Liverpool brilliantly turned the tables in a wild Champions League second leg semi final tie, with three goals in the space of 12 minutes after an incredible first period for Villarreal.
Jurgen Klopp’s side snatched away the Yellow Submarine’s dream of a first ever Champions League final appearance, as they showed a trademark ruthlessness after the restart.
Boulaye Dia’s first Champions League goal set the stage for Villarreal inside the first 90 seconds in Castellon, before French star Francis Coquelin showed fantastic desire to get on the end of a cross and head home a second goal just before the interval.
Boulaye Dia gets the opener! ⚽️
Villarreal have already halved their deficit in the third minute of the game! 😱
This tie IS NOT over! 👊#UCL pic.twitter.com/fKUIE4JZ7F
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 3, 2022
WOOOOOOOOW! 🤯
A great cross, a stunning leap, and a perfect header! 🎯
Francis Coquelin has drawn this tie level!#UCL pic.twitter.com/bmpwsptIAp
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 3, 2022
However, with a potentially embarrassing exit on the cards for the Premier League giants, Klopp’s visitors completely flipped the script in the second 45 minutes.
Brazilian star Fabinho got the ball rolling just after the hour mark, as he slid home Mo Salah’s through ball before substitute Luis Diaz headed home to level the game on the night.
Fabinho slams the ball home! 💥
Liverpool weren’t going to roll over that easily…
Gerónimo Rulli won’t want to see that one again! 😔 #UCL pic.twitter.com/vJvXvAYVCE
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 3, 2022
Liverpool’s quickfire response effectively ended any chance of Villarreal reaching the final in Paris, as Sadio Mane pounced on a mistake by Geronimo Rulli to clinch the win for Klopp before Etienne Capoue was dismissed late on for a frustrated second booking.
Mane passes the ball into an empty net after rounding Gerónimo Rulli! ⚽️
Liverpool have turned this around with such ease in the second half!
Three goals in the space of 12 minutes 🌪#UCL pic.twitter.com/XsohPejL2j
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 3, 2022
Images via Getty Images
