Skip to content

Liverpool reach Champions League final after miraculous comeback vs. Barcelona

PAUL ELLIS / AFP / Getty

Liverpool did the unthinkable Tuesday, scoring four unanswered goals against Barcelona at a raucous Anfield to overturn a 3-0 deficit and reach a second consecutive Champions League final.

Divock Origi and super sub Georginio Wijnaldum each scored twice in the semifinal second leg to erase the damage from last week's loss at Camp Nou and achieve history.

Few gave Liverpool a chance without the injured Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah, who missed the match with a concussion. But the 90 minutes that ensued were the stuff of legend.

Origi, who had only made five previous starts this season, initiated the comeback with a tap-in in the seventh minute. Energized by a crowd of 55,212, Liverpool continued to throttle Barcelona in the opening stages. Their belief was growing.

Barcelona eventually steadied themselves and had chances to score an away goal that would've proved fatal. Alisson produced several key saves just to keep the hosts in the hunt for an improbable result.

As if the task at hand wasn't difficult enough, an injury to enterprising left-back Andy Robertson forced Klopp to improvise yet again.

It would prove to be a blessing.

Wijnaldum relieved Robertson at the beginning of the second half and proceeded to score twice in two minutes. The lively Dutchman drove a hard shot through Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, who'd been infallible in the first leg, in the 54th minute and then headed home Xherdan Shaqiri's cross in the 56th.

Suddenly struck by the prospect of an incredible comeback, Liverpool slowed down and played more cautiously. The pressing that defined the opening half began to dissipate, but the final blow would come anyway.

As he prepared to take a corner kick, Trent Alexander-Arnold spotted Barcelona's defenders loitering in the area and played a quick ball to Origi, who converted from close range to put Liverpool ahead 4-3 on aggregate.

Barcelona had no reply. For the second time in two seasons, the Blaugrana were eliminated after wasting a three-goal advantage.

Liverpool celebrated the victory the only way they know how: standing side by side to sing a rousing rendition of "You'll Never Walk Alone" in front of the Kop.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox