This was one of the great European nights at Anfield even before Liverpool produced a comeback to match anything in their illustrious history.
Jürgen Klopp always suspected Borussia Dortmund could play better than their nervy performance in last week’s 1-1 draw suggested, though the Liverpool manager could hardly have expected to have his worst fears confirmed quite so quickly. If the first leg was an emotional reunion, the second looked like business being clinically conducted once the visitors took an early and what looked like a commanding lead. Anfield only found its voice once Divock Origi had given Liverpool a glimmer of hope at the start of the second half, before that the home crowd had appeared as taken aback as Klopp and his players by the Germans’ brutal efficiency in seizing control of the tie.
Liverpool did remarkably well to make a game of it after going 2-0 then 3-1 down on the night. Right until stoppage time it appeared away goals would take the Germans through and Dortmund deserved enormous credit for scoring three of them, though Liverpool’s sheer persistence wore them down in the end and Dejan Lovren’s winning goal in particular was scored against a tired, ragged defence. It was a stupendous game of football, though, and no wonder Klopp is revered by both sides if this is the sort of passion he can inspire.
Regardless of the result, this match marked some sort of modern landmark in terrace culture. Normally considered the height of naffness, the half-and-half scarves hawked by vendors outside the ground were being sold faster than their pavement entrepreneurs could replace them, not least to those disembarking from the dozen or more coaches with German number plates parked in a row on Arkles Lane.
In the last round, one almost felt sorry for anyone trying to sell a half Liverpool-half Manchester United number. Even though some were available quite understandably the take-up seemed to be somewhere between sluggish and non-existent. Combining Klopp’s two clubs proved popular with both sets of supporters, who already feel they have much in common. “Two amazing groups, both clubs’ supporters have the same passion and warmth,” the Liverpool manager said. That feeling was only reinforced when the entire stadium joined in You’ll Never Walk Alone – the German club also use it as an anthem – and the Dortmund fans also came equipped with a tribute of their own to mark the anniversary of the Hillsborough tragedy. A minute’s silence before kick-off was observed at both ends of the ground, all the more remarkable when just minutes earlier Anfield had been rocking with noise.
The only slight problem for Klopp was that in the midst of this most impressive of love-ins there was a football match to be won. The German went with Origi, scorer of Liverpool’s goal in the first leg, and left Daniel Sturridge on the bench. He did not expect the England player to be thrilled with his decision – “I never want players who are happy not to be playing, this is absolutely not allowed” – but with three goals in his past two appearances Origi had certainly made a case for his inclusion.
Liverpool began attacking at such a pace they seemed to forget their opponents also have a reputation for quick counters after winning back possession, and almost unbelievably two perfect demonstrations of the art put Dortmund two goals up inside 10 minutes. Over-eagerness on the part of Philippe Coutinho and Alberto Moreno saw them lose the ball high up the field on the left on their first real foray forward, and from that unpromising position Dortmund advanced all the way downfield to take an early lead through Henrikh Mkhitaryan. What was most impressive, apart from the swiftness and directness of the counter, was that Dortmund practically had players queuing up in Simon Mignolet’s penalty area to stick the ball in the net. The goalkeeper had already kept out one effort when Mkhitaryan followed up from close range.
Something else that Klopp probably instilled into his former charges is to recognise when an opponent is vulnerable and keep applying the pressure, and before Liverpool had properly sorted themselves out Dortmund had struck again courtesy of an inspired Marco Reus pass and a firm finish by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after Roberto Firmino had lost possession. Anfield was shocked.
If this is the standard Klopp is trying to get his new team to reach there was clearly still a way to go. Not that Dortmund were perfect, they gave the ball away themselves on a few occasions and took a few unnecessary risks in passing the ball around in defence, though Liverpool had started the game slight favourites on account of their away goal a week ago, an advantage that was not only wiped out in the opening minutes but transformed into a three-goal mountain to climb.
Liverpool attempted to gain a foothold but though Moreno, Origi and Coutinho had chances in the first half their efforts looked earthbound next to the silky patterns the yellow shirts were spinning. When Lukasz Piszczek danced his way along the right-hand byline and sent in a low cross that Aubameyang just failed to reach at the far post, Lovren was so startled by the speed of movement he put the ball out for a corner just to be on the safe side. Another majestic pass from Reus would surely have supplied a second goal for Aubameyang just past the half-hour mark but for the striker slipping in the act of shooting. Shinji Kagawa brought a save from Mignolet on the stroke of the interval then almost set up a chance for the ever-alert Reus.
Thomas Tuchel had promised his side would attack and score goals, and Dortmund were as good as their manager’s word. Even after Origi had pulled one back Dortmund responded when Reus scored the goal his performance deserved. Perhaps the highest compliment the visitors could be paid was that they resembled the side Klopp took to two successive Bundesliga titles. In that sense the Liverpool manager could hardly lose in this encounter, he could take credit for either side winning. If Dortmund are the best team in the competition, as Klopp had claimed, Liverpool saw them at their best then came back with an answer.
