v Liverpool survived a scare against Villarreal to move into the Champions League final – and keep their hopes of winning an unprecedented quadruple alive. The Reds had comfortably won 2-0 in the first leg but that advantage was wiped out after only 41 minutes at a noisy and passionate El Madrigal as the Spanish side pushed for a huge upset. Boulaye Dia scored Villarreal’s first after only three minutes, converting Etienne Capoue’s pass, before ex-Arsenal midfielder Francis Coquelin headed in a second from another Capoue cross as the Reds looked rattled. Liverpool had to improve in the second half and Fabinho put them back in front on aggregate with a shot that went through the legs of Villarreal goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli in the 62nd minute. Luis Diaz, whose introduction at half time changed the game after he replaced Diogo Jota, restored Liverpool’s two-goal aggregate advantage with a header at the back post. Sadio Mane secured Liverpool’s place in their third Champions League final in five seasons with a third goal after taking the ball around Rulli. Villarreal ended the game with 10 men with Capoue sent off late on for two bookable offences. The Reds will play either Manchester City or Real Madrid at the Stade de France in Paris on Saturday, 28 May. No English side has ever won the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup all in the same season, with Liverpool aiming to create history. Liverpool suffer, but get the job done Villarreal’s performance in their 2-0 loss at Anfield led one English radio pundit to call the Spanish side a “disgrace” and “pathetic”, despite an incredible run that had seen them eliminate former winners Juventus and Bayern Munich in the previous two rounds. However, Reds boss Jurgen Klopp knew the tie was not over and warned his side they “would have to be prepared to suffer” in the second leg. And suffer they did in arguably Liverpool’s worst half of football this season, with passes misplaced, errors made and the side looking uncharacteristically vulnerable. They made the worst possible start, conceding after only three minutes. Pervis Estupinan, who scored an own goal at Anfield, provided a cross which was pulled back by Capoue and Dia, inside the six-yard box, reacted quickest to convert from close range. Dani Parejo shot just wide and Gerard Moreno had an effort blocked before Villarreal, seventh in La Liga and managed by ex-Arsenal boss Unai Emery, made it 2-2 on aggregate thanks to Coquelin’s fine header. Liverpool had to improve in the second half, and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s shot hit the crossbar after taking a huge deflection off Coquelin. But the breakthrough came with Fabinho’s strike and that led to a capitulation from Villarreal, who conceded three times in a 12-minute spell. Diaz headed in Alexander-Arnold’s cross to give the visitors some breathing space before a rash decision from Rulli saw him sprint off the line with Mane getting there first and finishing into an unguarded goal. This is the 10th time Liverpool have reached the final of the European Cup or Champions League as they aim to become European champions for a seventh time after successes in 1977, 1978, 1981, 1984, 2005 and 2019. Liverpool keep quadruple hopes alive Liverpool’s progress keeps them on course to become the first English side to complete the quadruple. They already have the Carabao Cup in the trophy cabinet after beating Chelsea on penalties in February and Thomas Tuchel’s side are again the opposition at Wembley for the FA Cup final on 14 May. This victory means Liverpool have become the first English club to reach the final of the European Cup/Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup in the same season. Liverpool are also only one point behind Manchester City in the Premier League title race and could meet in the Champions League final later this month. Pep Guardiola’s side hold the advantage in the second semi-final after an incredible first leg at Etihad Stadium saw them beat Real 4-3 in one of the best games in the tournament’s history. The second leg takes place at Real’s Santiago Bernabeu stadium on Wednesday and if the Spanish champions, managed by ex-Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti, can turn the one-goal deficit around it would set up a repeat of the 2018 final. Real won 3-1 on that occasion as Gareth Bale scored twice, including an incredible overhead kick, but the game will largely be remembered for two goalkeeping errors from Liverpool’s Loris Karius. Source: BBC
CL: Liverpool into semi-finals after Benfica thriller
Liverpool remain in the hunt for a historic quadruple after a thrilling draw with Benfica secured a Champions League semi-final against Villarreal. Having established a 3-1 lead in Lisbon, Liverpool extended their advantage with Ibrahima Konate’s powerful 21st-minute header from a Kostas Tsimikas corner. Benfica equalised through Goncalo Ramos’ excellent turn and finish, before Roberto Firmino’s two second-half goals – a tap-in followed by a volley – in front of the Kop looked to have put the Reds in control. But after Roman Yaremchuk broke through to beat Alisson and make it 3-2 on the night, Darwin Nunez scored a late equaliser. Nunez was then denied by Alisson as Benfica finished strongly but Liverpool held out to advance 6-4 on aggregate. They now host Villarreal – the club they beat in the semi-finals of the Europa League in 2016 – on 27 April before travelling to Spain for the second leg on 4 May. Villarreal secured their last-four spot by overcoming Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals. Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said: “I’m really happy because being in a semi-final is so special. “We expect a couple of really difficult games. It will be a tough cookie but we are a tough cookie, so who cares? “Villarreal deserved to get through. I know Bayern Munich don’t want to hear that.” The semi-final brings Liverpool face-to-face with Villarreal boss Unai Emery, who has won the Europa League four times. Three of those triumphs came at Sevilla, including victory over Klopp’s Liverpool in the 2016 final, and the other with his current club. Klopp added: “The manager is the king of the cup competitions, so they are experienced and a team full of desire and well organised with top-class players.” Reds still in quadruple hunt The games are coming thick and fast for Liverpool at the business end of the campaign, with a huge FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City up next on Saturday – the second meeting between the Premier League’s top two in a week. They head for Wembley knowing they are one round away from a third Champions League final in five seasons under Klopp. The Liverpool boss made seven changes to the side that started the first leg in Portugal last week, with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane among those on the bench. There was a return for James Milner who, at the age of 36, became the oldest Englishman to start a Champions League match since 37-year-old David Beckham did so for Paris St-Germain in 2012-13. The Reds were made to work hard for their place in the semi-finals as Benfica came out fighting but the damage was done in the first leg. “I made seven changes and that makes life not easy for the players,” added Klopp. “We lost concentration when we were 3-1 up and it looked like we were through. “It was not exactly what we wanted but it is absolutely not important. “If we played the best game of the season tonight, it wouldn’t have made it more likely to get to the final. We are through and that’s all that matters and I’m really happy.” After Saturday, Liverpool – who trail leaders Manchester City by a single point – have a chance to return to the top of the Premier League, for 24 hours at least, when they host Manchester United in the Premier League the following Tuesday. It will require a monumental effort for Liverpool, who won the Carabao Cup in February, to finish the season with four trophies and they will certainly have to defend better than they did in this game. But with just a few weeks of the season left, they remain in the hunt for what would be an incredible feat. Source: BBC