Shortly after their Champions League quarter-final against FC Porto had kicked off, many Liverpool staff in the Dragao were already distracted by events at Manchester City, giddily informing each other of updates. You couldn’t but be distracted because of how tumultuous that match against Tottenham was, but its after-effects have actually altered the entire dynamic around Liverpool’s semi-final.

We know, of course, that Barcelona always saw the Champions League as their absolute priority this season. But should that now be how Liverpool look at it too?

The issue is that, when an assured Jurgen Klopp was breezily talking in Porto about playing for both major trophies, it was when there was still much more of the league to play for. There was also the sudden possibility that City would be derailed by the elimination to Spurs, and potentially drop more points in the league. That hasn’t happened in the slightest. City have been steeled and went on to win what were their three most difficult remaining fixtures of the five after Tottenham, to the point it is likely Liverpool now have the most difficult match left at Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle United.

The glorious promise of their season now actually makes it all rather precarious. Next week could yet see them qualify for the Champions League final and then finally win the Premier League in the space of five days at Anfield. Or, it could see them very quickly end up with nothing, with the title race now having become more loaded against them. They are running out of opportunities for City to make the mistake they need.

So, does that mean Liverpool load more towards the Champions League?

Player ratings from Porto vs Liverpool Show all 22 1 /22 Player ratings from Porto vs Liverpool Player ratings from Porto vs Liverpool Iker Casillas 5 Porto's Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas (L) protests after Liverpool's Senegalese forward Sadio Mane's goal during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg football match between FC Porto and Liverpool at the Dragao stadium in Porto on April 17, 2019. (Photo by MIGUEL RIOPA / AFP)MIGUEL RIOPA/AFP/Getty Images MIGUEL RIOPA AFP/Getty Images Player ratings from Porto vs Liverpool Eder Militao 6 Liverpool's Belgium striker Divock Origi (R) challenges Porto's Brazilian defender Eder Militao during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg football match between FC Porto and Liverpool at the Dragao Stadium in Porto on April 17, 2019. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images PAUL ELLIS AFP/Getty Images Player ratings from Porto vs Liverpool Felipe 4 Soccer Football - Champions League Quarter Final Second Leg - FC Porto v Liverpool - Estadio do Dragao, Porto, Portugal - April 17, 2019 FC Porto's Felipe protests with the referee as Liverpool's Sadio Mane celebrates scoring their first goal Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers ANDREW BOYERS Action Images via Reuters Player ratings from Porto vs Liverpool Pepe 4 Porto's Portuguese defender Pepe reacts to missing a goal opportunity during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg football match between FC Porto and Liverpool at the Dragao stadium in Porto on April 17, 2019. (Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP)PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP/Getty Images PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA AFP/Getty Images Player ratings from Porto vs Liverpool Alex Telles 5 Soccer Football - Champions League Quarter Final Second Leg - FC Porto v Liverpool - Estadio do Dragao, Porto, Portugal - April 17, 2019 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah in action with FC Porto's Alex Telles Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers ANDREW BOYERS Action Images via Reuters Player ratings from Porto vs Liverpool Otavio 4 Soccer Football - Champions League Quarter Final Second Leg - FC Porto v Liverpool - Estadio do Dragao, Porto, Portugal - April 17, 2019 Liverpool's James Milner in action with FC Porto's Otavio Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers ANDREW BOYERS Action Images via Reuters Player ratings from Porto vs Liverpool Danilo Pereira 4 Soccer Football - Champions League Quarter Final Second Leg - FC Porto v Liverpool - Estadio do Dragao, Porto, Portugal - April 17, 2019 FC Porto's Danilo Pereira in action with Liverpool's Georginio Wijnaldum Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers ANDREW BOYERS Action Images via Reuters Player ratings from Porto vs Liverpool Hector Herrera 6 PORTO, PORTUGAL - APRIL 17: James Milner of Liverpool battles for possession with Hector Herrera of FC Porto during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final second leg match between Porto and Liverpool at Estadio do Dragao on April 17, 2019 in Porto, Portugal. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images) Matthias Hangst Getty Images Player ratings from Porto vs Liverpool Jesus Corona 5 Soccer Football - Champions League Quarter Final Second Leg - FC Porto v Liverpool - Estadio do Dragao, Porto, Portugal - April 17, 2019 Liverpool's Joel Matip in action with FC Porto's Jesus Corona Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers ANDREW BOYERS Action Images via Reuters Player ratings from Porto vs Liverpool Moussa Marega 6 Porto's Malian forward Moussa Marega (L) heads the ball with Liverpool's British midfielder James Milner (C) during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg football match between FC Porto and Liverpool at the Dragao stadium in Porto on April 17, 2019. (Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP)PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP/Getty Images PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA AFP/Getty Images Player ratings from Porto vs Liverpool Yacine Brahimi 5 Soccer Football - Champions League Quarter Final Second Leg - FC Porto v Liverpool - Estadio do Dragao, Porto, Portugal - April 17, 2019 FC Porto's Yacine Brahimi in action with Liverpool's Georginio Wijnaldum REUTERS/Miguel Vidal MIGUEL VIDAL REUTERS Player ratings from Porto vs Liverpool Alisson Becker 7 Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker, both, makes a save during the Champions League quarterfinal, 2nd leg, soccer match between FC Porto and Liverpool at the Dragao stadium in Porto, Portugal, Wednesday, April 17, 2019. (AP Photo/Armando Franca) Armando Franca AP Player ratings from Porto vs Liverpool Trent Alexander-Arnold 8 Soccer Football - Champions League Quarter Final Second Leg - FC Porto v Liverpool - Estadio do Dragao, Porto, Portugal - April 17, 2019 Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers ANDREW BOYERS Action Images via Reuters Player ratings from Porto vs Liverpool Joel Matip 7 Liverpool's German-born Cameroonian defender Joel Matip heads the ball during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg football match between FC Porto and Liverpool at the Dragao Stadium in Porto on April 17, 2019. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images PAUL ELLIS AFP/Getty Images Player ratings from Porto vs Liverpool Virgil van Dijk 8 Soccer Football - Champions League Quarter Final Second Leg - FC Porto v Liverpool - Estadio do Dragao, Porto, Portugal - April 17, 2019 Liverpool's Sadio Mane celebrates scoring their first goal with Virgil van Dijk Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers ANDREW BOYERS Action Images via Reuters Player ratings from Porto vs Liverpool Andrew Robertson 6 Liverpool's Scottish defender Andrew Robertson controls the ball during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg football match between FC Porto and Liverpool at the Dragao Stadium in Porto on April 17, 2019. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images PAUL ELLIS AFP/Getty Images Player ratings from Porto vs Liverpool Georginio Wijnaldum 7 Porto's Brazilian defender Felipe (L) vies with Liverpool's Dutch midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg football match between FC Porto and Liverpool at the Dragao stadium in Porto on April 17, 2019. (Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP)PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP/Getty Images PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA AFP/Getty Images Player ratings from Porto vs Liverpool Fabinho 7 Porto's Malian forward Moussa Marega (L) vies with Liverpool's Brazilian midfielder Fabinho during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg football match between FC Porto and Liverpool at the Dragao stadium in Porto on April 17, 2019. (Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP)PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP/Getty Images PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA AFP/Getty Images Player ratings from Porto vs Liverpool James Milner 6 epa07512782 FC Porto's Hector Herrera (L) in action against Liverpool's Georginio James Milner during their UEFA Champions League quarter final, second leg, soccer match between FC Porto and Liverpool FC at Dragao stadium in Porto, Portugal, 17 April 2019. EPA/JOSE COELHO JOSE COELHO EPA Player ratings from Porto vs Liverpool Mohamed Salah 8 PORTO, PORTUGAL - APRIL 17: Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final second leg match between Porto and Liverpool at Estadio do Dragao on April 17, 2019 in Porto, Portugal. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images) Matthias Hangst Getty Images Player ratings from Porto vs Liverpool Divock Origi 6 Soccer Football - Champions League Quarter Final Second Leg - FC Porto v Liverpool - Estadio do Dragao, Porto, Portugal - April 17, 2019 Liverpool's Divock Origi in action with FC Porto's Eder Militao REUTERS/Rafael Marchante RAFAEL MARCHANTE REUTERS Player ratings from Porto vs Liverpool Sadio Mane 7 Soccer Football - Champions League Quarter Final Second Leg - FC Porto v Liverpool - Estadio do Dragao, Porto, Portugal - April 17, 2019 Liverpool's Sadio Mane in action with FC Porto's Iker Casillas and Eder Militao Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers ANDREW BOYERS Action Images via Reuters

That, as Klopp would fairly argue, is itself something of a misplaced question. He and his team have of course been giving everything required when they’ve played in Europe, but there has been a crucial difference to the tone and feel of their Champions League matches.

The emphasis on – and pressure from – the title race has meant there was more psychological freedom to their European matches; that they were mere nights out rather than great big days.

That may now change, even subconsciously, due to the sudden threat of ending such a sensational season with nothing.

They may also feel some of the tension that Barcelona have in their European ties.

While the Catalans have already won the league, and will likely win the Spanish cup, it will feel like nothing if they again fail to win the Champions League. That is because everything about their season has been geared towards finally reclaiming Europe’s great prize.

Much of this is only deepened by the lilts and turns of their own long great histories, as well as their relationships with the major trophies. These are two clubs with more successful pasts – and psychological complexes – than the vast majority of Europe.

Only deepening this is that both are going for their sixth Champions League, having won their respective five in similar patterns.

Both had four wins in one great era where they represented the pinnacle of the game – Barca 2005-2015, Liverpool 1976-1984 – and then one victory that was unique, both for its timing and for its emotional impact.

Barca’s 1992 win was their first, after so many frustrations and painful failures.

Liverpool’s 2005 win was their first in 21 years, and their first elite trophy in 15 as the club were at that point striving and struggling for top-level relevance.

Tonight’s clash with Barcelona has taken on a new edge for Klopp and men following developments in the league (AFP/Getty)

It is now their struggles to win the league that has – all of a sudden – heightened the importance of this fixture for Klopp’s side.

It is meanwhile Barcelona’s unprecedented domination of their own league that has – over time – heightened the importance of the Champions League for them.

The Catalans see this as the trophy they should have dominated, only for Real Madrid to once more make it their own.

Liverpool see themselves as their country’s greatest club in the continent’s greatest competition, more so because they have been surpassed domestically.

The fixture itself feels fittingly well balanced from a football perspective. Liverpool might just about have the more balanced team, but Barcelona have the one player that can unbalance any match, the great anomaly: Leo Messi.

It is by now well known the Argentine is utterly determined to win the Champions League this season, and make up for what he feels is an underwhelming record.