Liverpool perform miraculous comeback to eliminate Barcelona

Liverpool made it to the Champions League final for the second year in a row after defeating Barcelona 4-0 in the second leg at Anfield. Divock Origi and Georginio Wijnaldum scored two goals a piece against a Barcelona side who were unable to take the chances they had in the first half. Not scoring an away goal proved to be their downfall on a historic night at Anfield and they once again were eliminated after squandering a three goal lead in the second leg just like at Roma. The fourth goal will also cause debate as the Barcelona defence were not ready for it.

Liverpool showed hunger from the first whistle in a frenetic start to the game. Mane went down the near side before he found Shaqiri and Alba had to clear from a corner in the first minute. Liverpool continued to press and Mane looked sharp down the near side and they took the lead within seven minutes. Matip sent a hopeful ball forward, Alba made a shocking error by heading the ball towards his own goal and it fell straight to Mane. He passed to Henderson and he saw his shot saved before Origi tapped home the rebound. 

The hosts continued to attack and then Barcelona, who were rattled, also countered. Mane went down wanting a penalty after nine minutes, but there was no foul and five minutes later, Barca had the first of four chances in the space of four minutes. Lovely play by Barcelona and Messi's strike was tipped over the bar by Alisson after being played in by Alba. Two minutes later, Busquets played a long ball for Alba, he then passed to Messi who was dispossessed by Matip as he about to shoot and then a double chance in the 18th minute after Alisson denied Coutinho and then forced a corner. 

Pique then had to head clear a Henderson goal after nice play by Robertson. Barca were clearly rattled by the first goal and they struggled to get into the game. They had chances as Liverpool exposed themselves at the back, but unlike the first leg, they were not clinical in front of goal. Suarez, who was booed by the home crowd, was frustrated with the referee on occasions as he felt opponents should have seen yellow for being fouled repeatedly. 

Liverpool continued to control the game and looked close to getting a second in the first half and Shaqiri tested Ter Stegen in the 37th minute. However, the final 5 minutes of the first half ended up being Barcelona's. Messi shot wide from 25 yards just before the start of the four additional minutes and then right on half-time, Alisson denied Jordi Alba after Lionel Messi played a great pass to Alba, but Alisson anticipated it and made a great save to deny Barcelona. 

What happened at half-time ended up being key in the game. Wijnaldum came on to replace Robertson and his intervention ended up being crucial in the second half. Before that, Ter Stegen had to deny Van Dijk from point blank range from a corner after the Dutchman shot with his foot. Suarez then went up the other end and almost scored. Messi played in Suarez and Alisson made yet another tremendous save to deny the Spanish side. 

In the 54th minute, Liverpool went 2-0 up. Shocking defence by Barcelona after Rakitic gave the ball away, Alexander-Arnold beat Alba before putting in a tremendous cross to Wijnaldum who hit it into the goal. Ter Stegen should maybe have done better in the Barca net, but Liverpool went one goal way from extra-time. They smelt blood and levelled the tie just two minutes later when Shaqiri's cross from the far side was headed into the goal by the super-sub Wijnaldum. Yet again, Barcelona's marking was non-existent against an opponent who never gave up. 

The game was all Liverpool and just like last season when they lost the second leg in Italy 3-0 to go out on away goals after a 4-1 win, they had lost their three goal lead in the second leg. And this was a Liverpool without Firmino and Salah. Ernesto Valverde must have been furious with his side. The game was now going to extra-time. 

Lionel Messi was denied by Alisson at the near post in the 68th minute, but the game looked to have calmed down. Both teams were waiting for the opportunity to find the net, but Klopp's side still looked stronger. Alexander-Arnold shot over in the 76th minute and then three minutes later, the decisive goal was scored. Alexander-Arnold won a corner off Roberto and while the defence were getting ready and kicking a ball off the field, a ballboy threw another ball on. Alexander-Arnold passed to Origi who scored while the away side and even the referee did not seem to be ready. 

Although the goal is perfectly legal, it raises the question  as to whether a goal like that should be allowed because the situation ended up being more favourable than a penalty, supposedly the harshest punishment in football. Unlike with a penalty which you cannot take when the goalkeeper is not ready, with a corner kick you can. Many referees would have called play back to "manage the game better", but Cuneyt Cakir, the Turkish referee, allowed it and Liverpool punished the away side who should have also been more alert. Fair or unfair? We will leave that to you the reader.

Rakitic came on late on, but it made no difference and Liverpool comfortably held out in the last ten minutes to give them a famous victory on a memorable night at Anfield. They undeservedly lost 3-0 in the first leg as they were not clinical in front of goal, but today they were superior to their opponents. Barca made schoolboys errors in the goals and were unable to convert their chances thanks to a great Alisson. Tottenham or Ajax await them in the final in Madrid on 1st June.