Liverpool pull off possibly the greatest Champions League comeback off all time after coming back from a 3-0 first leg defeat to beat Barcelona!
Before last nights game, no one gave Liverpool a chance. They played well at the Nou Camp and still came away with a 3-0 defeat. They had big chances in that game that they missed and it felt as if they would come back to haunt them. Mo Salah and Roberton Firmino were both out of the game due to injury. The odds were stacked against them.
Going into the game Liverpool for 10/1 to qualify. No team had turned around a 3-0 first-leg deficit in a Champions League semi since 1986. Barcelona felt as if they were already in the final, they just had to see out the 90 minutes.
The game
Anfield was rocking and Liverpool came out flying. With Firmino and Salah missing you felt the intensity would be lacking a bit but Shaqiri and Origi stood up to the challenge. On the sixth minute, Mane latched onto a poor header from Alba and played in Henderson. He managed to get one on one in the box but Ter Stegen saved the shot. The rebound though fell to Origi who tapped the ball into the empty net and Liverpool were away.
Barcelona though grew into the game and started creating their own chances. Messi had one tipped over by Alisson that was a great save. Coutinho then called the keeper into action, Alisson diving down to his left and pushing the ball away. The game was very end to end and both teams created good chances. On the stroke of half time, Alba had a chance to make up for his mistake. He was through on goal but couldn’t get a good enough shot away. The whistle went and Liverpool went it 1-0 up.
Liverpool came out second half and whatever Klopp said to them had worked. Van Dijk nearly doubled their lead after flicking on a corner that required a good save from Ter Stegen. Wijnaldum was on for Liverpool now after Suarez had injured Robertson, oh how he would go on to regret that…
A ball in from the right found Wijnaldum running into the box who smashed it down the middle and past Ter Stegen. Liverpool now only need only more to be level. 120 seconds later and this one more came. A ball in from Shaqiri found Wijnaldum who somehow managed to win the header and put it into the top corner. Liverpool had 35 minutes to get another goal.
Barcelona had chances after this through Suarez and Messi, but unlike both of them, they didn’t manage to convert them. Barcelona looked like they didn’t know what to do.
Liverpool kept pushing and won a corner. Barca were setting up when Alexander-Arnold and Origi took a brilliant corner. The full-back smashed the ball into him and Origi finished it brilliantly whilst Barca were still setting up. Liverpool were now 4-3 and Anfield erupted. Barca looked stunned. This was never on the cards.
Liverpool held on for the remainder of the game and had somehow managed to reach the Champions League final for the second year in a row.
Champions League odds
Liverpool are now the favourites for the Champions Leauge. Spurs face Ajax away tonight and are 1-0 down after the first leg. Its going to take a big performance from the English side who are missing Harry Kane.
Liverpool are 4/9 to win their sixth Champions League on Bet365. Ajax are 3/1 and Spurs are 8/1.