Champions League: How Anfield's aura brought the best out of a 'depleted' Liverpool

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Against all odds, Liverpool did the unthinkable. Pipped to claim a treble this 2018/19 season, FC Barcelona were humiliated and left in shambles after an extraordinary 90 minutes in Anfield. Going in with a three-goal advantage into the second leg of the UEFA Champions League semifinals, a 'depleted' Liverpool side made a giant of Europe look like boys. 

There was no hint of a 'Messi magic', no tiki-taka play, no domination, no possession play, just a clueless Barca side which had nothing to offer despite a healthy advantage which they threw away. While Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez were pocketed by Fabinho throughout the 90 minutes, Barcelona couldn't handle a fast and furious Liverpool. 

No Mohamed Salah, no Roberto Firminho, Virgil van Dijk starting not fully fit but yet somehow, Liverpool booked their ticket to the finals in Madrid as the Reds outclassed FC Barcelona 4-0 (4-3). 

In this scenario, the Reds defined the meaning of football. An undying spirit, heart, determination, passion, dedication and resolution. No magic, just pure football. 

Just when Liverpool fans thought they had seen it all — the so-called 'Miracle of Istanbul' in particular, but also those storied comebacks at Anfield against Saint-Etienne, Olympiakos and Borussia Dortmund down the years — along came another European night that just might top them all.

Braces from Divock Origi and substitute Georgino Wijnildum saw Liverpool produce an extraordinary comeback against the La Liga champions to advance to the finals of the Champions League for the second time in a row. 

It was only the third time in the history of the competition that a team rallied from three goals down after the first leg of a semifinal and progressed to the final, after Panathinaikos in 1970-71 and Barcelona in 1985-86. No team had done it in the Champions League era.

Liverpool's top scorer who missed the game as he followed protocols after a concussion, Mohamed Salah entered the stadium before kickoff wearing a T-shirt bearing the message: "Never Give Up", and it was exactly that that Liverpool did. 

A collapse which Barcelona never saw coming, one of the greatest players of his generation had no answers as he was swarmed by Reds in every move he made, a return for Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho was made hostile and a defence which paid a heavy price whenever they let their guard down. 

"We know this club is a mix of atmosphere, emotion, desire and footballing quality," Klopp said. "For me, this club has a big heart and tonight the heart was pounding like crazy. You could feel it all over the world."

Onto the final stage of the Champions League once again, they face the winner between Tottenham Hotspurs and Ajax where the English side are 0-1 down in the first leg. 

Liverpool may mind an entirely different atmosphere around in Madrid, but for the Reds, Anfield is not just a stadium, but an aura which makes dreamers into believers.