Liverpool's Champions League visit to Barcelona is the perfect chance to prove Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho wrong, says Jamie Carragher.
The South American attackers lit up Anfield during their respective periods on Merseyside with Suarez netting 82 goals in 133 games before leaving for Barca in 2014 for around £75million.
Suarez departed the club with some championing his case as the most purely gifted footballer in the club's history, while Coutinho exited in a deal worth £142million in January 2018.
The attacking midfielder scored 54 times in his 201 games for the Reds and left as the most profitable departure in Anfield history when he joined Barca 15 months ago.
Carragher played with both players during his 737-game career at Anfield and while he understands their respective decisions to move, he believes Wednesday night's Champions League semi-final is the ideal time to show them what they are missing.
The former Liverpool centre-back also disagreed with Jurgen Klopp's assertion earlier this season when he branded the Barcelona stars "legends" at the club.
He told The Telegraph : "They will not get an especially hostile reception [at Anfield] but Klopp made a rare error when he stated they are two ‘Anfield legends ’. They are not.
"Liverpool have too many players with titles and European Cup medals in their legends suite to allow entry for those who did not replicate those achievements.
"That equally applies to the current side, players needing a big prize to cement their legendary status.
"The value of the contribution of Suarez and Coutinho while on Merseyside is not in doubt. Where they stand in Liverpool history is because they left without dedicating their peak years to the trophy pursuit.
"They came close, of course. Had Suarez inspired the club to the title in 2014 he could have been alongside Kenny Dalglish and Steven Gerrard as the greatest of all Liverpool players.
"He did not think Liverpool would ever get back to Barcelona’s level, which was fair enough at the time. His medal haul in Spain, including the Champions League in his first season, means he has nothing to regret, even if he sees a different club to one he left behind.
"Coutinho could see how the team was evolving and still decided to go. It worked to Liverpool’s advantage given how smartly they reinvested money on Virgil van Dijk and Alisson.
"Suarez and Coutinho left because they were certain they were joining a bigger and better club more likely to win the Champions League.
"There can be no greater motivation, and no better time, for Liverpool to prove that is no longer the case."
