Istanbul will always be the benchmark when it comes to Liverpool comebacks in Europe but the 4-0 dismantling of Barcelona at Anfield will run it close as Jurgen Klopp's side reached successive Champions League finals.
After the LaLiga champions won 3-0 at Camp Nou, and with Mo Salah and Roberto Firmino absent, few gave them hope of coming completing the comeback.
The Reds put on a show to create another memorable European result at Anfield. Two goals apiece from Divock Origi and game-changing half-time substitute Georginio Wijnaldum saw them progress 4-3 on aggregate.
In a truly remarkable - and intense - game not only did Liverpool erase that disadvantage inside 56 minutes, they went on to score a winner and, remarkably, kept Lionel Messi quiet as the visitors failed to grab a vital away goal.
For only the fourth time in the competition's history a team was eliminated from a knockout tie having won the first leg by three or more goals, the last occasion being Barca against Roma in last season's quarter-final.
Origi's timing in scoring his first Champions League goals was impeccable, as was Wijnaldum's introduction for injured defender Andy Robertson.
GOAL VIDEOS
Opta facts
- Liverpool have reached their ninth European Cup/Champions League final – only Real Madrid (16), Milan (11) and Bayern Munich (10) have reached more.
- Liverpool are the first English side to reach back-to-back Champions League finals since Manchester United (2008 and 2009).
- This was just the fourth time a team has overturned a 3+ goal deficit from the first leg of a Champions League knockout tie to progress. Barcelona were also on the receiving end the last time (last season vs Roma).
- Barcelona have now been eliminated from three of their last four Champions League semi-final ties.
- Barcelona suffered their heaviest ever defeat against an English side in all European competitions.
- Full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold has provided 14 assists in all competitions this season, more than any other Liverpool player.
- Divock Origi scored his first Champions League goals, and in doing so became the 50th different player to score in the competition for Liverpool (excluding own goals).
- There were 122 seconds between Georginio Wijnaldum’s two Liverpool goals, his first brace in all competitions for Liverpool.
- Georginio Wijnaldum is the first Liverpool player to score twice from the bench in a Champions League game since Ryan Babel vs Besiktas in 2007. He’s also the first sub to score twice in a single game against Barcelona in the competition.
- Lionel Messi either attempted (5) or created (3) all eight of Barcelona’s shots against Liverpool in this match.
