Valverde makes Liverpool admission after Barcelona strike fatal blow

Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde insists that the job is far from done after seeing his side brush aside Liverpool 3-0 in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final.

A goal from former Reds striker Luis Suarez and two second-half strikes from Lionel Messi, the latter the Argentine’s 600th goal for Barca, secured Valverde’s men a commanding win at the Nou Camp.

Things could have so different, however, if Liverpool had taken their chances in a game that for large spells they dominated.

Barca will now go into the second leg at Anfield next Tuesday as huge favourites, but Valverde has warned his players not to take anything for granted.

The Catalans were 4-1 up in the quarter-final against Roma last year only to go out on away goals after a shock 3-0 loss in Rome.

“We won’t go there with precautions but experience must count for something,” said Valverde in a report in the Daily Star.

“We saw how Liverpool manage games and the pace with which they play, and we cannot forget that we can’t afford to feel extra confident. The tie is still open and we haven’t got through yet.”

Liverpool had scored seven goals in their last two Champions League away ties against Bayern Munich and FC Porto, and despite falling behind to a strike from Suarez, they still showed huge ambition in attack.

“We cannot lie, it’s always a good result when you win and your opponent doesn’t score, but we suffered, there are still 90 minutes to go and while we were able to score they could have done so too,” Valverde added.

“They were better than us for some spells and we know what awaits us over there.

“I see a team that has the ability to make any team suffer. Last year we had a three-goal advantage and we were knocked out. We’ve picked up a great result but the tie isn’t over.”

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