Liverpool’s second-half resurgence saw them beat Villarreal 3-2 in their UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg and book their place in the final 5-2 on aggregate.
The Yellow Submarine faced a monumental task after losing the first leg 2-0, especially with Arnaut Danjuma missing, but it felt far more realistic after just three minutes.
Boulaye Dia scored Villarreal’s first after only three minutes, converting Etienne Capoue’s pass, before ex-Arsenal midfielder Francis Coquelin headed in a second from another Capoue cross as the Reds looked rattled.
Liverpool had to improve in the second half, and Luis Díaz was introduced at halftime as Liverpool tried to turn the tide.
Fabinho put them back in front on aggregate with a shot that went through the legs of Villarreal goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli in the 62nd minute.
Five minutes after Liverpool’s first of the night, Díaz marked his impressive substitute display by scoring a second, heading Alexander-Arnold’s cross past Rulli, who once again saw the ball go through his legs.
In a complete capitulation, Rulli had a rush of blood to the head as he sprinted out of his goal in an attempt to reach Keïta’s through ball, but was beaten to it by Sadio Mané, who kept his cool to slot home into the empty net.
On the night Villarreal lost their undefeated UCL record at home this season in addition to being knocked out.
Things got even worse in the 86th minute as Capoue received a second yellow for a late tackle on Curtis Jones.
Meanwhile, Liverpool kept their hopes of a quadruple intact, while they have still only lost once in 29 matches across all competitions.
The Reds have now qualified for their third Champions League final in five seasons. They will play either Manchester City or Real Madrid at the final in Stade de France, Paris on Saturday, 28 May.
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