the ball into an empty net.

Messi then scored Barcelona’s third goal of the night, his 600th goal for the club to all but kill any chances of a Liverpool comeback in the second leg.

Liverpool now have a mountain to climb at Anfield. Without the luxury of an away goal, they will have to bring their A game at both ends of the pitch next week.

For all their qualities, their pressing, their commitment. There is only so much you can do against the best player in the world.