Villarreal 2-3 Liverpool (2-5 total): Jurgen Klopp’s army advances to the Champions League final

Liverpool have survived the fear of Villarreal to progress to the Champions League final – and have kept their hopes up in an unprecedented quarter-final.

Boulaye Dia scored Villarreal’s first in just three minutes, converting Etienne Capoue’s cross, before former Arsenal midfielder Francis Coquelin headed in a second from another Capoue cross as the Red Devils looked confused .

Liverpool had to improve in the second half and Fabinho put them ahead with a shot that went past Villarreal goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli in the 62nd minute.

Luis Diaz, who was introduced at half-time, changed the game after he came on for Diogo Jota, restoring Liverpool’s two-goal lead with a header behind the post.

Sadio Mane secured Liverpool’s spot in their third Champions League final in five seasons with a third goal after dribbling around Rulli. Villarreal ended the game with 10 men and Capoue was sent off late for two premeditated offenses.

The Red Devils will meet either Manchester City or Real Madrid at the Stade de France in Paris on Saturday, May 28.

No English team has ever won the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup in the same season, with the aim of making Liverpool history.

Liverpool suffer, but get the job done

Villarreal’s performance in the 0-2 loss at Anfield prompted an English radio pundit to call the Spanish side “disgrace” and “pathetic”, despite an incredible streak of games witnessed. they eliminated the former champions Juventus and Bayern Munich in the previous two rounds.

However, Reds manager Jurgen Klopp knows the game is not over and warned his side that they “will have to be prepared to suffer” in the return leg.

And the suffering they did in arguably Liverpool’s worst half of the season this season, with misplaced passes, fouls and the side looking unusually vulnerable.

They started as badly as they could, conceding a goal after just three minutes.

Pervis Estupinan, who had his own goal at Anfield, hit a cross that was pulled back by Capoue and Dia, within six yards, reacted the fastest to convert from close range.

Dani Parejo shot from long range and Gerard Moreno had a saved effort against Villarreal, seventh in La Liga and managed by ex-Arsenal boss Unai Emery, making it 2-2 on a strike. Coquelin’s beautiful head.

Liverpool had to improve in the second half, and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s shot hit the crossbar after parrying Coquelin’s shot.

But the breakthrough came with Fabinho’s strike and that led to the surrender of Villarreal, who had conceded three times in 12 minutes. Diaz headed in Alexander-Arnold’s cross to give the visitors some breathing room before a hasty decision from Rulli sent him off the line and Mane got there first and shot into goal unmarked. guard.

This is Liverpool’s 10th time reaching the Champions League or Champions League final as they aim to become European champions for the seventh time following successes in 1977, 1978, 1981, 1984, 2005 and 2019.

Liverpool live up to fourfold hope

Liverpool’s progress helped them go on to become the first English team to complete the double.

They had the Carabao Cup in their trophy cabinet after beating Chelsea on penalties in February and Thomas Tuchel’s side once again became rivals at Wembley in the FA Cup final on May 14.

Liverpool are one point behind Manchester City in the race to the Premier League title and could meet in the Champions League final later this month.

Pep Guardiola’s men held the upper hand in the second semi-final after an unbelievable first leg at the Etihad Stadium that saw them beat Real 4-3 in one of the best matches in tournament history.

The second leg takes place at Real’s Santiago Bernabeu stadium on Wednesday and if the Spanish champions, managed by ex-Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti, can turn around a 1-goal deficit that would set it up. 2018 finals again.

Real won 3-1 in that match as Gareth Bale scored twice, including an incredible overhead kick, but the match will largely be remembered for two goalkeeping errors by Liverpool’s Loris Karius. .