Barcelona vs Liverpool highlights: Watch Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez goals in Champions League semi-final

Goals from Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi saw Barcelona take complete control of this semi-final tie

Lionel Messi went a long way to delivering on his pre-season promise to win the Champions League with two goals - one a brilliant trademark free-kick - in a 3-0 first-leg semi-final victory over Liverpool.

Former Reds striker Luis Suarez got the opening goal at the Nou Camp but just as the visitors were threatening to equalise, the Argentinian genius struck.

His first goal was via a huge stroke of luck as Suarez's shot rebounded off the crossbar to offer a tap in - but the second was an absolutely sublime 35-yard free-kick.

No wonder 94,000 fans, as they have so many times in the past, stood as one to hero-worship their captain with chants of 'Messi, Messi, Messi'.

The scoreline was harsh on Liverpool, who appeared to have weathered the storm and were causing Barca boss Ernesto Valverde enough concern for him to replace another former Anfield favourite Philippe Coutinho with right-back Nelson Semedo and change to 4-4-2 formation with the score at 1-0.

But in the blink of an eye the lead became three - making a comeback next week not impossible but incredibly difficult without an away goal.

And there was another kick in the teeth for Jurgen Klopp's side as Roberto Firmino had a shot cleared off the line and Mohamed Salah hit the post in the same attack late on.