Barcelona vs Liverpool: Champions League semi-final rout proves how smart Ernesto Valverde’s side have become

This Barcelona side are not as orchestrated as Pep Guardiola’s or as virtuoso as Luis Enrique’s, but the way they maximise each individual’s strength will propel them into the Champions League final

In the days before Barcelona’s win over Liverpool, manager Ernesto Valverde had been specifically working with his centre-halves on how to combat Liverpool’s speed. The instructions and drills sometimes came down to a matter of yards, as they were figuring out where the optimum place for the defensive line was.

Such calculation actually says something more about this team, and is fitting, since we’re likely to be hearing a lot more about specific numbers over the next few weeks.

Barca scored three against Liverpool, to put them within one step of the Champions League final, and potentially a third treble with a third different team and manager.

That is going to bring a lot of comparisons and debate if - or, really, when - they get past Liverpool, and it is where this current approach is all the more pointed.

It is where the real difference lies, between these teams of different class.

There is an argument that, despite what they may be about to achieve, this current Barca isn’t really in the same class as those of 2009, 2011 or 2015. They don’t have as many stars as they did in their absolute prime.

They’re not as orchestrated as Pep Guardiola’s side. They’re not as virtuoso as Luis Enrique’s side, who were elevated by maybe the greatest front trio in history. One of that trio is now gone, in Neymar. One of them has had to adapt his game, in an older Luis Suarez, but that maybe touches on the effectiveness of this team beyond the exquisiteness of Leo Messi.

This Barca are much more calculated than both, more forensic in how they especially sit on the specific strengths of their individual players. It is nowhere near as fluent as either of their previous treble winners, but it has so far been as effective. Certainly in the league, where the number of wins are beyond question.

This approach is most visible with those centre-halves.

Consider how often they look like they’re about to get caught out - especially against the pace of Manchester United in the quarter-final second leg, and then Liverpool here - only to get away with it. It often seems like they’re in sudden and quite extreme danger, only to then clear it with relative ease.

Barcelona players swarm Lionel Messi after his free-kick secured a 3-0 win over Liverpool (AP)

This is because they so trust the elasticity and adaptability of those two centre-halves in Clement Lenglet and Gerard Pique, not to mention the solidity of their goalkeeper. Valverde is willing to leave them deal with a lot, because they are so dependable, and so good at those sudden interventions. They are so good at reading the game, with that then augmented by exceptional senses of timing and position.

It is why apparent danger so often isn’t actually danger at all. And, when that backline is breached - as James Milner managed to do on Wednesday - there is the best goalkeeper in the world right now in Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

The approach is not without its risks, as last season’s collapse to Roma displayed. But it does feel like they have significantly learned from that. Barca have brought that negative experience into their numeric calculations.

The evidence was arguably there against Liverpool. Rather than completely impose their game on Jurgen Klopp’s side, they adapted around it, and particularly the pace of Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah. They reshaped the team - and the positioning of the centre-halves - so that those attackers more often than not just ran out of space, with that then leaving so much space in behind.

That was the platform for Messi. That was the calculation, with even surprise inclusions like Arturo Vidal playing into this.

Ernesto Valverde's side outsmarted Liverpool to play to their own strengths (AFP/Getty)

All of the team perfectly followed Valverde’s instructions, and let Liverpool have the ball. It was a calculation that Guardiola would never have made with his side, but it paid off. They lured Liverpool into that medium block, before releasing the attacker of the highest quality.

How many times - and especially in the second half - did we see Messi and Suarez just surge forward? The numbers certainly added up there.

Because, of course, if you’re going to more forensically lean on the specific qualities of individuals, it greatly helps when one of those individuals is Messi. Valverde does seem to have struck a balance in that regard, and how to best use him.

It means that this may not be the best Barca, but they may end up as effective as any - and as successful.

They've got everything to add up.