Anfield: Not many would have tipped Liverpool to stage one of the greatest comebacks in the history of the Champions League on Tuesday. Particularly when you’re up against Lionel Messi and Barcelona. Liverpool stormed to a 4-0 second leg victory against the Spanish champions that clinched a 4-3 aggregate success at a jubilant Anfield. Two goals apiece from Divock Origi and Georginio Wijnaldum made Liverpool only the third team in the history of the European Cup to overturn a three-goal deficit in the semi-finals.
It is the first time since 1986 – when Barcelona knocked out Gothenburg in the old European Cup – that a team have recovered a three-goal first-leg deficit to win a semi-final in this competition. Divock Origi started the unlikely revival, tapping home from close range after seven minutes, but it was only when substitute Georginio Wijnaldum scored twice in the space of 122 seconds after the break that the tie truly swung in Liverpool’s favour. Liverpool have managed famous European fightbacks before, notably when they won this competition for the fifth time in Istanbul in 2005, but this was arguably the greatest in their glittering history.
Having trailed 3-0 after last week’s first leg at the Camp Nou, Origi’s 79th-minute strike sent Jurgen Klopp’s men into the final in Madrid on June 1.”With any other team I wouldn’t think it was possible. They are really mentality giants,” said Klopp. “It is unbelievable the season we had, the games we had, the injuries we had now. “Going out there and putting in a performance like this on the pitch is unbelievable. I am really proud to be the manager of this team. “What they did tonight was really special. I will remember it forever.”
Key stats
1 This is the first time Origi has ever scored twice in a European fixture.
2 This is only the second time Wijnaldum has scored more than once in a European match – he got a hat-trick in PSV’s UEFA Europa League qualifier against Zeta in August 2012.
3 This is the third time Liverpool have reached successive European Cup finals (1977, 1978 and 1984, 1985).
3 This is the third time a team has won a European Cup semi-final after losing the first leg by three goals – after Panathinaikos (1971) and Barcelona themselves (1986).
6 This is only the sixth time Barcelona have conceded four goals in a UEFA competition game – the last time they did so, against Paris in the 2016/17 round of 16, they still won the tie on aggregate.
9 Liverpool have won nine of their 11 European Cup semi-finals – and nine of the last ten.
11 Liverpool have now won their last 11 two-legged European ties
Legends salute fightback
You know when you talk about the great nights, this is the best ever. It’s absolutely incredible. Before the game, we were talking about all the superlatives we can about Messi. We can run out of superlatives for Liverpool. It was deserved as well and that’s the best thing about it. I’m so proud and so delighted to be part of Liverpool. Everything about Liverpool tonight was brilliant.
— Robbie Fowler
It’s only football that can do this. What an incredible season we’ve had and it’s not over yet. This place has seen some of the most amazing nights, European nights, of football and it’s right up there with them. Possibly the best.
— Michael Owen
You cannot fail to have respect for this stadium when you come here. The emotions that this place evokes on nights like these, there hasn’t been a better night than this. What they’ve produced here is breathtaking and you can do nothing but respect the team, the management, and the way this club have conducted themselves, especially on a night like tonight.
— Rio Ferdinand
