Liverpool football club have enjoyed a three-day break in Barcelona, Spain after claiming their sixth consecutive league victory in beating Brentford at Anfield last Saturday.
Liverpool’s Barcelona break: Rest, focus, and hope
The team is scheduled to return to England on Tuesday in preparation for their upcoming match against Leicester City next Monday. Football Insider indicates that the team did not participate in any training sessions during their stay in mainland Europe, instead focusing on rest after a busy period.
This break is hoped to be beneficial for Liverpool as they aim to finish off a forgettable season with nine wins in a row and potentially secure an unlikely Champions League spot.
Liverpool’s top-four rivals, Newcastle and Manchester United, suffered defeats to Arsenal and West Ham respectively over the weekend, which could provide Liverpool with a renewed hope of making a late run on Champions League qualification.
Both teams still have a game in hand over Liverpool but are under pressure to make it count before their scheduled match against Leicester next Monday.
The break in Barcelona is also an opportunity for the Liverpool squad to come together away from the training ground before their final run of three games in 13 days.
With internationals soon to follow for many players, this represents the last time this group of players can get together in this type of setting with a summer of change ahead.
The current squad looks to have made the effort to enjoy the break together, and they were even joined by some staff, including first-team operations manager Ray Haughan.
The Reds trip reignites historic memory
Interestingly, the Liverpool squad’s trip to Barcelona coincides with the anniversary of their famous Champions League win in 2019.
The team came back from a 3-0 deficit in the first leg of their 2019 semi-final against Barcelona having been unable to deal with the brilliance of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and co at Camp Nou.
But the second leg at Anfield was a different story, with Liverpool securing a 4-0 victory in the second leg at Anfield, effectively ending an era for the Catalan giants.
Les Cules haven’t advanced past the quarterfinal round of the Champions League since that horrific night in Anfield. Despite this season’s indications of life under Xavi at home, where they are poised to win La Liga, this time, they didn’t even make it past the group stage this time around.
Although the presence of Reds stars in Barcelona appears to be merely coincidental, this particular topic of conversation may well have been brought up during their time there.
Liverpool players spotted in Barcelona
Amongst the players in the squad on that famous night pictured in Barcelona include Mohamed Salah, Jordan Henderson, James Milner, and Joe Gomez. Younger members of the current first-team setup were also present, including Rhys Williams and Stefan Bajcetic.
Bajcetic has broken through into Liverpool’s starting XI on a regular basis this season and was one of their most impressive performers before his season was curtailed early through injury in March.
His form has seen him linked with both Barcelona and Real Madrid, but he recently signed a new contract with Liverpool at the beginning of the year and looks set to remain at Anfield for the foreseeable future.
Passionate about the beautiful game and dedicated to Liverpool FC, where “You’ll Never Walk Alone” is not just a slogan, but a way of life. I live and breathe football, from the roar of the Anfield crowd to the tactical intricacies of the sport.
My expertise lies in dissecting the transfer market, tracking player movements, and uncovering the hidden gems destined for greatness. Whether it’s discussing potential signings, analyzing match strategies, or celebrating the brilliance of players, I’m always ready for a football conversation.
