Liverpool produced one of the greatest European comebacks of all time, overturning a 3-0 first-leg deficit to topple Barcelona and reach a second successive Champions League final on a magical European night at Anfield.
Two goals apiece from Divock Origi and half-time substitute Georginio Wijnaldum saw a Liverpool side written off without two of their best players - Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino - thump the Spanish champions 4-0, in feat that must surely rival even the turnaround in Istanbul as one of the finest in the club’s history.
With Firmino and Salah out injured, Jurgen Klopp gave starts to Origi and Xherdan Shaqiri in attack, while Virgil Van Dijk was fit despite a late injury scare on Monday.
Having rested his entire first XI for the 2-0 defeat to Celta Vigo at the weekend, Ernesto Valverde returned to same line-up that had started at Camp Nou a week ago, meaning both Philippe Coutinho and Luis Suarez featured on their old stomping ground.
In the days since that duo departed, Liverpool’s fab three of Firmino, Salah and Sadio Mane have become Anfield’s attacking heroes. But as it was at Newcastle on Friday night, it was unlikely hero Origi who gave Reds fans reason to celebrate when he opened the scoring inside 10 minutes.
Jordi Alba was at fault, nodding a wayward Joel Matip pass straight to Mane, and he fed Jordan Henderson, who weaved between two challenges before forcing Marc-Andre Ter Stegen into a low parry that left Origi with a tap-in.
The Belgian might have had another opening moments later had he not hesitated in chasing down an underhit back pass from Sergio Busquets, before Mane had a penalty appeal waved away.
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Line-ups
Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, van Dijk, Robertson, Henderson, Fabinho, Milner, Shaqiri, Mane, Origi
Subs: Mignolet, Wijnaldum, Lovren, Gomez, Sturridge, Brewster, Woodburn
Barcelona XI: ter Stegen, Sergi Roberto, Pique, Lenglet, Jordi Alba, Vidal, Sergio Busquets, Rakitic, Messi, Suarez, Coutinho
Subs: Cillessen, Nelson Semedo, Arthur, Malcom, Umtiti, Vermaelen, Alena
Referee: Cuneyt Cakir
