There was another glorious night at Anfield in the champions league semi-final Tuesday night. Liverpool made one of the greatest comebacks in European history against the Spanish side, FC Barcelona. Liverpool started the second leg of the series down three goals to none. Going into Tuesday night, Liverpool had to score four without Barcelona scoring for any hope of winning the tie. And that’s what they did, finishing on aggregate, 4-3.
Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum and forward Divock Origi both scored two goals to help their team reach the Champions league final. Manager Jurgen Klopp and his Liverpool side played some of the most intense soccer they have played, scoring inside the first ten minutes, then two goals in the 55th minute and 57th minute. A quickly taken corner kick from fullback Trent Alexander-Arnold in the 78th minute brought Liverpool to the lead. Origi was on the ready and on the prowl for the winner.
“Unbelievable. I don’t think many people gave us a chance,” Jordan Henderson, Liverpool’s captain told ESPN. “Before the game we knew that it would be difficult but it was still possible, of course. It’s amazing. We knew that at Anfield we could do something special.”
For Barcelona, this result matches another blown lead like last year in the champions league, when they were up 4-1 against AS Roma, before Roma bringing it back and winning deep in stoppage time.
Liverpool’s offense was not the only story of the night, as the defense had to be just as solid as the front, trying to hold Lionel Messi from scoring. PFA player of the year, Virgil van Dijk and his center-half partner, Joel Matip had to shut down Barcelona’s dynamic offense. Liverpool’s goalkeeper, Alisson Becker also had an out of his shoes performance, with multiple saves and keeping Liverpool in the tie.
Klopp’s team, who made it to the champions league final last year, and lost to Cristiano Ronaldo’s Real Madrid side, will be looking to redeem themselves from last year. Liverpool will be playing fellow English side, Tottenham Hotspur on June 1st, in Madrid, Spain.
