Villarreal vs Liverpool LIVE: Champions League result and final score after Luis Diaz turns semi-final around
Villarreal 2-3 Liverpool (Liverpool win 5-2 on aggregate): Follow for live reaction from a thrilling night in the Champions League as the Reds progressed to the final
Follow live reaction as Liverpool progressed to the Champions League final after seeing off a thrilling comeback from Villarreal thanks to second-half goals from Fabinho, Luis Diaz and Sadio Mane.
The noise in El Madrigal before kick-off ensured it would be an intimidating atmosphere for Liverpool, who led 2-0 after last week’s first leg at Anfield, and an early goal from Boulaye Dia inside three minutes gave Villarreal a perfect start.
Liverpool were sloppy in what was their poorest first half of the season and when Francis Coquelin’s header levelled the tie shortly before the break it was no less than Villarreal deserved.
But it was all change after half-time, with Diaz making an impact from the bench. Fabinho fired between goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli’s legs to put the Reds ahead once again, before Diaz scored a header from close range to restore Liverpool’s two-goal lead.
Mane confirmed the win as he went round the goalkeeper to score Liverpool’s third goal in 12 minutes, which keeps Jurgen Klopp’s hopes of an unprecedented quadruple alive.
Liverpool will play either Manchester City or Real Madrid in the Paris final on May 28. Relive the action from a dramatic Champions League semi-final below.
Full-time: Villarreal 2 - 3 Liverpool (2-5 agg)
90+2 mins: It was a remarkable comeback from Liverpool in the second half and goals from Fabinho, Luis Diaz and Sadio Mane sends them into the Champions League final!
The quadruple dream goes on.
Villarreal 2 - 3 Liverpool (2-5 agg)
90 mins: Chance! Liverpool break on the counter with a four-on-two advantage. Sadio Mane carries the ball to the edge of the box and slides it over to Mo Salah. He cuts inside and pokes his effort wide of the far post!
Two minutes to play.
Red card! Capoue is sent off!
Villarreal 2 - 3 Liverpool (2-5 agg)
86 mins: Etienne Capoue picks up his second yellow card for a clumsy tackle on Curtis Jones who is just too quick for him. The referee pulls out the red and Villarreal’s night has fallen completely apart.
Villarreal 2 - 3 Liverpool (2-5 agg)
83 mins: James Milner is the final sub for Liverpool. He comes on to replace Fabinho whose goal changed the tide in this game. Sadio Mane gets cleaned out by Pau Torres who goes in the book.
Villarreal 2 - 3 Liverpool (2-5 agg)
80 mins: Save! Villarreal flounder at the back as Mo Salah takes the ball away from the goalkeeper. He knocks it over to Jordan Henderson who squares it across to Curtis Jones. Jones shoots with his first touch of the game but Rulli leaps over to his right and keeps it out!
Villarreal 2 - 3 Liverpool (2-5 agg)
77 mins: Jurgen Klopp now has the opportunity to rest a few players. He takes off Naby Keita, Andy Robertson and Thiago Alcantara replacing them with Jordan Henderson, Kostas Tsimikas and Curtis Jones.
GOAL! Villarreal 2 - 3 Liverpool (2-5 agg) - Mane, 74’ ⚽️
74 mins: That must have been one hell of a half-time team talk from Jurgen Klopp! There’s a scramble for the ball just inside Liverpool’s half and it bounces loose to Naby Keita. He boots it up the pitch towards Sadio Mane. Geronimo Rulli comes flying out of his area but Mane beats him to the ball. He taps it around the goalkeeper, shifts away from a back-tracking Dani Parejo and calmly slots the ball into the open net!
Villarreal 2 - 2 Liverpool (2-4 agg)
70 mins: Villarreal look tired now. They threw everything they had at Liverpool in the first half and it almost paid off.
Unai Emery makes a couple of changes. Gerard Moreno is off with Samuel Chukwueze replacing him. Alfonso Pedraza is also on, with Francis Coquelin the other man hooked.
GOAL! Villarreal 2 - 2 Liverpool (2-4 agg) - Diaz, 67'⚽️
67 mins: Two goal lead restored! Trent Alexander-Arnold brings the ball inside from the right wing and chips the ball into the box with his left foot. Luis Diaz makes a run from deep, keeps himself onside and heads it down into the ground. The ball sneaks underneath the goalkeeper and bounces into the back of the net. Villarreal have hope that he was offside but it’s clear on the replays that he wasn’t.
Villarreal 2 - 1 Liverpool (2-3 agg)
65 mins: Chance! Luis Diaz has changed the complexion of this match. He’s given the ball on the left side and drives towards the box. He shimmies around Foyth and shoots. Albiol gets a foot to the ball and deflects it over to the far pots where it hits the woodwork and bounces out of play.
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