Liverpool reacted by throwing away their first-leg advantage to beat Villarreal 3-2, securing their spot in the Champions League final.
It’s the perfect 10 for Liverpool! Indeed, the Reds secure their 10th appearance in a European Cup/Champions League final.
Liverpool overcame a spirited Villarreal performance to book their spot in the Champions League final with a 3-2 away win, netting three second-half goals after seeing their first-leg lead wiped out in Spain.
Boulaye Dia handed Unai Emery’s men an early lead in front of a boisterous home crowd before Francis Coquelin stunned the below-par visitors by wiping out their aggregate lead on the stroke of half-time.
But Liverpool grew into the game after their dismal start, and after Geronimo Rulli failed to make a routine stop from Fabinho’s effort, half-time substitute Luis Diaz headed home to send Jurgen Klopp’s men to the final.
Second-half strikes from Fabinho, Luis Diaz and Sadio Mane send them to Paris, where they will play Manchester City or Real Madrid on May 28.
They will be hoping to lead to a magnificent seventh triumph in this competition while remaining on course to complete a remarkable quadruple.
What does it mean? Liverpool overcomes tough tests to keep the quadruple bid alive.
Liverpool’s dreadful first-half display saw their aggregate lead vanish.
And left their hopes of competing for an incredible quadruple in the balance.
Still, three goals in 12 minutes booked their spot in the final at the end of a remarkable contest.
Liverpool has now progressed to 10 European Cup/Champions League finals, becoming the fourth side to reach double figures for final appearances, after Real Madrid (16), Bayern Munich (11) and AC Milan (11).
Mane equals Lampard record
Mane netted his 15th goal in the Champions League knockout stages for Liverpool.
As a result, he equalled Frank Lampard’s record for the most such goals netted for an English club.
And will be desperate to edge ahead of the former Chelsea man when he features in the final.
Goal-hungry Reds sink Yellow Submarine.
Klopp’s Liverpool may have evolved from the swashbuckling, heavy-metal side that lost the Champions League final to Real Madrid.
Still, the Reds put on a clinical attacking display to blow the Yellow Submarine out of the water.
Liverpool has scored 139 goals in 57 games in all competitions this season, the highest tally in their history.
What’s next?
Klopp’s team will turn their attention to the Premier League title race when they host Tottenham on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Villarreal hosts Sevilla in LaLiga the following day.
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