Liverpool 4-0 (4-3 on agg.) Barcelona
Liverpool pulled off one of the most incredible Champions League comebacks of all-time tonight, overturning a three-goal deficit to stun Barcelona and make it to the Madrid final.
Reds boss Jurgen Klopp said his side would suffer in the Camp Nou in the run-up to the first leg, and how right he was. But all that was forgotten tonight as the valiant Reds put Lionel Messi and co. to the sword, and all the suffering was felt by the Catalans!
Divock Origi and Georginio Wijnaldum both bagged a brace in another Anfield night that will go down in folklore.
Highlights of the game
The Reds came into the match on the back of a dramatic late win at Newcastle at the weekend thanks to an 86th-minute goal from Origi, and I bet he couldn’t believe his luck when he fired this tie into life on just eight minutes.
Jordi Alba, for reasons best known to him, headed the ball into the path of Sadio Mane, who then released Jordan Henderson to shoot. Marc-Andre ter Stegen made the save, but Origi was on the spot to turn the ball into the empty net.
Anfield erupted in the belief this could be another one of those famous Champions League nights, but they had a warning from Lionel Messi. The Argentine released a wicked shot which Alisson did well to tip over the bar.
Liverpool midfielder Fabinho picked up a yellow card for a foul on Luis Suarez, and that made his job of keeping Messi quiet more difficult. And moments later, Messi fed Philippe Coutinho, who brought out another good save from Alisson.
As the first half came to a close, the crowd roared its approval with the comeback dream still on.
After receiving a kick from Suarez, Andy Robertson didn’t make it out for the second half, and so James Milner moved back to left back with Georginio Wijnaldum slotting into midfield.
Both keepers were called into action early in the second period. ter Stegen made a smart reaction save from Virgil Van Dijk’s first-time flick, and then Alisson did well to keep out a low effort from Suarez.
And then the roof came off the stadium as Liverpool struck twice in two minutes to level the scores with over half an hour remaining.
It was the substitute Wijnaldum scoring both. His first was a sharp finish from a Trent Alexander-Arnold cross. And then two minutes later, as another cross flew into the Barca box, the Dutchman rose highest to plant his header beyond ter Stegen to make it 3-3. Remarkable!
But Barca knew one goal would leave Liverpool needing two. Messi burst through to force Alisson into another good save. Van Dijk then cleared when Suarez looked ready to poke home an Alba cross. And then…
It happened!
Alexander-Arnold saw Origi in space and whipped the ball in for the striker to finish beautifully, sparking pandemonium in the stadium. Barca were asleep and paid the price.
There was one more crowd eruption to come when the ref blew for full time to draw a close to this simply unbelievable game.
Key statistics
Liverpool needed a miracle tonight at Anfield with the pre-match Liverpool vs Barcelona betting odds suggesting the hosts would do well to pull even one goal back. But it took less than ten minutes for Origi to ignite the tie with a goal that made him Liverpool’s 50th Champions League scorer.
Georginio Wijnaldum’s double strike made him the first-ever substitute to score twice against Barcelona in the competition.
What’s next?
Well, the high drama just keeps on coming folks, when the Premier League comes to a thrilling climax next Sunday. It’s been an epic battle between two sides which have traded blow for blow and shown just how far ahead of the chasing pack they actually are.
Manchester City are the overwhelming favourite, just needing a win at Brighton to retain the title. But Jurgen Klopp’s aim was always to remain in the hunt until the very last day when he knows that anything can happen. On paper, the Reds have the tougher assignment when Wolves visit Anfield.
With La Liga already won, Barcelona hosts fourth-placed Getafe at the Camp Nou on Sunday. Jose Borderlas’ Madrid minnows have had a sensational season and have a great chance of winning a Champions League place. And I’m not sure how Ernesto Valverde will lift his players for that game.
But next up for SBOBET Champions League fans is the other semi-final tomorrow night when Ajax start with a one-goal advantage against Spurs.
The young Dutch side has taken the competition by storm, registering the most spectacular Champions League 2019 results by putting out Juventus and Real Madrid en route to the last four.
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