Liverpool legend James Milner believes the Reds would never have enjoyed the success they did if they had failed to knock Barcelona out of the Champions League.
Milner was a fantastic servant for Liverpool between 2015 and 2023, racking up 332 appearances and winning six trophies.
During the Jurgen Klopp era, the Reds were a relentless force, losing twice to Man City on the final day of the Premier League despite amassing over 90 points.
Liverpool’s legendary 4-0 win over Barca in the Champions League semi-finals in 2019 was a huge turning point in the mind of Milner, who told The Rest is Football that things may have been different without it.
“The year we won the Champions League, we lost the league on 97 points,” Milner said.
“Thirty wins, seven draws and one defeat, and you don’t get anything for it.
“And I believe if we hadn’t won the Champions League that years, I think it’s pretty hard for that team to come back and recover and go again with nothing for it. Too keep that intensity.
“I really believe if we hadn’t done that and then go to the Barcelona game, which again is that twist that looked really unlikely.
“And then you’re not in the Champions League final, and you get 97 points.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, May 7, 2019: Liverpool players celebrate after the UEFA Champions League Semi-Final 2nd Leg match between Liverpool FC and FC Barcelona at Anfield. Liverpool won 4-0 (4-3 on aggregate). Mohamed Salah, manager Jürgen Klopp, Virgil van Dijk, James Milner. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Further discussing the epic victory at Anfield, Milner added: “I think that’s my favourite ever game I’ve been involved in.
“I think the quality of the team they had, the experience, the atmosphere – the boos before they started when (Luis) Suarez, who’s a Liverpool legend, they whistled straight away and said ‘you’re not one of ours tonight mate.’
“They set that tone. We got a corner 30 or 40 seconds in and the roar for a corner was (amazing).
“Unbelievable to be part of it, with players missing. Obviously we had Mo out and a few others.
“And we had a tough game on the side against Newcastle before, and Vinny Kompany had sliced one into the top corner (for City against Leicester).
“I’ve seen him shoot millions times in and put it in the bushes and over the fence.
“You look at that chain of events, then you turn that around, win on the weekend, don’t get the title with 97 points and then go and win the Champions League, and then obviously the next year, 99 points to win it.
“I mean, the Arsenal‘s Invincibles would have been third!”
Milner’s point is certainly valid, with the period surrounding the Barcelona game threatening to be too much to recover from.
Vincent Kompany’s aforementioned stunner against Leicester felt like a bodyblow at the time, while the first leg away to Barca was a harsh 3-0 defeat.
Instead, Liverpool produced one of the greatest comebacks of all time in the return fixture, triggering the start of a winning period that included a league titles and two domestic cups.
The Reds’ greatness under Klopp will only show one Premier League title, but without an equally impressive City side, they would have enjoyed a period of dominance.