Talking points from Chelsea vs Barcelona

Yesterday was a match that the whole footballing world all turned up to witness
But did it live up to expectation?

Here are the talking points from yesterday's encounter



Records never last With Messi on board

Before yesterday's game. Messi had never registered a goal in 29 attempts against Chelsea but the talisman came up with the goods even in one of his off days to rescue Barcelona

Chelsea tactics spot on

Antonio conte set up his team to break up Barcelona's play and hit them on the counter...it seemed like it was gonna pay off until the next talking point...But I must say Chelsea were unlucky on the night

Inexperience

Only Azpilicueta have faced Barcelona playing as a defender...Christensen Rudiger and others were obviously looking up yo him.The goal they conceded can speak for itself that Chelsea lacked experience in defence

Where is the new Neymar

Barcelona were toothless going forward because they had no Neymar esque kind of player who could wriggle his way from the flanks...only two attackers were on display for Barcelona.Messi and Suarez, the rest were midfielders..Its clear that Barcelona need to integrate Dembele now and fast or get another dribbler instead of passing the ball sideways against a rock solid Chelsea side

What does the second leg hold?

Drop your comments!!

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Liverpool confirm Coutinho sale to Barcelona

The Brazil international ends five years on Merseyside as he is set to finalise his desired move to Camp Nou Philippe Coutinho will become Barcelona’s most expensive signing after a deal worth €160 million was agreed with Liverpool, which is the new British transfer record.



La Liga’s leaders will part with €120m as a guaranteed base fee, with another €40m in performance and appearance-related add-ons that are expected to be triggered.

The 25-year-old will move ahead of Ousmane Dembele as Barca’s highest-cost recruit, also surpassing Paul Pogba as the biggest player trade involving an English club.

Liverpool Football Club today issued the following statement regarding the future of Philippe Coutinho: click to read full statement— Liverpool FC (@LFC)January 6, 2018

There is a possibility that Coutinho will attend Barca's hosting of against Levante on Sunday, with the club hoping to have him training with his new team-mates on Monday.

Liverpool failed in their exhaustive efforts to convince Coutinho, whodid not travel with the squad to a warm-weather camp in Dubai, to remain on Merseyside until the end of the season at the very least.

The Brazilian declined their proposed incentives and offer of a higher wage, repeating his intention to move to Camp Nou with immediate effect.



Having approached the Reds on July 20 with the first of three unsuccessful summer bids bloated by improbable clauses, Barca finally succeeded in their pursuit of the playmaker on Saturday.

Liverpool were definitive in their stance that Coutinho was not for sale at any price in the summer, rejecting his transfer request in the process, but with their No.10 maintaining his desire to depart and Barca finally tabling an acceptable package for his services, Jurgen Klopp agreed to sanction his sale.

The Brazilian made 201 appearances and scored 54 goals for Liverpool after signing in January 2013 from Inter Milan for just £8.5m.

He is now the third most expensive footballer in the world, behind Paris Saint-Germain pair Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.

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