Liverpool beat Villarreal to reach UCL final

Liverpool rallied with three second-half goals to advance to the Champions League final for the third time in five years, beating Villarreal 3-2 on Tuesday.

The victory took the tie to 5-2 on aggregate after Liverpool had secured a 2-0 win at Anfield last Wednesday.

The six-time European champions saw their first-leg advantage wiped out in the first half as Boulaye Dia’s third-minute opener was added to by Francis Coquelin, who outjumped Trent Alexander-Arnold to float a header into the top corner.

But Fabinho restored Liverpool’s advantage in the tie when his near-post shot flashed through Geronimo Rulli.

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It turned the tide as the inspired substitute Luis Diaz restored the visitors’ two-goal cushion from Alexander-Arnold’s cross in the 67th minute.

It was a very dominant second-half display from Jurgen Klopp’s side, who capitalised on further dubious goalkeeping, as Sadio Mane nipped in front of the roaming Rulli, rode the challenge of Juan Foyth to stroke into an unguarded net.

There was still time for Etienne Capoue to be sent off in the final five minutes following a second bookable offence on Curtis Jones as Liverpool march onto the Paris showpiece in 25 days’ time, where history might await.

The Star